Carson Daly recalled a notable on-air mistake involving the pronunciation of actor Leonardo DiCaprio’s name during a live TV broadcast, a moment that has lingered with him since his early days on the Today show. This incident occurred years ago shortly after he joined the NBC morning program in 2013, highlighting the challenges Daly faced familiarizing himself with the teleprompter system live on air.
Carson Daly Reflects on His Live Broadcast Error
During an October 20 episode of Today, Carson Daly shared his struggle with saying Leonardo DiCaprio’s name correctly at the outset of his tenure. Speaking alongside co-anchors Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin, and guest co-host Andy Cohen, Daly recounted how, unfamiliar with the teleprompter, he mispronounced the renowned actor’s name.
“One of my big snafus was reading a story—when I was new here, too,”
Daly said.
I wasn’t used to the teleprompter, and I said—the story was about Leonardo [DiCaprio]—and I said ‘Leonardo Di-crap-io.’
Carson Daly, NBC Today host
Despite having avoided similar teleprompter mishaps since then, Daly admitted that the memory of this blunder still affects him. He confessed that even now, whenever he sees Leonardo DiCaprio’s name on the teleprompter, his heart races, demonstrating how deeply that experience stayed with him.
“To this day, when I see Leonardo’s name in the prompter, my heartbeat starts to go.”
Carson Daly, NBC Today host
Leonardo DiCaprio’s Own Early Career Name Challenge
Interestingly, Leonardo DiCaprio himself revealed that he nearly altered his own name early in his career, providing context to Daly’s memorable slip. On the New Heights podcast hosted by Travis and Jason Kelce in September, the actor spoke about advice he received from his first agent, who claimed his birth name was too ethnic for Hollywood.
“I finally got an agent. They said, ‘Your name is too ethnic,’
DiCaprio recalled.
I go, ‘What do you mean? It’s Leonardo DiCaprio.’ They go, ‘No, too ethnic. They’re never gonna hire you. Your new name is Lenny Williams.’
Leonardo DiCaprio, actor
The proposed alternative drew on his middle name, Wilhelm, leading to the suggestion of “Lenny Williams.” However, DiCaprio’s father, George DiCaprio, firmly rejected the idea.
“My dad saw his photo, ripped it up, and he said, ‘Over my dead body.’”
Leonardo DiCaprio, actor
Ultimately, the actor retained his original name, which has since become globally recognized. This decision underlines the importance both he and his family placed on personal and cultural identity in the entertainment industry.
Famous Celebrities Who Changed Their Names for Fame
While Leonardo DiCaprio kept his birth name, many other well-known figures have adopted stage names to navigate show business. Below are several notable examples illustrating a variety of reasons behind these changes, from honoring relatives to making a name easier to remember or more marketable.
Artist Names Inspired by Personal and Professional Choices
Austin Richard Post is best known as Post Malone, embracing his surname while allowing close friends to use his given name. At the 2024 MTV VMAs, Taylor Swift called him “Austin” when accepting the Best Collaboration award for their song Fortnite, showing a personal connection behind his public persona.
Aubrey Frances Anderson-Emmons, who played Lilly on Modern Family, shortened her stage name to Frances Anderson for her music career, partially to simplify her original long, hyphenated name. She explained the choice included honoring a family friend and making the name more manageable.
“Frances is actually part of my legal name—it’s my middle name, and it’s after my mom’s old family friend,”
Aubrey Frances Anderson-Emmons, actress and musician
“I thought, one, it was a bit shorter than ‘Aubrey Anderson-Emmons.’ I do have a long, hyphenated last name.”
Aubrey Frances Anderson-Emmons, actress and musician
William Carl Radke, recognized on Bravo’s Summer House as Carl Radke, revealed that William is actually his first name on legal documents, while Carl is his middle name. Despite this, he has been called Carl since birth, showing how legal and professional names often differ.
“My I.D. and my passport—my first name is William,”
he shared.
“So, my middle name is Carl, but I’ve always, since day one, been called Carl.”
William Carl Radke, reality TV star
Sterling Kelby Brown used to go by his middle name Kelby during his youth to avoid confusion with his father and grandfather, both named Sterling Brown. After his father’s passing from a heart attack, the This Is Us actor returned to using Sterling in tribute.
“My dad’s name is Sterling Brown Jr., my grandfather is Sterling Brown Sr.,”
Brown explained.
“I wanted my own name and it felt like Sterling was an old man’s name.”
“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,”
he added.
“I was like, ‘I kinda just want to hear that name again.’ So I asked people to call me Sterling.”
Sterling Kelby Brown, actor
Stage Names Adopted from Family and Personal Identity
The Lawrence brothers—Andrew, Matthew, and Joey—also embraced a professional surname distinct from their own, following an agent’s critique of their original family name. Joey Lawrence was the first to change his middle name into his stage surname.
