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(Matt Sayles / Associated Press)

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Celebrities' real names revealed

Dwayne Johnson

By Denise Martin, Special to The Times and Stephanie Lysaght, Times Staff Writer

It's official: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is dropping the name-making "The Rock" from his moniker in an attempt to distance himself from such wrestling career trademarks as "the People's Eyebrow" and the signature phrase "Can you smell what the Rock is cooking?" But Johnson, who next stars opposite Steve Carell in the comedy "Get Smart," isn't alone in wanting a solid stage name. (Just look at Sean Combs, who raps he's going back to "Puff Daddy" on a remix of O'Neal McKnight's "Check Your Coat" but took it back last week and said he's still Sean Combs, or Diddy, whichever strikes his mood.)

We take a look at the former names of others in the showbiz ranks, many of whom simply thought they knew better than their parents.