Celebs with Three Names
Did anyone else notice the explosion in the 90’s with celebs with three names? What’s that all about? Whenever I’m listing their teen pinups and posters on my website, it seems like so much work because their freaking name is so long. I know. I’m a whiner. I know someone else had to notice all the celebs with three names. It can’t just be me, right?
I’ll begin with some of the celebs with three names NOT from the 90’s. It seemed more natural back then to have an extra name. Once the 90’s hit, it almost seemed like a prerequisite in becoming a star. Anyway….
Pre 90’s
We’ll start with Mr. Billy Dee Williams. Does anyone else hear Eddie Murphy’s voice whenever someone mentions Billy Dee’s name? “Billy Dee! Billy Dee!” ???? Mr. Williams is actually, get this, William December Williams, Jr. He is such a cool guy that he can do whatever he wants with his name.
We had a couple of “Sue” girls in the 70’s. Pamela Sue Martin got to work with Shaun Cassidy and Parker Stevenson on the Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew TV show. Melissa Sue Anderson got to work with Michael Landon on Little House on the Prairie (and before that, she got to kiss Bobby Brady!).
We also had some “Lee” people before the influx of celebs with three names in the 90’s. Jamie Lee Curtis and Tommy Lee Jones had three names but it flows and seems very natural, just like the Sue girls above.
Exceptions
Michael J. Fox had a good reason for kind of almost doing the three namer. I guess he’s more like a two and a halfer. When he was getting started and signed up with the Screen Actors Guild, there was already a Michael Fox. (FYI, that actor played Saul on The Bold and the Beautiful.) Michael J. is actually a Michael Andrew Fox. He thought it sounded weird (and perhaps a bit conceited) to go with Michael A. Fox. “Oooohhhh, he’s such a fox!” So, he chose the middle initial J. instead of A. It’s also a tribute to actor Michael J. Pollard.
Mark Paul Gosselaar was a big teen idol in the 90’s. He shot to fame portraying Zack Morris on Saved By the Bell. In his defense, I think Mark Paul IS his first name. His middle name is Harry. So……Mark Paul gets a break.
Brian Austin Green who played David Silver on Beverly Hills, 90210 also gets a break. He was born plain ole Brian Green. He added the middle name when he signed up for the Screen Actors Guild and there was already a Brian Green listed. Just like Michael J. Fox, he changed his name to join. I wonder if he planned on his acronym being BAG.
Joseph Gordon Levitt hit it big playing Tommy in 3rd Rock from the Sun. Joseph is also an exception for the three name offenders. Gordon Levitt is his last name. His middle name is Leonard. So, he’s technically only using his first and last name.
Anthony Michael Hall gets a bit of a pass, but not a full one. His birth name is Michael Anthony Hall. When he went to join the Screen Actors Guild, there was already an actor with the name Michael Hall. He switched his names around to get Anthony Michael, but I wonder why he didn’t just go with Michael Anthony Hall. So, half a pass for you. You didn’t have to change your name.
90’s Three Namers
One of the biggest teen idols to come from the 90’s was Jonathan Taylor Thomas. He, of course, played Randy Taylor on Home Improvement. The teen magazines appeared to have the same problem as I do with the tedious amount of extra work with his long name. They shortened him to JTT.
Tiffani Amber Thiessen dated BAG (Brian Austin Green) from above. Man, that’s a lot of names in that relationship. She’s known for many things, but TAT first shot to teen idol status playing Kelly Kapowski on Saved By the Bell. She went on to work with BAG in Beverly Hills 90210. She has since dropped her middle name. Good for you.
Neil Patrick Harris is awesome! I love him. He was on the scene in the late 80’s with Doogie Howser, M.D. Click here to check out my blog about him.
Also included in the big 90’s boom of three namers is Thomas Ian Nicholas, Jason James Richter, Sean Patrick Flanery, and Chad Michael Murray (he actually showed up in the beginning of the next decade).
Girls
The celebs with three names isn’t just limited to the boy teen idols. The girls wanted in on the action too. I already talked about Tiffani Amber Thiessen. Adding to the list is Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Jessica Parker, Melissa Joan Hart, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and I’m sure many more.
Conclusion
When I’m listing my teen pinups for sale, I love when it’s people like Chad Allen, Davy Jones, Andy Gibb, Rob Lowe, Luke Perry, and names like that. So easy! I seriously want to know if anyone else ever considered all the celebs with three names. Is it just a weird pet peeve of mine? Let me know if this ever crossed your mind. Check out all of my three namers in my eBay store. See you next week!