Latest news with #WilliamBradleyPitt
The South African
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The South African
The REAL names of Hollywood's biggest stars revealed
In the dazzling world of Hollywood, stars often craft not only their careers but also their identities. For many, this includes adopting a stage name that is more memorable, marketable, or simply easier to pronounce than their birth name. From action heroes to award-winning icons, some of the most recognizable names in entertainment are not the ones these celebrities were born with. Whether for privacy, branding, or to avoid confusion with others in the industry, these name changes have helped define their public personas. One of the most famous examples is Brad Pitt, whose real name is William Bradley Pitt. Similarly, Tom Cruise was born Thomas Cruise Mapother IV, and Vin Diesel began life as Mark Sinclair Vincent. For some actors, stage names were necessary to stand out or avoid duplication within Hollywood's Screen Actors Guild (SAG), which does not allow two performers to register with the same professional name. This led Michael Keaton to change his name from Michael John Douglas, avoiding confusion with fellow actor Michael Douglas. Music and comedy stars have also embraced pseudonyms. Jamie Foxx, originally Eric Marlon Bishop, chose a gender-neutral name early in his stand-up career to increase his chances of being called on stage. Whoopi Goldberg, born Caryn Elaine Johnson, adopted her now-iconic name from a combination of a whoopee cushion (for her comedic timing) and her family's belief that a Jewish-sounding surname could open more doors in show business. Among female actors, the transformation is just as dramatic. Oscar-winner Natalie Portman was born Neta-Lee Hershlag, and Meg Ryan is actually Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra. The late screen legend Marilyn Monroe was famously born Norma Jeane Mortenson, later taking her stepfather's surname, Baker, before Hollywood transformed her identity forever. Rising stars are also no strangers to reinvention. Emma Stone, whose birth name is Emily Jean Stone, changed her professional name after finding out 'Emily Stone' was already taken in SAG. 'It was Emma or Riley. Emma felt right,' she once said in an interview. The tradition of altering names is rooted not just in branding, but also in survival within a competitive and often image-focused industry. A unique or appealing name can help actors stand out in casting calls and marketing campaigns, shaping their public identity from the ground up. While fans may be surprised to learn the real names behind the celebrities they admire, these changes are a reminder that behind the glamour and red carpets, Hollywood is a world where reinvention is often the first step toward stardom. Here's a list of well-known Hollywood actors and their real (birth) names that differ from their stage names: Stage name Real name Brad Pitt William Bradley Pitt Tom Cruise Thomas Cruise Mapother IV Vin Diesel Mark Sinclair Vincent Jamie Foxx Eric Marlon Bishop Joaquin Phoenix Joaquin Rafael Bottom Charlie Sheen Carlos Irwin Estévez Michael Keaton Michael John Douglas Nicolas Cage Nicolas Kim Coppola Woody Allen Allan Stewart Konigsberg Ben Kingsley Krishna Pandit Bhanji Martin Sheen Ramón Antonio Gerardo Estévez Hulk Hogan (wrestler/actor) Terry Gene Bollea Ice Cube O'Shea Jackson The Rock (Dwayne Johnson) Dwayne Douglas Johnson Ozzy Osbourne John Michael Osbourne Stage name Real name Natalie Portman Neta-Lee Hershlag Whoopi Goldberg Caryn Elaine Johnson Meg Ryan Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra Marilyn Monroe Norma Jeane Mortenson (later Baker) Demi Moore Demetria Gene Guynes Reese Witherspoon Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon Emma Stone Emily Jean Stone Lady Gaga Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta Tina Fey Elizabeth Stamatina Fey Mila Kunis Milena Markovna Kunis Winona Ryder Winona Laura Horowitz Olivia Wilde Olivia Jane Cockburn Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The National
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Evolution of Brad Pitt, from personal turmoil to era-defining superstardom
There are few actors who have commanded as much attention both on screen and off as Brad Pitt. While the ups and downs of his personal life have often dominated headlines, he has simultaneously built one of the richest filmographies in history over the past four decades, featuring blockbusters and cult favourites, and even stepped into the role of producer with Oscar-winning films. And at 61, he's showing no signs of slowing down. This month, Pitt stars in F1: The Movie. Ahead of the action-sport film's Abu Dhabi premiere, we look back at the evolution of one of modern cinema's most reliable stalwarts. 1963-1990: Early life and small roles William Bradley Pitt was born on December 18, 1963, in Shawnee, Oklahoma, before moving to Springfield, Missouri. He was the eldest of three children. His father, William Alvin Pitt, owned a trucking company, while his mother, Jane Etta, worked as a school counsellor. Both of his parents encouraged him and his siblings to pursue their interests, fostering creativity and ambition. As a teenager, Pitt took part in drama classes and school plays but initially studied journalism and advertising at the University of Missouri. Two years into his studies, he decided to pursue a career in acting instead. In 1986, Pitt moved to Los Angeles with just $325 to his name. He worked a variety of jobs including waiting tables and chauffeuring to support himself while attending acting classes. Early roles were small parts in television shows such as Dallas (1987-88) and 21 Jump Street (1988), which gave him exposure, but did not immediately lead to stardom. 