Golden Age stars who used stage names

News channels shared conflicting information about Audrey Hepburn‘s birth name: some said it was Audrey Kathleen Ruston, while others called it Edda Kathleen van Heemstra Hepburn-Ruston.

But according to her son Sean Hepburnhis grandmother changed the Breakfast at Tiffany’s the star’s surname to Edda van Heemstra during World War II to hide their family’s British heritage while living in the Netherlands.

Before her appearance in Roman holiday, the studio reportedly asked Audrey to change her last name due to a potential conflict. But she told the company it should also adopt her first name.

According to reports Barbara Stanwyck – born Ruby Catherine Stevens – started using the name after considering the suggestion of either Ziegfield follies producer or impresario David Belasco. She debuted the stage name in her first credited film, The closed door.

Born Archibald Alec Leach, Cary Grant started using the stage name before appearing in his first film, This is the night. The name was reportedly inspired by Cary Lockwood, his character in the Broadway play Nikki.

Dan Martin became a famous singer, comedian and actor before his death on Christmas Day in 1995. However, some fans were unaware that he was born Dino Paul Crocetti and chose to use his stage name to create his public persona.

Fred Astaire did not use his real name, Frederick Austerlitz, when he started his career in the industry. He and his older sister, Adelebegan using the surname, with theories claiming that they borrowed it from their relatives in a former area of ​​the German Empire.

Before she launched her career in Hollywood, Ginger Rogers had to come up with a stage name, leaving her birth name: Virginia Katherine McMath. She appeared in more than 73 films before she died in 1995.

Before he entered Hollywood, Joan Fontaine‘s sister, Olivia de Havilland, already made her debut as an actress. When they came through Warner Bros. wanted to pursue an acting career, their mother did not allow her to use her real name: Joan de Beauvoir de Havilland – as “two de Havillands on the marquee would be too many.”

Lauren Bacallborn Betty Joan Perske, used the nickname based on the modified version of her mother’s surname, Bacal. Her first name came from Howard Hawksa director who discovered her.

Gladys Louis Smith chose to advertise under the name Mary Pickford to have a name with more star power. She rose to fame as America’s Sweetheart during the silent film era.

Born Estella Merle O’Brien Thompson, Merle Oberon decided to promote the use of the stage name after director and producer Alexander Korda suggested it. She also used “Queenie” as her nickname.

Rita Hayworth used the nickname Margarita Cansino instead of her real name. The change, which came after signing a contract with Columbia Pictures, helped her secure more roles.

Rita Moreno was born Rosa Dolores Alverío, but a casting agent told her to change her name before starting her contract with MGM.

Rock Hudsonborn Roy Harold Scherer Jr., used the stage name based on his agent’s suggestion, Henry Wilson. He also used his character’s pseudonym, Rex Stetson,