I’m Amazed That Jamie Foxx Is Actually A Stage Name, But The Story Behind How He Came Up With It Is Even Wilder

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It consistently amazes me to discover that many well-known celebrities do not use their birth names. For instance, when I found out that Michael Keaton’s real name is actually Michael Douglas, or that Nicolas Cage was originally Nicolas Kim Coppola, and Martin Sheen goes by Ramon Gerard Estevez, it left me stunned. Now, I find myself in a similar state of amazement as I’ve just learned that Jamie Foxx isn’t his real name, and the explanation behind this is quite extraordinary.

During their chat about the Netflix release of “Back In Action” in 2025, Foxx and Cameron Diaz shared some trivia. When asked about his real name, it appeared that Diaz, a longtime friend of Foxx, was unaware that his actual name is Eric Bishop. Quite surprising, isn’t it? Just as you were intrigued, she too seemed fascinated by the tale behind Foxx choosing his stage name, as he shared with Variety: Foxx (or should I say, Bishop) revealed the story behind his stage name.

In the ’80s, I used to perform stand-up comedy at open mic nights. As Eric Bishop, I took the stage one night and received a standing ovation. However, I couldn’t go back on stage for a few more weeks because the comedians were in charge of the list. You would write your name on the list, and they would decide who got to perform.

Nowadays, Jamie Foxx is widely recognized for his roles in movies such as Django Unchained, Ray, among others. But his career actually began many years ago with stand-up comedy, a path he has recently revisited. Going back to the ’80s, it was common to find this comedian performing at various comedy clubs, striving to make a name for himself and secure a breakthrough.

Yet, he discerned they hadn’t called his name for ascending to perform. Consequently, he devised a strategy, leading him eventually to conceive “Jamie Foxx.

Initially, I asked why no one was choosing me, to which they responded that I was too amusing. Interestingly, there were 100 men and only five women attending these events. The women always got chosen, so on my list, I used gender-neutral names like Stacy Green, Tracy Brown, and Jamie Foxx, hoping it would give me an edge. When they announced that they were starting in a new place, they asked if “Jamie Foxx” was present, to which I replied affirmatively, revealing myself.

Talk about clever!

He also succeeded, as Foxx claimed, he then confidently approached the stage and nailed it. Following this, he began using his stage name on a permanent basis.

In this scenario, it can be rephrased as follows: Thus, when I appeared on stage as Jamie Foxx, I received a standing ovation, which marked the beginning of Jamie Foxx’s career.

It hadn’t crossed my mind before that Jamie Foxx isn’t his real name. To be honest, “Jamie Foxx” seems quite common, so I didn’t give it much thought. Also, the actress Corinne Foxx shares the same last name. Consequently, I simply assumed Eric Bishop was just a stage name for him. However, that’s not the case; his real name is Eric Bishop.

It’s clear that the creative use of his name as a marketing strategy has undeniably boosted Jamie Foxx’s career, as it caught people’s attention and opened doors for him. Since then, he’s accomplished so much more, and now we all have an interesting tidbit to share about this talented actor.

If you’re interested in viewing Eric Bishop’s work, search for Jamie Foxx online. Don’t forget to watch his stand-up comedy special and the movie “Back In Action” which is available on Netflix.

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2025-01-26 01:38