Keanu Reeves, known worldwide for his iconic roles, nearly altered his identity when he first started acting, revealing a brief period during which he adopted a different name. His reflections on the moment shed light on the pressures actors face early in their careers and highlight Keanu’s eventual decision to remain true to his real name despite industry expectations.
Keanu Reeves’ Brief Experiment with a Stage Name
In an interview on the October 15 episode of the New Heights podcast, Keanu Reeves shared that he started acting professionally around the age of 16 or 17. While filming a movie in Toronto, he landed an agent in Los Angeles, prompting a critical moment in his career. When he arrived in Los Angeles at age 20, his manager immediately suggested that he change his name to something more marketable.
Keanu found himself puzzled because no alternative name was immediately proposed. This led him to seriously consider new options for a stage name.
“I was a professional actor around 16, 17,”
Reeves recalled.
“I ended up doing a movie in Toronto that got me an agent in L.A. So, at 20 years old, I drove in my car to Los Angeles, got out of my car, and my manager said, ‘We want to change your name.’”
While reflecting on the experience, Keanu described walking along a beach, pondering the possibilities. He toyed with variations inspired by his middle name Charles and local influences like a street where he grew up.
“I remember I was walking on the beach and I was like, ‘My name? What if I change my name?’”
he said.
“My middle name is Charles, so I was like ‘Chuck?’ And I grew up on a street called Spadina, [so I thought] ‘Chuck Spadina?’ Then I was like, ‘something Templeton.’ But then I became ‘KC Reeves.’”
Despite initially adopting “KC Reeves” for his first movie, Keanu soon realized he couldn’t fully embrace the new identity.
“And then I couldn’t do it,”
he admitted.
“So then I would be in auditions and they would go, ‘KC Reeves.’ And I wouldn’t even answer. Six months later, I was like, ‘I’m not doing this.’ That’s a Hollywood moment.”
Commitment to His Birth Name and Relationship Updates
Although Keanu Reeves ultimately kept his original name professionally, he has not taken his longtime girlfriend Alexandra Grant’s surname. The couple, who began dating in 2018, sparked rumors about marriage when speculation arose in September 2023. Alexandra Grant, a film director, dismissed the gossip with a candid social media post showing the two sharing a kiss.
She captioned the photo humorously, “This is a real photo,” clarifying,
“Not an engagement photo or an AI wedding announcement… simply a kiss!”
Keanu himself appreciated Grant’s straightforward approach when addressing the rumors at the October 13 premiere of his movie Good Fortune in New York.
“Well, that wasn’t the first time,”
Reeves told E! News.
“We’ve been going out for a long time. The wedding, it’s a nice thing. People did a lot of nice messages and stuff, but Alexandra just did a wonderful [job] addressing. Like, ‘Thank you, but here’s the reality.’”
Other Notable Celebrity Name Changes
Keanu Reeves’ experience is part of a broader phenomenon in the entertainment industry, where many stars adopt stage names to enhance their personas or simplify their identities. Below are several examples of notable celebrities who altered or considered altering their names during their careers.
Austin Richard Post
Known professionally as Post Malone, Austin Richard Post creatively incorporated his surname into his stage name. Despite his public persona, close friends and collaborators often call him by his birth name. This was highlighted during the 2024 MTV VMAs, when Taylor Swift addressed him as Austin while accepting the Best Collaboration award for their song “Fortnite.”
Aubrey Frances Anderson-Emmons
The actress who gained fame as Lilly on Modern Family performed under the longer name Aubrey Anderson-Emmons but later adopted Frances Anderson as her musical persona. She explained in a 2025 E! News interview that Frances is her middle name and an homage to a family friend. She added,
“I thought, one, it was a bit shorter than ‘Aubrey Anderson-Emmons.’ I do have a long, hyphenated last name.”
William Carl Radke
Reality TV star known as Carl Radke revealed to fans that his legal first name is actually William, a detail that surprised many viewers. Speaking to PopViewers in August 2025, he explained,
“My I.D. and my passport—my first name is William,”
adding,
“So, my middle name is Carl, but I’ve always, since day one, been called Carl.”
Sterling Kelby Brown
The acclaimed actor Sterling K. Brown shared that he had used his middle name Kelby during his early years to avoid confusion with his father and grandfather, who share the same first name.
“My dad’s name is Sterling Brown Jr., my grandfather is Sterling Brown Sr.,”
he detailed on The Kelly Clarkson Show in April 2025. He explained he felt Sterling sounded like “an old man’s name,” but after his father’s passing, he reclaimed the name as a tribute.
“Because he passed away when I was 10, by the time I turned 16 and I hadn’t heard his name for five, five-and-a-half years, I was like, ‘I kinda just want to hear that name again.’ So I asked people to call me Sterling.”
