The most ridiculous names on showbiz

Swoosie Kurtz

Mary Wilson

Mamie Gummer

Alison Pill

Greta Gerwig.

Armie Hammer.

Anything Kardashian

Back in the day we were all pretty clear on the fact that Engelbert Humperdinck wasn't his real name (it's actually the name of the German composer of the popular opera "Hansel and Gretel") but a funny, attention-getting stage name.

r8 Born Arnold George Dorsey and he's still alive, somehow.

Bootsie Gumdrops.

Judy Tenuta

Aimee Teegarden

Peyton List

Leighton Meester

Busy Phillips.

Benedict Cumberbatch.

Lady Gaga

Meat Loaf

Idris Elba

Ansel Elgort

Robbie Roberston

Rostam Batmangligli

Kurt Vile

Akbar Ignatz

Lottie Lenya

[quote]Kurt Vile

Actually, it was Kurt Weill.

We should maybe stick to American and British names, and also exclude children of immigrants, black people using Swahili-inspired names etc... For obvious reasons.

Hello R18, he sings "Pretty Pimping" and he's with WAR ON DRUGS. His name is Kurt Vile.

[quote]Hello [R18], he sings "Pretty Pimping" and he's with WAR ON DRUGS. His name is Kurt Vile.

When you pair him in the same breath with Lottie (sic) Lenya, it's Kurt Weill.

When I hear the name Armie Hammer I think of Arm & Hammer.

Jussie Smollett which seems to lend itself to many amusing variants and ridicule by comedians. Juicy is the current favourite.

Blossom Dearie

There was a highly respected patron of the arts in Texas, known as the "First Lady of Texas," named Ima Hogg. Sounds like a wonderful lady, but what a name.

R25, she was the daughter of Texas Governor Big Jim Hogg.

And contrary to rumor, she did not have a twin sister named Ura.

Zasu Pitts

Norbert Leo Butz

Nolan Gerard Funk

What-no one's mentioned Whoopie Goldberg? Seriously? Don't forget Tempest Bledsoe.

[quote]Don't forget Tempest Bledsoe.

To make it even more stupid, she spells it "Tempestt."

And while we're at it, let's not forget Gale Storm.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw

Raven-Symoné

Peter Lemongello. He was one of those 70s singers in the style of Englebert Humperdink, you know the type. He worked hard at it, even sending packets of lemon Jello to DJs to promote his records. I don't think he ever hit it very big, though he did end up in prison for trying to burn down a building in the 80s.

Rachelle Rak F. Murray Abraham BarBRA Streisand

[quote]Engelbert Humperdink

[quote]Peter Lemongello. He was one of those 70s singers in the style of Englebert Humperdink

Oh dear

Fortune Feimster

Beanie Feldstein

R35, well good on you for knowing the correct spelling of Engelbert Humperdinck right off the top of your head.

Ish Kabibble

Fatty Arbuckle

Soleil Moon Frye

Mercedes Ruehl or is it Mercedes RULE!

R22, his name is Armand Hammer, like his great-grandfather and his father. (He is Armand Douglas Hammer, his father is Michael Armand Hammer.)

When I first heard of billionaire Armand Hammer, I thought he must be the founder and owner of Arm & Hammer.

Sutton Foster

' Soon-yi Allen'

Yma Sumac (Amy Camus)

[quote]Raven-Symoné—Yes, a hyphen and an accent mark. Pretentious.

The accent mark changes the pronunciation to see-mo-NAY. Why the hell do people insist on worthless accent marks that just fuck things up? Eh, Raven see-mo-NAY? You want to answer that?

Texas Battle owns this thread.

He was Final Destination 3. He's kinda hot. Way hotter than Jussie SMH.

R19 Even American names can sound stupid. Just look at r12 , and they're the whitest of white girls you can get.

I actually like the ethnic names, so that makes you stand out in the bland Hollywood crowd. Names like

Idris Elba

Priyanka Chopra

Ken Jeong

But then you get the tongue twisters like

Uzo Aduba

Gugu Mbutha-Raw

Lady Bird

Lynda Bird... both Johnsons

Can you believe Englebert Humperdick is a name that man chose? I have a brief, true story. A friend worked at the historic Seelbach hotel and I happened to be down there, across the street on a upper floor when Englebert was in town for a concert. I peered out the window and a massive crowd of older women were gathered outside the Seelbach, rallying and cheering for Englebert!

R48, they were named that because everything the Johnson family had was embossed with their family's brand and the initials LBJ. His other daughter's name is Luci Baines Johnson.

Sorry, Englebert HUMPERDINCK. His given name is Arnold Dorsey.

R48, Lady Bird Johnson's first name was Claudia, but after she married LBJ, she never used it.

R49

[quote]I actually like the ethnic names, so that makes you stand out in the bland Hollywood crowd.

Me, too. It gives me great joy to say the name Obba Babatundé, for example. It doesn't hurt that he's incredibly talented, too.

Did we forget Soupy Sales? Even as a kid I couldn't stand him.

R52, I was watching a 1970s episode of "What's My Line" where he was usually at the head of the line. The lady next to him actually called him Soupy. Oy.

Debbie Shapiro Gravitte

I loved What's My Line. Been looking around any DVD collections. I'd also love to get the Arthur Fiedler/Boston Pops programs on DVD. Grew up on that stuff.

[quote] When I first heard of billionaire Armand Hammer, I thought he must be the founder and owner of Arm & Hammer.

He got that so often, that he ended up trying to buy the company. He was unsuccessful, but he did buy enough shares that he was on the board until his death.