Born October 17th, 1900 in Plattsburgh, New York, Gladys Georgianna Greene (AKA Jean Arthur) got her start as an actress after being 'discovered' by Fox Studios while modeling in New York City. Despite the opportunity, success in Hollywood was an uphill battle, and she was relegated to many 'B' movie roles and received luke-warm reviews. But, she persisted, and when talking films became the 'in' thing, her unique, throaty voice (eventually) worked to her advantage.
In the early 1930s, Jean added Broadway to her acting experience, getting good reviews and drawing more attention, which led to better opportunities on the silver screen. The turning point in her career came with 1936's "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" opposite Gary Cooper. She became a top box office draw, and in due time she earned an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for 1943's "The More the Merrier". Not long after, Jean mostly stepped back from public life, only taking a few roles here and there.
Jean Arthur chose her stage name from two legendary heroes, Jeanne d'Arc and King Arthur.
2. Gilda Gray (1901)
Answer: Marianna Michalska
Born October 24th, 1901 in Kraków, Poland, Marianna Michalska (AKA Gilda Gray) came to America with a foster family at the age of eight after being orphaned. She became a cabaret dancer and actress who, already at the age of 18, became synonymous with a dance move called the 'shimmy', which she purportedly invented and introduced to audiences in New York.
Her acting career was not a long one, and was mostly dancing roles, but poor health kept her from doing much more as she survived a heart attack in 1931. Eventually, it was another heart attack that would claim her life in 1959.
Gilda chose the name 'Mary Gray' for her early stage name, and later the more glamorous 'Gilda' was suggested, and she adopted it.
3. Larry Fine (1902)
Answer: Louis Feinberg
Born October 5th, 1902, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Louis Feinberg (AKA Larry Fine) was an actor and comedian best known as one of the Three Stooges. He started out learning violin, and might have pursued that as a career, but World War I prevented him from going to the European music conservatory that his parents wanted him to attend. Instead, he started out with vaudeville as a violinist, which soon extended into comedy. It was on the vaudeville circuit that he began the role of the 'stooge' with Shemp Howard, whose brothers Moe and Larry would also play the parts. It would define his career, and he made over 200 films before retiring in 1970 after a stroke.
Larry's stage name came from his nickname combined with simply shortening his real last name Feinberg.
4. Claudette Colbert (1903)
Answer: Émilie Claudette Chauchoin
Born September 13th, 1903, in Saint-Mandé, France, Émilie Claudette Chauchoin (AKA Claudette Colbert) was a film and stage actress who came to the United States at the tender age of three when her family came looking for better employment opportunities. Claudette originally thought to pursue a career in the fashion industry as a designer, but circumstances led to small acting opportunities, and she followed them.
She began on the stage, and although she was largely typecast as the French ingenue, she grew out of those roles when she made the move to film. Her early roles were successful, but true stardom came with 1934's "It Happened One Night", for which she won the Oscar for Best Actress. And that same year, she also starred in "Cleopatra" and "Imitation of Life". All three films were nominated for Best Picture.
Claudette was already using her middle name when she also decided to adopt her maternal grandmother's maiden name Colbert to complete her stage name. And, in an effort to reduce the 'French' typecasting, she would pronounce the name as it looks, instead of the French pronunciation (col-baire).
5. Cary Grant (1904)
Answer: Archibald Alec Leach
Born January 18th, 1904, in Horfield, Bristol, U.K., Archibald Alec Leach (AKA Cary Grant) was an actor who started out in theatre in England before moving to the U.S. as a teenager. After some time doing vaudeville, Grant moved to Hollywood in the early 1930s to pursue a movie career.
By the late 1930s, Grant had established himself as one of the top leading men in the industry, with 1937's "The Awful Truth" launching him to stardom. He had a long and successful career, although he did not win either of his two nominations for Best Actor at the Academy Awards. In 1970, however, he was presented an honorary Oscar "For his unique mastery of the art of screen acting with the respect and affection of his colleagues".
Grant's stage name was basically assigned to him upon the signing of his contract with Paramount Studios - the first name coming from a previous stage role, and the last name suggested by the studio.