Andrew, Matthew, and Joey Mignogna
Actors Andrew Lawrence, Matthew Lawrence, and Joey Lawrence adopted “Lawrence” as their professional last name after a talent agent critiqued their family name. Joey, whose middle name is Lawrence, was the first to make the change, setting a precedent for his siblings’ stage names.
Katherine Victoria Litwack
Kat Dennings chose her stage name early in childhood, at just nine years old, well before her first television appearance. She told Kylie Kelce on the March 13, 2025 episode of the podcast Not Gonna Lie With Kylie Kelce that her original name felt unsuitable for public display. Dennings explained that her stage name draws from Kat, a character played by Christina Ricci in the film Casper, and the surname of Janine Denni, a family friend connected to her mother.
Cheryl Sarkisian
For decades, Cher believed her legal first name was Cherilyn until she discovered otherwise while obtaining official documents to change her name legally. In her 2024 memoir, Cher: The Memoir, Part One, the pop icon recounted her mother Georgia Holt’s reaction:
“I was only a teenager, and I was in a lot of pain. Give me a break.”
Holt had given birth to Cher at 19 and was overwhelmed by the experience, which explains the earlier misregistration of the singer’s name.
Collins Obinna Chibueze
The outlaw country musician Collins Obinna Chibueze adopted the nickname Shaboozey after his surname was misspelled during high school in Virginia. This nickname later became his official stage name as he pursued a career in music.
Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson
Pop superstar Katy Perry started her career releasing a Christian album under her birth name, but she later adopted the stage name inspired by her mother’s maiden name, aiming to better resonate with pop audiences.
Belcalis Almanzar
Rapper Cardi B derived her stage name from a family-inspired nickname, originally called Bacardi after her sister was nicknamed Hennessy. Over time, she shortened it to Cardi, creating her now-famous identity.
Rachel Meghan Markle
The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, was known briefly as Rachel earlier in her life before rising to international prominence.
Eilleen Regina Edwards
Shania Twain explained the origin of her stage name during a 2025 Apple Music interview, detailing that she was born Eilleen Regina Edwards and later adopted her stepfather’s surname. Seeking a stage name less connected to family names, Twain explained,
“I met somebody with the name Shania, thought it was beautiful, and Shania Twain was born.”
Kayleigh Rose Amstutz
Known as Chappell Roan onstage, Kayleigh Rose Amstutz created a distinct persona through this alter ego, which began as a drag project. This allowed her to separate her personal identity from her professional career while maintaining control over her image.
Jelena Noura Hadid
Supermodel Gigi Hadid acquired her nickname in school after a teacher confused her name with another student. Her mother’s pet name for her, Gigi, was adopted to resolve the confusion and eventually became her professional moniker.
Mark Vincent
Vin Diesel, known for his action-packed films, chose his stage name to evoke a sense of power and impact, diverging from his birth name, Mark Vincent.
Destiny Hope Cyrus
Miley Cyrus’ nickname originated from her cheerful childhood smile, initially called Smiley before it was shortened simply to Miley and became her official stage name.
Peter Gene Hernandez
Bruno Mars was given his stage name after his father started calling him Bruno due to a resemblance to wrestler Bruno Sammartino, a nickname that stuck throughout his career.
Stefani Germanotta
Before becoming Lady Gaga, she was Stefani Germanotta, a New York native whose stage persona brought a new dimension to her career in music and performance art.
Daniel Sudeikis
Comedian Jason Sudeikis was originally named Daniel but his mother began using his middle name to avoid confusion, a choice that eventually became his professional identity.
Emily Stone
To join the Screen Actors Guild, Emma Stone adopted her stage name after discovering another member was registered under her birth name, Emily.
Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon
Reese Witherspoon selected her professional first name to honor her mother’s maiden name, creatively adapting her identity for the screen.
Elizabeth Woolridge Grant
Known as Lana Del Rey, Elizabeth Woolridge Grant created an alter ego to differentiate her musical persona from her personal life.
Christopher Edwin Breaux
Frank Ocean legally changed his name in 2014, marking a significant personal and professional moment in his career.
Elizabeth Stamatina Fey
The comedian Tina Fey’s real name is Elizabeth, a fact she subtly referenced by naming her character Liz Lemon on the TV show 30 Rock.
Calvin Broadus
The legendary West Coast rapper gained fame under his stage name Snoop Dogg, which replaced his birth name Calvin Broadus.
Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O’Connor
The artist Lorde chose her stage name inspired by her interest in aristocracy, adopting a feminized version of “Lord” to reflect her unique identity.
Enrique Morales
Before global stardom, Ricky Martin performed under his birth name, Enrique Morales.
Amethyst Kelly
Known today as Iggy Azalea, she started her life as Amethyst Kelly before developing her rap persona.
Adam Richard Wiles
Calvin Harris explained that he selected his stage name to present a more soulful and racially ambiguous identity, distinguishing his DJ persona from his given name.
Jennifer Anastassakis
Before becoming widely known as Jennifer Aniston, the actress used her original surname as part of her early identity.
