These Celebrities Don't Actually Use Their Real Names

Mindy Kaling

Mindy Kaling, best known for her time on "The Office," wasn't born Mindy at all. Her given name is Hindu, Vera Mindy Chokalingam. Her parents are originally from India, and Vera is "the incarnation of a Hindu goddess," she said. But her parents always called her Mindy growing up. 

Tina Fey

Tina Fey was born Elizabeth Stamatina Fey, and comes from a Greek background. Tina is just the shortened version of her middle name, so she didn't fully reinvent her acting persona. Her "30 Rock" character, Liz Lemon, is a nod to her birth name.

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The More You Know

  • Uncle Phil from Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was also the voice of Shredder from the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon.
  • Chuck Norris’s first name is actually Carlos.
  • Kanye West used to work at the Gap.
  • Brad Pitt first gained recognition as a cowboy hitchhiker in the road movie Thelma & Louise.
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Post originally appeared on Upbeat News.