WHAT’S IN A NAME?

What’s in a name? Apparently, a lot as evidenced by the frequency with which celebrities have changed their birth names. Why do they do it? Various reasons. Sometimes, it is to disguise their ethnicity or national origin, such as Margarita Carmen Cansino, whom we know as Rita Hayworth. Ms. Hayworth was of Hispanic background, which would not have exactly been a boost for her career as a film star in the 1930s and 1940s. Rappers, such as Artis Ivey Jr., better known as Coolio, changed his name to appear, well, cool. Sometimes, a person’s given name is simply too long for the movie marquee or too much for fans to remember, such as the case of Jose Antonio Dominguez Bandaris, better known as Antonio Bandaris. But, whatever the motivation, it is fun for fans and fodder for this blog.

So, for all you pop culture devotees, this quiz is for you. Name that celebrity!

1. Nathan Birnbaum

a. Mel Brooks
b. Bob Hope
c. John Denver
d. George Burns

2. Curtis Jackson

a. 50 Cent
b. Jon Bon Jovi
c. Stevie Wonder
d. Sting

3. Vincent Damon Furnier

a. Matt Damon
b. Alice Cooper
c. Boy George
d. Tom Jones

4. James Todd Smith

a. LL Cool J
b. Dr. Dre
c. Vanilla Ice
d. M C Hammer

5. Henry Deutschendorf, Jr.

a. Henry Fonda
b. Mel Brooks
c. Don Johnson
d. John Denver

6. Camille Javal

a. Ingrid Bergman
b. Sophia Loren
c. Brigitte Bardot
d. Sally Field

7. Issur Demsky

a. Kirk Douglas
d. Bob Hope
c. James Garner
d. Henry Fonda

8. Bernard Schwartz

a. Don Johnson
b. Jack Benny
c. Tony Curtis
d. Don Rickles

9. Marion Michael Morrison

a. Gary Oldman
b. Mel Brooks
c. John Wayne
d. Michael Keaton

10. Enrique Jose Morales

a. Ricky Martin
b. Enya
c. Billy Idol
d. Henry Jones

11. Anna Mae Bullock

a. Sandra Bullock
b. Tina Turner
c. Tiffany
d. Madonna

12. Reginald Kenneth Dwight

a. Boy George
b. Ozzy Osbourne
c. Prince
d. Elton John

13. Erich Weiss

a. Larry King
b. Danny DeVito
c. Joe Pesci
d. Harry Houdini

14. Robert Zimmerman

a. Robert Redford
b. Bob Dylan
c. Fred McMurray
d. Robert Mitchum

15. Tracy Morrow

a. Ice T
b. Moby
c. Jay Leno
d. Jay Letterman

16. Robert Van Winckle

a. Ice Cube
b. Ice T
c. Mr. T
d. Vanilla Ice

17. Tara Patrick

a. Tiffany
b. Carmen Electra
c. Lady Gaga
d. Beyoncé

18. Michael Douglas

a. Mike Myers
b. Michael Keaton
c. Al Michaels
d. Michael J. Fox

19. Lew Alcindor

a. Prince
b. Ice T
c. Kareem Abdul Jabbar
d. MC Hammer

20. Cordazer Calvin Broadus

a. MC Hammer
b. LL Cool J
c. Sting
d. Snoop Doggy Dogg

CONCLUSION

I think I made this harder than I wanted, but I purposely omitted birth names that included the same name as the assumed name such as John Bongiovi (Jon Bon Jovi) and Larry Ziegler (Larry King) so as not to make it too easy. Good luck. No peeking!

Answers: 1. d; 2. a; 3. b; 4. a; 5. d; 6. c; 7. a; 8. c; 9. c; 10. a; 11. b; 12. d; 13. d; 14. b; 15. a; 16. d; 17. b; 18. b; 19. c; 20. d