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Every actor wants to be recognized in different corners of the world, to the point that the public remembers him or her just by hearing their name. However, it has happened more than once that from other disciplines, there are famous and outstanding people whose name and surname is similar or even the same as that of other actors or actresses. The most surprising thing is that these namesakes are not actual relatives.

At Bright Side, we researched various actors who have a similar first and last name to other celebrities from various sectors, be it acting, sports, or even royalty. We added a bonus at the end because these coincidences also occur in other professional fields.

1. Actor Michael B. Jordan and athlete Michael Jordan

Michael B. Jordan became known for playing T’Challa’s evil cousin in Black Panther. However, he also participated in other productions, both television and film. In his youth, he worked as a model for several companies related to sporting goods before taking the acting path. The reason why his signature bears a “B” is simply because his middle name is Bakari, which in Swahili means “a noble promise.”

However, in high school people would tease him because he had the same name as the basketball legend, Michael Jordan. The latter played 15 seasons in the NBA and won 6 championships before retiring after the 2002-2003 season.

Jordan also experimented with acting by starring in the animated movie Space Jam, inspired by a certain stage of his life. On the other hand, the actor Jordan played basketball as a student. But each ended up taking different paths.

2. Actress Rebecca Ferguson and singer Rebecca Ferguson

Rebecca Ferguson’s full name is Rebecca Louisa Ferguson Sundström, and she is a Swedish national. She participated in some film productions like Mission: Impossible 5 — Rogue Nation, and Dune. And although she is best known for her acting work, she also became involved in dance and commercials.

On the other hand, the other Rebecca Ferguson is a British singer and songwriter, and her full name is Rebecca Caroline Ferguson. She rose to fame after participating in a television show called The X Factor, which consisted of a talent search within the musical field.

3. Actor Billy Burke and actress Billie Burke

This is a case where both celebrities are actors with similar names, only one is a man and the other is a woman. Actor Billy Burke is known for playing Charlie, Bella Swan’s dad in the Twilight saga. But he also participated in several film and television productions, like 24 and Wonderland.

On the other hand, there is Billie Burke, who was an actress of the early twentieth century and whose most prominent role was that of the witch Glinda in the movie The Wizard of Oz. Because her father worked in a circus as a clown, she was attracted to the world of acting and became a stage actress at the age of 19.

4. Actor Adam Scott and golfer Adam Scott

Adam Scott is known for being an American actor who appeared in several television and film productions. Among his most notable works are the programs Party Down and Parks and Recreation. He has also appeared in CSI: Miami, Law and Order, Six Feet Under and Big Little Lies.

But he is not the only person known by that name, since in the field of sports, there is an Australian golfer named Adam Scott. This sportsman Scott won several victories, including 2 World Cup championships. His full name is Adam Derek Scott and he is nicknamed Scotty.

5. Actress Jane Seymour and Queen Jane Seymour

Actress Jane Seymour is best known for her starring role in the 1990s television series Dr. Quinn. She almost always plays rebellious and romantic characters; one of the most memorable is that of a young girl in love in the movie Somewhere in Time.

This actress’s full name is Joyce Penelope Wilhelmina Frankenberg, but she changed it to Jane Seymour because it was easier to remember and, also, as a reference to the queen of the same name. Her namesake was one of the wives of King Henry VIII and was known for having a gentle and peaceful personality.

6. Actor Robin Williams and singer Robbie Williams

Robin Williams was an actor who entertained many with his memorable comedies, such as Jumanji, Night at the Museum, and Patch Adams. He also lent his voice to play the Genie in the various animated Aladdin movies.

He also has a well-known namesake in the music industry, only his name is Robbie Williams, so there is a slight difference in the last letters of his name (although they sound almost the same). At the beginning of his career, he was part of a group called Take That. After separating from them, he continued as a soloist and achieved many successes.

7. Actor Albert Brooks (born Einstein) and physicist Albert Einstein

Although he was born Albert Einstein, this actor changed his last name to Brooks to avoid being confused with the famous scientist of the same name. Albert Brooks is known for acting in several films, such as Modern Romance and Broadcast News, for which he received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

On the other hand, physicist Albert Einstein is known for his great contribution to science by expounding the theory of relativity and the study of the origin and evolution of the universe. His most outstanding distinction is the Nobel Prize in Physics for his explanation of the photoelectric effect and his numerous contributions to theoretical physics.

8. Actor Jack Gleeson and comedian Jackie Gleason

Although actor Jack Gleeson is famous for his work in Game of Thrones, he had already started acting at the age of 8. He landed small roles in the films Reign of Fire and Batman Begins. In 2014 he took a long break but returned in 2020 as a television actor in some episodes of Out of Her Mind.

His namesake is Jackie Gleason, a comedian from the mid-20th century who is said to have had a great ability for verbal and visual expression. He was seen performing on The Jackie Gleason Show and The Honeymooners.

9. Actor Steve McQueen and filmmaker Steve McQueen

Steve McQueen was nicknamed “The King of Cool” and, among the themes he addressed in his career, were science fiction, action, and adrenaline-packed films. This is due, more than anything else, to his fondness for racing cars and motorcycles. Some of his performances can be seen in the films The Great Escape or The Cincinnati Kid.

His namesake is filmmaker Steve McQueen, who produced the film 12 Years a Slave, which won the Oscar for Best Picture. Before becoming a producer and director, he studied art and design in 2 different schools and dropped out of the 3rd one where he hated the experience. He notes Andy Warhol and Billy Wilder as 2 of his inspirations.

10. Actor Bill Murray and actor Billy Murray

The only difference is that one of them has a “Y” at the end of their nickname. However, their names are also very similar, since Bill Murray is William James Murray and Billy Murray is William Albert Murray (differing only in their middle names). Both are contemporary actors, although they specialize in different genres.

On the one hand, there is Bill, who started as a radio actor and ended up turning to television and film, focusing on comedies. His most prominent role has been in Ghostbusters. On the other hand, there is Billy, who had several minor roles in various films, such as Two Left Feet and Poor Cow. But it was in the ’90s when he stood out for his role in the series The Bill.

Bonus: The nobleman Francis Bacon and the painter Francis Bacon

Although Francis Bacon is known for his noble titles, he also excelled as a philosopher, politician, and writer. He laid the foundations for the experimental scientific method and developed the empirical theory of knowledge, thus becoming a pioneer of modern scientific thought.

During the 20th century, another Francis Bacon would become famous, but within the artistic sector. The painter Bacon stood out for creating an idiosyncratic figurative style and showing great ambiguity in each of his paintings.

Which celebrities do you know of that have the same first and last name and that cause you confusion? How do you manage to differentiate them when talking about them?

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