For the Love of Hollywood! See Marilyn Monroe and More Stars Who Changed Their Names

Many classic stars did whatever they felt was necessary to kickstart their Hollywood careers, and one common strategy was changing their names. Icons such as Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland, and Dean Martin are prime examples.

During Hollywood’s Golden Age, it was trendy to switch names for fame. Marilyn Monroe, born Norma Jeane Mortenson, famously adopted her stage name on February 23, 1956, though she had been using it for years before legally changing it. Similarly, Judy Garland, originally named Frances Ethel Gumm, changed her name to achieve more success. Before her solo career, she performed in a vaudeville group called The Gumm Sisters with her older siblings, Mary and Dorothy. In late 1934, they rebranded as The Garland Sisters, possibly inspired by drama critic Robert Garland or Carole Lombard’s character Lily Garland in the film “Twentieth Century.” Judy later chose her new first name after the popular Hoagy Carmichael song “Judy.”

Martin Sheen, born Ramón Antonio Gerardo Estévez, adopted his stage name when he made his Broadway debut in the mid-1960s. His son, Charlie Sheen, also took on the name. Despite using the name Martin Sheen professionally for decades, he revealed in a 2022 interview with Closer that he never legally changed it, keeping Ramón Estévez on official documents. He reflected on the pressures to change names in the industry, noting that sometimes one lacks the insight or courage to stand by their original name.

Diane Keaton, born Diane Hall, changed her name when she joined the Actors’ Equity Association, as there was already a Diane Hall in the union. She chose her mother’s maiden name, Keaton, for her stage name, as she explained in a June 2017 interview with the Irish Examiner.

These stars, among many others, followed a longstanding Hollywood tradition of adopting stage names to enhance their careers.