6. Greta Garbo (1905)
Answer: Greta Lovisa Gustafsson
Born September 18th, 1905, in Stockholm, Sweden, Greta Lovisa Gustafsson (AKA Greta Garbo) came to America in 1925 after acting in just one Swedish film, at the suggestion of Louis B. Mayer, chief executive of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. By the time Garbo did two films in Hollywood she had achieved international stardom and was MGM's biggest (female) star.
She earned three Oscar nominations during her career, but despite her successes, she was unhappy with the Hollywood life, and retired at the age of 35, after only 28 films.
Greta, of course, was her actual first name, and her last name made a couple of changes early on before settling on Garbo. The original name suggested by Swedish director Mauritz Stiller was 'Greta Marno', but they would settle on 'Greta Garbo', instead.
7. Mary Astor (1906)
Answer: Lucile Vasconcellos Langhanke
Born May 3rd, 1906, in Quincy, Illinois, Lucile Vasconcellos Langhanke (AKA Mary Astor) began her career in silent films, but with the advent of talkies she had difficulty landing roles, due to her voice being considered 'too masculine'. After doing some stage acting, however, the talking film roles started coming.
Although she only ever had the one nomination (and win) at the Academy Awards as Best Supporting Actress for 1941's "The Great Lie", Mary Astor had a long career, overcoming scandal and personal loss and struggle to leave a legacy of quality in her acting.
When she was originally signed to Paramount Pictures as a teen, the stage name 'Mary Astor' was chosen for her.
8. John Wayne (1907)
Answer: Marion Robert Morrison
Born May 26th, 1907, in Winterset, Iowa, Marion Robert Morrison (AKA John Wayne) was an actor who became synonymous with Western movies and being a man's man. He starred in over 70 Westerns (most of them low-budget) over his career, and was the leading man in 142 films (a record at the time).
Wayne's stardom, however, didn't come until he was cast in John Ford's 1939 film "Stagecoach". He later received a nomination for Best Actor for "Sands of Iwo Jima" (1949), but he would have to wait until the 42nd Academy Awards to win for Best Actor for 1969's "True Grit".
In 1979, John Wayne was presented the Congressional Gold Medal for his 'enduring status as an iconic American', and in 1980 (posthumously), the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He passed away on June 11th, 1979.
His first screen credit was as 'Duke Morrison', but when cast in 1930's "The Big Trail", the director wanted to name him 'Anthony Wayne' after Revolutionary War general "Mad" Anthony Wayne. The studio chief disagreed and suggested 'John Wayne', instead.
9. Milton Berle (1908)
Answer: Mendel Berlinger
Born July 12th, 1908, in New York, New York, Mendel Berlinger (AKA Milton Berle) was an actor and comedian who started out in silent films as a child actor after winning a Charlie Chaplin contest at age five. He transitioned into vaudeville and developed his stand up comedian skills during this time. Radio followed, which truly expanded his recognition and led to his iconic television role to come.
Berle is probably best known as 'Mr. Television' as host of "Texaco Star Theatre" (which eventually became "The Milton Berle Show"), in the late 1940s and early 1950s. 'Uncle Miltie' continued working in television, film, and doing stand up comedy for many more years, with his last acting role in the year 2000 before being diagnosed with colon cancer and passing in 2002.
He changed his name in 1920, choosing 'Milton Berle' as a variation of his real name.
10. Victor Borge (1909)
Answer: Børge Rosenbaum
Born January 3rd, 1909, in Copenhagen, Denmark, Børge Rosenbaum (AKA Victor Borge) was a classically trained musical prodigy who began performing at a very young age. After a few years working as a professional pianist, Borge developed his comedic routine, combining humour with his musical skill. When World War II brought the German invasion of Denmark in 1940, Borge was able to escape to Finland and then to the United States.
After more than 80 years of entertaining, Victor Borge passed away at the age of 91, just three months after his wife (married 47 years).
After breaking into the American entertainment industry, he chose 'Victor Borge' as his (Americanized) stage name.
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor skunkee before going online.
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