True Celebrity Names (Born in the 1920s) Quiz

Answer: Ninnian Joseph Yule, Jr.

Born September 23rd, 1920 in New York, New York, Ninnian Joseph Yule, Jr. (AKA Mickey Rooney) began his long career as a child actor doing vaudeville before extending into theatre in the mid-1930s. At the tender age of 17 he performed in the breakout role of Whitey Marsh in 1938's "Boys Town" with Spencer Tracy. At 19, Mickey became the first teenager to be nominated for an Academy Award (for 1939's "Babes in Arms") and for the next few years he was one of the biggest box-office draws leading up to World War II. He passed away at the age of 93 and continued working as an entertainer right up until then.

Mickey's stage name developed after he acted the role of 'Mickey McGuire' in a series of short films between 1927 and 1936. Afterwards, Mickey went on a vaudeville tour, with his mother attempting to capitalize on the character name, but the company sued the family and they had to change it. Mom suggested 'Mickey Looney', but Mickey himself changed it to Rooney.

Answer: Charles Dennis Buchinsky

Born November 3rd, 1921 in Ehrenfeld, Pennsylvania, Charles Dennis Buchinsky (AKA Charles Bronson) was 25 years old before he began training as an actor, after World War II. Prior to that he spent many years working a coal mine in his hometown before joining the US Air Force in 1943. After moving to Hollywood in 1950, he began his film career with his first (uncredited) role in 1951's "You're in the Navy Now". His star rose steadily over the next decade plus, and by the 1970s he was Hollywood's highest-paid actor, earning $1 million per film.

It was during the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) under Joe McCarthy that Charles Buchinsky changed his name to Charles Bronson. His agent suggested it, thinking that his career might be adversely affected with an Eastern European name.

Answer: Frances Ethel Gumm

Born June 10th, 1922 in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, Frances Ethel Gumm (AKA Judy Garland) was a singer and actress perhaps best known for her role as Dorothy in 1939's "Wizard of Oz", at the age of 16, but she went on to have a stellar career and earned many other accolades. In addition to recognition for her acting (Oscar nominations for 1954's "A Star is Born" and 1961's "Judgment at Nuremberg") she was also the first woman to win the Grammy for Album of the Year in 1961. Tragically, her career and life were cut short when she died of an overdose of barbiturates at just 47 years of age.

There are multiple stories explaining the origin of Judy Garland's stage name, and maybe they are not mutually exclusive. One has fellow performer George Jessel giving her the name when she was touring the vaudeville circuit with her sisters (The Gumm Sisters collectively became known as The Garland Sisters), while another version had the girls choosing the new name themselves, after Jessel said they "looked prettier than a garland of flowers".

Answer: John Charles Carter

Born October 4th, 1923 in Wilmette, Illinois, John Charles Carter (AKA Charlton Heston) appeared in over 100 films over his career, including such memorable films as 1956's "The Ten Commandments", 1959's "Ben Hur", and 1968's "Planet of the Apes". Almost in lockstep with his career was his involvement in politics, as he publicly endorsed different politicians over the years and spoke out in favour of (or against) various political issues.

Charlton's name evolved over time, due to changes in his family makeup. After divorcing, their mother changed the family name to Charlton, which was her mother's maiden name. After remarrying, their new last name became Heston, and Charlton shifted the Charlton to become his given name.

Answer: Betty Joan Perske

Born September 16th, 1924 in New York, New York, Betty Joan Perske (AKA Lauren Bacall) began her career in modelling before turning to acting at the age of 19. She was 'discovered' after making the cover of "Harper's Bazaar", coming to the attention of director and producer Howard Hawks (at the prompting of his wife). She went on to star in a number of film noir roles (like 1946's "The Big Sleep) and romantic comedies (like 1953's "How to Marry a Millionaire"). She was nominated for an Oscar for "The Mirror Has Two Faces" (1996) and continued acting until her death in 2014 at the age of 89.

