True Celebrity Names (Born in the 1930s) Quiz

Answer: Jiles Perry Richardson, Jr.

Born October 24th, 1930, in Sabine Pass, Texas, Jiles Perry Richardson, Jr. (AKA The Big Bopper) studied prelaw at Lamar College in Beaumont, where he was part of the chorus and band. He dropped out of college to work fulltime at the local radio station KTRM. After a brief stint of military service, he went back to KTRM, and also began writing and performing his own music. After seeing college students doing a dance called 'The Bop', J.P. decided to dub himself 'The Big Bopper', a terrific radio personality name.

He recorded a music video in 1958, purportedly the first ever to do so.

Tragically, he never got to fulfill his potential as a performing artist as he died in that infamous plane crash that also claimed the lives of Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens. 'The Day the Music Died' was February 3rd, 1959.

Answer: Rosa Dolores Alverío

Born December 11th, 193, in Humacao, Puerto Rico, Rosa Dolores Alverío (AKA Rita Moreno) is perhaps best known for her role as Anita in "West Side Story" (1961 film), although her career has seen accolades and recognition in multiple areas over the years. In fact, she is on a short list of people who have achieved all four American entertainment awards (Oscar, Emmy, Grammy & Tony).

Rosa went by the nickname 'Rosita', and took on the name of her stepfather (Edward Moreno). At MGM's request, she shortened Rosita to Rita.

Answer: Michel Dimitri Chalhoub

Born April 10th, 1932, in Alexandria, Egypt, Michel Dimitri Chalhoub (AKA Omar Sharif) began his acting career in his home country in the 1950s, but it was not long before he made the move to British and American film. Best known for his roles in "Lawrence of Arabia" (1962), "Doctor Zhivago" (1965), and "Funny Girl" (1968), Sharif continued acting until shortly before his death in 2015.

Michel Dimitri Chalhoub changed his name when he converted to Islam to marry Faten Hamama (in 1955).

Answer: Jerome Silberman

Born June 11th, 1933, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Jerome Silberman (AKA Gene Wilder) showed an interest in acting at a young age, going so far as to take acting lessons for two years beginning at the age of 13. Following high school, he took Communication and Theatre Arts at the University of Iowa, then followed that up by attending the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in England.

Wilder's professional career began on the stage, and it wasn't until 1961 that he broke into television, and not until 1967 that he acted in a feature film. He chose his stage name at the age of 26, picking 'Gene' from Thomas Wolfe's novel, "Look Homeward, Angel", and 'Wilder' as an homage to author Thornton Wilder.

It was a sad day on August 29th, 2016, when this legend of the screen finally passed away at the age of 83. To me, he will ever be remembered as Willy Wonka.

Answer: Francesco Stephen Castelluccio

Born May 3rd, 1934, in Newark, New Jersey, Francesco Stephen Castelluccio (AKA Frankie Valli) began his singing career in the 1950s with such groups as the Variety Trio, the house band at The Strand, and the Variatones. The Variatones morphed into the Four Lovers, and then to The Four Seasons (with some personnel changes along the way). With The Four Seasons, Frankie Valli shot to new heights with many hit songs in the 1960s, and his career continued on for many decades. In 2005, the musical "Jersey Boys", based on the rise of Frankie Valley and the Four Seasons, opened on Broadway, with a film adaptation that followed in 2014.

Frankie Valli got his name when he 'borrowed' another musician's. "Texas" Jean Valli introduced Frankie to music publishers Paul and Dave Kapp, telling them he was her brother. The name stuck.

Answer: Julia Elizabeth Wells

Born October 1st, 1935, in Surrey, England, Julia Elizabeth Wells (AKA Julie Andrews) is renowned for her beautiful singing voice, beautifully featured in such classics as "Mary Poppins" (1964) and "The Sound of Music" (1965). Julie began her performing career with her mom and step-dad (from whom she took the name Andrews), and it was not long before she made her professional debut in a musical revue (in 1947 at the age of 12).

In her storied career, she has won multiple awards, including an Academy Award (Best Actress), a BAFTA, five Golden Globes, three Grammys, and two Emmys, amongst others.

Answer: Alphonso Joseph D'Abruzzo

Born January 28th, 1936, in New York City, New York, Alphonso Joseph D'Abruzzo (AKA Alan Alda, a name also used by his father, Robert, that is a portmanteau of ALphonso and D'Abruzzo) began acting in theatre in the 1950s, and shortly thereafter began to make guest appearances on various television shows. His first Hollywood role was in 1963's "Gone are the Days!" Alda is, of course, best known for his character Captain Benjamin Franklin 'Hawkeye' Pierce on "M*A*S*H".

Alda's chosen surname is a portmanteau of his real first and last name, [AL]phonso [D'A]bruzzo.

Answer: Samille Diane Friesen

Born January 4th, 1937, in Tacoma, Washington, Samille Diane Friesen (AKA Dyan Cannon) began working in television in the late 1950s and acted in her first film in 1960. Writer/producer Jerry Wald came up with her stage name (originally Diane Cannon) and helped her land her first MGM contract. Cannon was active in the film and TV industry until the late 2000s, and is perhaps best known for her supporting roles in "Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice" (1969) and "Heaven Can Wait" (1978).

Answer: Natalia Zakharenko

Born July 20th, 1938, in San Francisco, California, Natalia Zakharenko (AKA Natalie Wood) made her film debut at the age of four and within two years her family relocated to Los Angeles to support her burgeoning career. As a child actress she made her biggest mark with "Miracle on 34th Street" (1947). She acted in many films before her untimely death in 1981, but is best known for her roles in "Rebel Without a Cause" (1955), "Splendor in the Grass" (1961), and "West Side Story" (1961).

Wood's name was changed from Zakharenko by a studio executive before her role in "Miracle on 34th Street".

Answer: Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O'Brien

Born April 16th, 1939, in London, England, Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O'Brien (AKA Dusty Springfield) grew up in a musical family and began her singing career alongside her brother Dionysius in local folk clubs. She joined an established group called The Lana Sisters shortly after graduating high school, but it didn't take long to move on from there. Along with her brother and friend Reshad Feild, Dusty formed a pop-folk trio called The Springfields. They chose the name as they practiced their music in a field in Somerset in the springtime. They also chose first names to use in the trio - Dusty picked her nickname (from playing football with boys as a child), her brother went with Tom, and Reshad used Tim.

Springfield went on to become a highly successful singer, with six top 20 singles on the US Billboard Hot 100 and sixteen on the UK Singles Chart during her career. After her death in 1999, she was inducted into the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame that same year, and the into UK Music Hall of Fame in 2006.