How Did Michael Pick His Screen Name?

From an interview in the 70's.

“I picked the name Mike Lane and I went down to the Screen Actors Guild to register and they were shooting a film at that time called ‘The Harder They Fall.’ And Mike Lane was a guy about 6’ 7” who was staring in that particular film and I felt no reason to go to him and tell him to change his name. So I grabbed the phone book. I picked Mike Landon out of the phone book.”.........Michael Landon

He picked a good name. I wonder if he leaglly changed his name to Michael Landon?

That was the name on his Driver's License......

I think you have to change it for legal documents, although some will use one for public, one for license, etc. Even Cher had to go to court to drop her last name and just use Cher. I'm sure he changed it.
I noticed many years ago, some authors or actors would have 2 names, one legal and one stage but you can't put a stage name on a legal document.

Yes, name changes....legal name changes takes a document in court....we did several when I worked at the lawfirm....There are a lot of stars that changed their names for acting purposes, so I don't know how they got away with putting it on legal documents without legal proof.....

Wait a minute. So Michael Landon isn't is real name? Never mind, I found out his real name. Eugene Maurice Orowitz. I can understand he wanted change his name to Michael Landon. If, he use his real name. Will be like Who's Eugene? The man who plays Charles Ingalls on Little House On The Prairie.

Yes...Eugene is not a good name for an actor, but the fact is that I LIKE Eugene as a man name and could name my boy this way if I have a baby boy of my own...

My question is...He piked MIKE Landon as screen name. Why did he change to Michael, later in his career?

Vanesa.

Check with your unions. Whether you are a member of Screen Actors Guild (SAG) or are just hoping one day to be, you need to see if someone with your name already is registered. Even if your legal birth name is Bill Johnston, if another Bill Johnston joined the guild and registered the name, you'll have to rethink your name. Likewise, if you want to change your name, you must check that name out as well.

Establish your name(s) with the union, your agent and any other entities who control payments. If your legal name is Esther Blodgett and your acting name is Scarlett Ramsey, you still need to establish both names as yours, so that when residual payments come in, they get to you for whichever name is on the credits.

Make it legal if you want. You can go have your name changed in the court and then that will be your new legal name. You'll need a new driver's license and new Social Security card. And keep that name change paperwork handy. You'll need it for any marriages, divorces and registering your car in a new name.

Use A.K.A. in legal paperwork. If you don't want to go all the way to legally changing your name, you can just use A.K.A. (also known as) in any paperwork you need to sign or prepare. So in your contract you will be Scarlett Ramsey A.K.A. Esther Blodgett. But remember that your credit cards and checking accounts will have to remain in your legal name.



Read more: Changing Your Name When Becoming a Actor | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_6724564_changing-name-becoming-actor.html#ixzz23FKdddax

I had no idea he changed his name.all this time i thought it was his real name

sweetkrissy2011 wrote:

I had no idea he changed his name.all this time i thought it was his real name

You ARE kidding, Right?

Davetucson wrote:

sweetkrissy2011 wrote:

I had no idea he changed his name.all this time i thought it was his real name

You ARE kidding, Right?

Nope.I didn't know,

Eugene Orowitz is pretty bad, but I read that the late Chad Everett's real name was Raymon Cramton. He said he changed it when he got tired of explaining "It's Raymond without the D and Crampton without the P." But Raymond Crampton would still deserve a name change.

My apologies to anyone on the prairie whose real name is Raymond Crampton.

Rhonda wrote:

John Wayne's real first name was Marian.....

You learn something new each day.....

Well...I'm sincerily surprised, since almost all people (I said *almost* for you didn't, Krissy ) knows that Orowicz was Michael's real last name.

Vanesa.

I didn't know either. I always thought Michael Landon was his real name.

I know some actors change names.But i just always thought it was thre real names.

I don't blame him for changing his name. Michael Landon sounds much better than Eugene Orowitz.

And it's easier to remember...

Vanesa.

Vanesa wrote:

And it's easier to remember...

Vanesa.

true

sweetkrissy2011 wrote:

Rhonda wrote:

John Wayne's real first name was Marian.....

You learn something new each day.....

Yes!

Wow, I just found this thread when I was searching for something else.... I too am very surprised! I just thought that Michael Landon was his real name, I never would have thought that it would be something like Eugene Orowitz!

Dave, don't be too hard on me, I have only been into little house since January!

I must say I learn something new every day!