Keanu Reeves almost made his Hollywood debut under the name “Chuck Spadina.” On an episode of the 'New Heights' podcast with Jason and Travis Kelce, the actor revealed that when he moved to Los Angeles at age 20 he met a manager who wanted him to change his name.
Inspired by his middle name and the street he grew up on in Toronto, Reeves briefly tried out “KC Reeves” and even “Chuck Spadina,” but neither stuck. “I couldn’t do it,” he said. “They’d call ‘KC Reeves’ at auditions, and I wouldn’t even answer.”
The Kelce brothers' podcast has become a go-to destination for celebrity name-change confessions. Last month, Leonardo DiCaprio shared that he was once told to go by “Lenny Williams” as a child actor because his real name was deemed “too ethnic.” Like Reeves, DiCaprio ultimately rejected the suggestion—and Hollywood is better for it.
From Snoop Dogg to Lady Gaga, we've dug up the most interesting stories behind your favorite celebrities' stage names. Click through this gallery and learn all about how these monikers came to be.