William Boyd
Born: 5 June 1895
California, USA
Died: 12 September 1972

Not really an official name change, but this actor portrayed the character of "Hopalong Cassidy" so well that he became synonomous with the character's name.

Robert Cowell

Britain's first and most famous sex change. Spitfire pilot and racing driver, he competed uniquely as both man and woman.

Barry George

Convicted for murder of popular UK TV presenter Jill Dando. Falsely claimed to be the cousin of late Queen singer Freddie Mercury, and was once arrested for loitering outside the London home of the late Princess Diana, and also charged with attempted rape of a student under the name of Steve Majors (derived from Lee Majors who starred as Steve Austin in the "Bionic Man").

Josef Michael William Duncan-Williamson

The five-year old boy changed his name by deed-poll because it was too long for him to write down, and used to come home from school crying. His mother took out a newspaper ad to anounce the name change "He's writing his new name all over the place" she said.

Howard Charles Kimber

Host of Tiger TV (Australia). Not even his family knows why he has made this incredible name change. Most recent claim to 15 minutes of fame as a contestant on TV quiz show "The Weakest Link". See also this site's creator Clay Lewis.

Joseph Pujol

Real life star of "Moulin Rouge". A one-time master baker and failed trombonist, turned his act on its head to become the virtuoso of the sphincter, and the highest paid entertainer of his day. He could "inhale" two quarts of air through his bottom - water too, and then, varying the force of the expulsion, produce miraculous music, in key and in different timbres. The master hung up his hose in 1914. After his death, in 1945, his son refused a medical school's cash offer to open Le Petomane up and get to the bottom of his bottom, saying "There are some things in this life which simply must be treated with reverence."

Richard Patrick McGrath

Philadelphia bank robber who has a penis and D-cup breasts who may be jailed in a women's prison. Seems the con/connie would be at risk in both male and female prisons. We don't know much more, but then again, do we need to?

The film critic who never was. Purely the creation of two Sony advertising executives, his enthusiastic "blurbs" for two of America's big summer films have been displayed prominently in movie ads across the US. Manning had previously given generous plugs to "Vertical Limit" and "Hollow Man" (quite appropriate really).

Bamboo Harvester
Foaled: 1949
El Monte, California

A parade and show horse who became best known as "Mr Ed". His trainer gave the horse peanut butter to eat so he would move his mouth on cue. "Mr Ed", a syndicated series, aired on CBS on October 1, 1961 and lasted until September 4, 1966. Mr Ed only spoke to his owner Wilbur Post (played by Alan Young) who worked as an architect.

Rory Jack Thompson

Changed his name by deed poll. Brilliant but insane former CSIRO scientist (Australia), he was serving an indefinite sentence at Tasmania's infamous Risdon prison hospital after being found not guilty by reason of insanity of killing his wife, then disposing of parts of her body down a toilet, and storing other parts in a freezer. On realising he would never be released he recently hung himself.

Leonard George Casley

The self-proclaimed prince of Hutt River, Australia. On 21 April 1970 he had a disagreement with the Australian government, so he declared his land was no longer part of Australia, and named himself the prince of this new country. He rules along with his wife, Princess Shirley. How okka!

David Edward Sutch
Born: 12 November 1940
Kilburn, England
Died: 16 June 1999 (suicide - hanging)

Adopted his Screaming Lord persona in 1960, founded on the voodoo antics of US star Screamin' Jay Hawkins. He reportedly inspired the likes of Arthur Brown, Alice Cooper and Ozzy Osborne. In February 1983 he stood for Parliament on behalf of his greatest creation, the Monster Raving Loony Party, the Party had campaign slogans such as "Vote for insanity, you know it makes sense."

Kyle Bradford

The gay porn-star sued by Tom Cruise for USD$100,000,000 in relation to comments he allegedly made to a French gossip magazine. Predictably, Chad did not contest the law suit and "defaulted" in 2001, but we're quite sure no money will change hands.

Anakin Skywalker
Born: A long time ago...
(in a galaxy far, far away)

Stretching the usual boundaries of FNC, this entry merits inclusion on the grounds that it is perhaps the most famous name change in motion picture history. Anakin, father of Luke Skywalker, turned to the "dark side of the force" and became evil Sith Lord Darth Vader. Rumour has it Anakin had another child, a daughter ...

Garry Hocking

AFL (Australian Football League) star Garry Hocking, played more than 200 games for Geelong F.C., and for a one week promotion, he changed his name, by deed poll, to the cat food name, 'Whiskas'.