May 7th 2024.
Whoopi Goldberg, the iconic actress and comedian, recently revealed the story behind her decision to change her name before she made it big in Hollywood. Born Caryn Johnson, she had a completely different name in mind when she was starting out her career.
With her one-woman show in the 1980s, Whoopi quickly became a household name in the entertainment industry. Her roles in blockbuster hits such as The Lion King, Sister Act, and Ghost earned her an Oscar for best supporting actress. In her new memoir, Bits and Pieces, the talented EGOT-winner delved into her early career and the moment she chose a new identity - based on her flatulence.
"I wanted a name that sounded more interesting once I started getting parts in plays," Whoopi shared. "Caryn Johnson just wasn't cutting it." It was her colleagues at the Rep who started calling her "Whoopi" because she would occasionally let out a fart. She then added "Cush-ione" to her nickname, with a French pronunciation.
It wasn't until she received a positive review from journalist Welton Jones that her mother, Emma Harris, found out about her new name. "She asked me, 'What is this Whoopi Cushione?'" Whoopi recalled. "I explained the whole farting thing to her." While Whoopi was set on keeping her first name, her mother suggested adding "Goldberg" to make it more substantial and serious.
"My mother advised me, 'If you want people to take you seriously, you need a more substantial name,'" Whoopi shared. "I sarcastically asked her, 'Oh, really? What do you think it should be?'" Her mother suggested taking a name from the family tree, and "Goldberg" was the one that stuck. From then on, only her family and a few close friends continued to call her Caryn.
But Whoopi isn't the only celebrity who changed their name before becoming famous. Katy Perry and Sir David Jason had to switch things around, and Emma Stone has expressed her desire to go by her birth name, Emily Stone. Even Jurassic Park star Sam Neill had a different name growing up - Nigel Neill. He revealed on the Kelly Clarkson show that he and his best friend decided to give themselves nicknames based on their love for Westerns, and "Sam" was the best decision he ever made.
"I was called Sam and he was called Bill, and that was the best decision I ever made," Sam shared. "There are no film actors called Nigel Neill, that's never going to happen." And the rest, as they say, is history.
It's not uncommon for celebrities to change their names before finding fame. If you have a unique story to share, we would love to hear from you! You can email us, call us, or visit our Submit Stuff page. We are always on the lookout for interesting stories from our readers.
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