When Howard Hawks began managing her career, he changed her name to Lauren, and Lauren chose to use a variation on her mother's name (Bacal) to complete the moniker.

Answer: Roy Harold Scherer, Jr.

Born November 17th, 1925 in Winnetka, Illinois, Roy Harold Scherer, Jr. (AKA Rock Hudson) had a tough start to his acting career, exhibiting difficulty with memorizing lines (his first screen appearance took 38 takes to deliver one line of script), but his doggedness at pursuing his desired career worked out, as he became one of the most popular actors of the 1950s and '60s. At the height of his career, he was nominated for the Oscar for Best Actor for "Giant" (1956) alongside James Dean. Rock Hudson also became 'famous' for his death, being one of the first celebrities to go public with a diagnosis for AIDS, and soon after, he died of a related illness.

After talent scout Henry Willson took him on as a client, he changed Roy's name to Rock Hudson, making a combination of the Rock of Gibralter and the Hudson River.

Answer: Norma Jeane Mortenson

Born June 1st, 1926 in Los Angeles, California, Norma Jeane Mortenson (AKA Marilyn Monroe) began her entertainment career as a model and pin-up girl, which launched her into some minor acting roles in the late 1940s. In the early 1950s, however, her career began to take off, in no small part to her status as a sex symbol and the 'scandalous' nude photos that graced the first "Playboy" magazine cover (and centerfold). Despite her 'blonde bombshell' public persona, Marilyn was active in managing her own career, which was tragically cut short at the age of 36 when she died of a barbiturate overdose.

After signing a standard six-month contract with 20th Century Fox in 1946, Marilyn and studio executive Ben Lyon came up with her stage name together. Lyon chose 'Marilyn' in reference to Broadway star Marilyn Miller, who she reminded him of, while 'Monroe' was Marilyn's mother's maiden name.

Answer: Jeanette Helen Morrison

Born July 6th, 1927 in Merced, California, Jeanette Helen Morrison (AKA Janet Leigh) got her acting start through actress Norma Shearer, who 'discovered' her while at a ski resort where Janet's parents worked. Soon after, Janet was doing radio plays and acting in her first role in 1947's "The Romance of Rosy Ridge". She had a long and successful acting career, which included her iconic role in Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" (1960), which earned her a Golden Globe and a nomination for an Oscar (both as Best Supporting Actress).

It was during her first film role (see above) that her credited name underwent some changes, beginning with Jeanette Reames (the last name being that of her husband of four years between 1945-9), then Janet Leigh, and then back to her birth name. But her co-star Van Johnson preferred Janet Leigh, and it stuck.

Answer: Ellas Otha Bates

Born December 30th, 1928 in McComb, Mississippi, Ellas Otha Bates (AKA Bo Diddley) was a blues musician whose style and influence helped establish the rock and roll genre of the 1950s and beyond. His legacy was recognized with his inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1987), the Blues Hall of Fame (2003), and the R&B Music Hall of Fame (2017).

While he was born Ellas Otha Bates, at the age of six he took on the name of his adoptive mother (his birth mother's cousin) Gussie McDaniel. Later, when establishing his career as a musician, he went by Ellas McDaniel, and was dubbed by his peers as 'Bo Diddley'. Bo himself figured that it was meant as an insult, but he embraced the name.

Answer: Audrey Kathleen Ruston

Born May 4th, 1929 in Brussels, Belgium, Audrey Kathleen Ruston (AKA Audrey Hepburn) began her career in the late 1940s as a dancer and singer while also delving into minor film roles. Her breakthrough came with the 1953 film "Roman Holiday", for which she earned an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and a BAFTA Award - the first person to win all three for the same role. Her success and stardom would last for many years and her (perhaps) most iconic role came in 1961's "Breakfast at Tiffany's".

Audrey's last name changed when she was still young to Hepburn-Ruston when her father altered it. When she began working part-time as a model after World War II, she dropped the 'Ruston' portion of her hyphenated surname.