Katherine Victoria Litwack, widely known as Kat Dennings, adopted her stage name at nine years old to avoid having her real name displayed publicly on a poster. Inspired by Christina Ricci’s character Kat from the movie Casper and the surname of a family friend, Janine Denni, Dennings merged elements she admired for her identity.
For more than 30 years, Cher was known under a variation of her legal first name, Cheryl Sarkisian, without realizing her true birth name. It was only after obtaining her birth certificate in the late 1970s that she discovered her real first name was Cheryl, not Cherilyn as she had believed. Her mother Georgia Holt, recalling the experience, empathized with the young singer.
“I was only a teenager, and I was in a lot of pain. Give me a break.”
Georgia Holt, pop icon’s mother
Collins Obinna Chibueze, an outlaw country artist, adopted the nickname and stage name Shaboozey after a high school clerical error in Virginia misspelled his last name, demonstrating how accidents can shape public identity.
Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson initially released a Christian album under her birth name but later chose the stage name Katy Perry, inspired by her mother’s maiden name, to appeal to a broader pop audience.
Belcalis Almanzar became widely known as Cardi B, a variation of “Bacardi” chosen due to family nicknames. She later shortened the name to better fit her career identity.
Rachel Meghan Markle, before becoming the Duchess of Sussex, was also briefly known as Rachel, showing how even royals sometimes adjust their names during early careers.
Stage Names Formed to Avoid Confusion or Build a Unique Persona
In other cases, artists selected new names to establish distinct personas or avoid confusion. Shania Twain, born Eilleen Regina Edwards, explained on Apple Music’s Home Now Radio that although she was named after her grandmothers, she preferred a unique stage name that distanced her from family connections.
“In short, I was born, Eilleen Regina Edwards, and then I was adopted and I became Eilleen Regina Twain. Then I became a professional singer and I needed a stage name that sounded a little less like my grandmother’s name, because I’m named after my grandmother, both my grandmothers, Eilleen and Regina,”
Twain shared.
I met somebody with the name Shania, thought it was beautiful, and Shania Twain was born.”
Shania Twain, singer
Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, known on stage as Chappell Roan, has explained that her persona was designed as a drag project to maintain boundaries between personal life and the music industry.
Jelena Noura Hadid, better known as Gigi Hadid, received her nickname due to a teacher’s confusion with another student named Helena. Her mother called her Gigi at home, prompting the teacher to adopt the name officially, which stuck.
Mark Vincent is better recognized in Hollywood as Vin Diesel, opting for a name more aligned with his action-star image.
Destiny Hope Cyrus chose the nickname Miley, a shortened and affectionate form of Smiley, a name given to her for her bright smile during childhood. This name has remained publicly associated with her ever since.
Peter Gene Hernandez became known as Bruno Mars, a nickname his father gave him because he thought the name Bruno suited him better than Peter.
Stefani Germanotta transformed into Lady Gaga early in her career, embracing a bold persona that distinguished her from her given name and New York origins.
Additional Insights on Famous Stage Names
Jason Sudeikis, born Daniel Sudeikis, revealed that to avoid confusion with his father, his mother started calling him by his middle name, Jason, which became his public identity.
Emma Stone adopted her stage name after discovering another actor had already registered under her birth name with the Screen Actors Guild.
Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon’s choice of using Reese as her professional name pays homage to her mother’s maiden surname, not her middle name, as many assume.
Elizabeth Woolridge Grant is the real name of Lana Del Rey, the singer’s alter ego, which she uses to craft a distinct artistic identity.
Christopher Edwin Breaux legally changed his name to Frank Ocean in 2014, a move that reflected a new chapter in his career.
Elizabeth Stamatina Fey, known as Tina Fey, made a subtle nod to her actual name through her character Liz Lemon on 30 Rock.
Calvin Broadus, known globally as Snoop Dogg, is a central figure in West Coast rap who adopted a memorable stage name early on.
Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O’Connor chose the stage name Lorde, reflecting her interest in aristocracy with the feminine twist in spelling.
Enrique Morales found success as Ricky Martin, a more approachable and marketable name in the pop music world.
Amethyst Kelly is better recognized as Iggy Azalea, a name that helped her stand out in the music industry.
Adam Richard Wiles, better known as Calvin Harris, explained he selected his stage name to reflect a soulful sound and a more racially ambiguous identity.
Jennifer Anastassakis, before achieving fame, answered to her birth name before adopting the now-famous name Jennifer Aniston.
Why Name Changes Matter in Entertainment
The experiences shared by Carson Daly and Leonardo DiCaprio illustrate the pressures surrounding names in show business. A name can shape perceptions, affect casting decisions, and influence an artist’s marketability. For Daly, the early teleprompter mistake involving Leonardo DiCaprio’s name remains a memorable learning moment, while DiCaprio’s own resistant choice to keep his birth name emphasizes the importance of authenticity.
This pattern continues throughout Hollywood and music industries, where artists carefully craft or adapt their public identities, balancing personal heritage with career strategies. Understanding these name changes provides insight into the complexities entertainers face as they build their careers.