1991: Breakthrough with Thelma & Louise Pitt's breakthrough came in 1991 with the release of Ridley Scott's Thelma & Louise. His portrayal of a charismatic drifter who captures the hearts of the lead characters, played by Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon, earned him critical acclaim and introduced him to a wider audience. The film's success marked a turning point in Pitt's career, opening doors to more significant roles. 1992-1995: Transition to leading man In the early 1990s, Pitt starred in period dramas such as A River Runs Through It in 1992, and Interview with the Vampire and Legends of the Fall, both in 1994, which showcased his ability to carry emotional and complex roles while playing the love interest. His career took a darker turn with David Fincher's murder mystery Se7en in 1995, where he played a capable detective alongside screen veteran Morgan Freeman. That same year, Pitt earned his first Academy Award nomination in the Best Supporting Actor category for his role in Terry Gilliam's 12 Monkeys, a sci-fi film about time travel and the end of the world. His rise hit some turbulence in 1998, when Pitt starred in the romantic film Meet Joe Black, a remake of the 1934 film Death Takes a Holiday. The film received mixed reviews from critics who began to question Pitt's ability to portray the straight romantic lead, leading to a significant adjustment in how he presented himself to audiences moving forward. 1999: From heart-throb to Fight Club In 1999, Pitt's previously conceived image of a heart-throb would be challenged as he took on the role of Tyler Durden in Fincher's Fight Club. While the film divided critics and audiences upon release, it later became a cult classic and significantly raised Pitt's profile. His portrayal of the character has also transcended cinema, turning the character into a controversial cultural icon for certain corners of modern masculinity. Fight Club was a true turning point for Pitt and the types of roles he would take on. He followed it up with leading roles in Guy Ritchie's Snatch in 2000, then The Mexican, Spy Game and Ocean's Eleven in 2001. While he still had the looks of a romance novel cover star, Pitt eschewed that archetype, purposefully undermining that image with gruff, deeply flawed characters from the fringes of society. That interplay came to define his career. The switch not only added depth to those roles, but altered his persona moving forward – while also foreshadowing some of his more public struggles. 2000-2016: Personal life in the spotlight Pitt's personal life attracted significant media attention throughout the 2000s. He married actress Jennifer Aniston, from the hit sitcom Friends, in 2000, and they became one of Hollywood's most famous couples. The marriage ended in 2005. That same year, Pitt began a relationship with actress Angelina Jolie. The pair met on the set of the action film Mr. & Mrs. Smith the year prior. Together, they became known as 'Brangelina' and built a blended family with six children, three of whom were adopted internationally. Pitt and Jolie married in 2014, but separated two years later. Their divorce proceedings were widely covered in the media and revealed allegations of abuse by Jolie, which were denied by Pitt's representatives. The fallout from the divorce revelations hurt Pitt's public image and reputation, furthered by his children's choice to sever ties with him. 2010s-present: Awards recognition behind and in front of the camera In the 2010s, Pitt continued to appear in diverse and challenging roles even amid his struggles off-camera. In Bennett Miller's Moneyball from 2011, he played Billy Beane, the real-life baseball executive who almost took the Oakland A's to the World Series. The role earned Pitt his third Academy Award nomination. His second nomination came in 2009 for his role in Fincher's The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. A defining moment of the decade came with Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood from 2019. Pitt's performance as stuntman Cliff Booth won him his first Academy Award for acting the following year. He had already won his first Oscar as producer for Steve McQueen's 12 Years a Slave in 2014. Pitt stepped into the producer role in 2006 with Martin Scorsese's The Departed. Since then, he has been credited as producer on celebrated and acclaimed films such as The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, The Tree of Life, The Big Short and Ad Astra. Through his production company Plan B, Pitt has often championed stories of filmmakers of colour such as the Asian-American immigrant tale Minari directed by Lee Isaac Chung, and the 2025 Best Picture nominee Nickel Boys, a tale of systemic racism against the black community in 20th-century Florida directed by RaMell Ross. Pitt's latest roles have also directly been inspired by his personal struggles. For Bullet Train, he told Et bil Arabi: 'That's what drew me to the role. This man who's trying to grow – but also somewhat regressing – on his way to being a better person. My own experience with self-help and therapy allowed me to [make light] of that. 'There are moments when you have one epiphany and you think you have the whole egg figured out, and then you step in a pile of crap the next day. This was making fun of that, and I took great pleasure in it.' With F1: The Movie shaping up to be one of his biggest yet, another film about a late-career comeback, Pitt's interplay between personal and professional seems set to continue long into the future.
