Fans in disbelief over Hollywood actor Vin Diesel's real name
Fans have been stunned to learn that Fast & Furious legend Vin Diesel isn't actually called Vin Diesel, with the story of his stage name dating back to his pre-fame years as a New York bouncer
Known for his tough guy persona, the very name Vin Diesel conjures up images of an action hero ready for any scenario, whether that be racing cars at top speeds or fighting in intergalactic battles.
Many have therefore been stunned to learn that Vin Diesel isn't actually called Vin Diesel at all, having deliberately picked a stage name that would better reflect his super buff public image.
Away from the bright lights of the movie studio, however, the 57-year-old Fast & Furious legend goes by a very different moniker.
In a 2005 appearance of The Ellen Show, a clip of which has since gone viral, host Ellen DeGeneres pressed Vin on the moniker 'Vin Diesel', which she asserted couldn't "possibly" be the name on his birth certificate.
To the amazement of viewers, California-born Vin confessed: "You know what, it's not." He then went on to reveal: "My real name is Mark Vincent."
Going on to detail the origins of his famous stage name, Vin explained that it dates back to his time working as a New York City nightclub bouncer.
He shared: "I was a bouncer for nine years, and the name stuck. We all had fictitious names just in case we got in trouble or anything."
While Vin is of course a shortened version of Vincent, 'Diesel' is a reference to the star's love of working out. Vin continued: "Vin from Vincent. [...]When you're probably built up a little, you say, 'that guy is diesel'."
Fans have naturally been baffled by this revelation, with one aghast person tweeting: "Vin Diesel has a real name?" In a humorous nod to Vin's most famous character, another commented: "I think we all know that his REAL name is Dominic Torreto."
Of course, Vin is far from the only Hollywood star who has opted to go for a completely different name. Whoopi Goldberg of Sister Act fame was, in fact, born Caryn Elaine Johnson, but wanted something that would stand out a little bit more in the world of showbiz.
As Whoopi explained in her 2024 memoir, Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, and Me, the name she is best known for was partially inspired by her tendency for flatulence. She admitted: "Some people at the Rep called me Whoopi because I would sometimes let loose with a fart."
Meanwhile, acclaimed Golden Globe winner Jamie Foxx is actually called Eric Marlon Bishop. During a 2024 appearance on Angie Martinez's radio show, the Django Unchained actor divulged how his pick dates back to his early days as a stand-up starting out in LA.
He recalled: "I went on as Eric Bishop [and] killed. Standing ovation. I come back the next weekend. You sign your name. I don't get on. Next week, I don't get on again. Come to find out, the comics are running the list. So I could never get on."
After trying out another venue, Jamie found he had more success using "unisex names" due to male comics vastly outweighing the number of female comics. The name Jamie Foxx git him booked, and he's stuck with it ever since.
Legally Blonde icon Reese Witherspoon is another A-lister who has opted for a different name. Born Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon, Reese ultimately decided on a name that felt more 'Hollywood', as previously reported by Women's Health.
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