What’s in a name? Ask
Office Space’s disgruntled computer programmer Michael Bolton, and he’ll tell you: a lot. If you’re a celebrity, the challenges of sharing a name can be especially taxing. The Michael B. Jordan starring in this month’s George Lucas–penned World War II adventure,
Red Tails, for example, is decidedly not the 14-time NBA All-Star. (You might know him instead from his work on TV’s
The Wire and
Parenthood.) Here are some other high-wattage folks with shared monikers.
Laurence Cendrowicz/the weinstein company
This Oscar-nominated damsel graduated from Dawson’s Creek to a star-making turn in
My Week with Marilyn.
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This American songstress is best known for her time in Destiny’s Child — one of the best-selling trios of all time.
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’s “Lord of the Idiots” George Costanza, Alexander continues to delight on Broadway and with the occasional film and TV appearance.
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Alexander may hold the record for shortest marriage, spending 55 hours as Mr. Britney Spears in 2004.
Vanessa WilliamsThe former Miss America and pop singer now rocks suburbia on
Desperate Housewives.
Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
The veteran of TV’s
Melrose Place and
Soul Food is now a full-time mom.
Brian Wilson The wildly eccentric pop-music auteur gave listeners something to SMiLE about with a recent Beach Boys box set.
Brian WilsonThe wildly eccentric pitcher for the San Francisco Giants has an astonishing 170 career saves and a World Series championship.