12 Actors Who Ditched Their Real Names

12) Michael Keaton / Michael Douglas

Most would probably agree that sharing a name with the actor who robbed the Welsh cradle of Catherine Zeta-Jones and who still manages to get paid acting work after pulling countless revolting O faces in cinema, is reason enough to change it. Despite the fact that everyone thinks Keaton changed his name in honour of his affection for Diane Keaton, this rumour is what they call in French brothels, a huge whopper. It was indeed because of his love of Buster Keaton.

11) Nicolas Cage / Nicholas Coppola

Not a lot of folks find the letter H offensive. That is, unless you’re the American who decided for the entire country that pronouncing the H at the start of herbs is a massive waste of time. Obviously Cage agrees with this notion as he struck the H from his first name before embarking on his acting career. In addition, he foresaw the cries of nepotism due to his uncle being the great Francis Ford Coppola and changed his surname to Cage. After a comic book character.