200 Celebrities Who Changed Their Names and How They Found Success

There are numerous reasons why persons in the public eye change their names (or have it done for them). For instance, why did Rudolf Walter Wanderone, Jr. and James A. Moore, Jr. both take the names of fictional characters that they claimed were based on them and how did doing so change their lives forever? At least 20 featured stars who took stage names were from Jewish immigrant families. Many were impoverished; some were abused; several were forced to work as young children to help pay bills. Many were from broken homes, and some never knew their biological fathers, often being placed in foster care. One worked as a prostitute, one a bootlegger, and one was a drug dealer. Several were jailed. One was expelled from school and many were dropouts. How did these broken individuals make it to the top of their fields? It took grit, encouragement, and likely, a new name. These are the stories of popular actors, singers, dancers, authors, sports figures, magicians, entrepreneurs, and broadcasters, each determined to create a public persona which he or she felt was worthy of his or her audience.