Quite a lot if we believe the Hollywood Studios of the 30s and 40s! There were only a handful of Classic Hollywood stars who kept their own names, including Jane Russell, Ava Gardner, Elizabeth Taylor, Katharine Hepburn and Grace Kelly. The majority of actors and actresses had their identities completely re-written. How many of these 20 did you know, and would they have been as successful if they’d kept their original names?
Marilyn Monroe was christened Norma Jeane Mortenson

Norma Jeane Mortenson
Judy Garland was born Frances Ethel Gumm

Frances Ethel Gumm
Cary Grant was born Archibald Alexander Leach

Archibald Alexander Leach
Ginger Rogers was Virginia Katherine McMath

Virginia Katherine McMath
Jean Harlow had the strange name of Harlean Harlow Carpenter

Harlean Harlow Carpenter
Greta Garbo was Greta Louisa Gustafsson

Greta Louisa Gustafsson
Doris Day was Doris Mary Ann Kappelhoff

Doris Mary Ann Kappelhoff
Rita Hayworth was Rita Cansino

Rita Cansino
Vivien Leigh was Vivian Mary Hartley

Vivian Mary Hartley
Bette Davis was Ruth Elizabeth Davis

Ruth Elizabeth Davis
Debbie Reynolds was born Mary Frances Reynolds

Mary Frances Reynolds
Gary Cooper (super duper) was Frank James Cooper

Frank James Cooper
Fred Astaire was Frederick Austerlitz

Frederick Austerlitz
Lana Turner was Julia Jean Turner

Julia Jean Turner
William Clark Gable just lost the William to become Clark Gable

William Clark Gable
Myrna Loy was Myrna Adele Williams

Myrna Adele Williams
And then there were the stars who had better names before. Joan Crawford was born Lucille Fay LeSueur and must have been gutted to lose her glamorous name!

Lucille Fay LeSueur
Gregory Peck was Eldred Gregory Peck

Eldred Gregory Peck
Audrey Hepburn was Audrey Kathleen Ruston

Audrey Kathleen Ruston
Mary Pickford was Gladys Marie Smith

Gladys Marie Smith
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All your posts are great posts but this one makes me smile more than others. I can’t imagine, for instance, Cary Grant advertised as Archibald Leach…too funny !
I know, he couldn’t possibly be as suave and sophisticated as Cary Grant with a name like that 😉
Archibald Alexander Leach?
GET REAL!
He somehow doesn’t sound a suave and sophisticated with a name like that does he?! 😉
No not really
Not Fancy enough for a cup of Tea