#3: Changed His Name

Born Henry Warren Beaty, he changed his last name to “Beatty” when entering the entertainment industry. This was partly to create a separate identity from his sister, Shirley MacLaine, and partly because the name “Beatty” seemed to flow better in Hollywood.

While subtle, this change reflected his early awareness of branding and self-presentation—something he would later master as both an actor and a producer. Unlike many actors who adopted entirely new names, Beatty kept close to his original one, maintaining a sense of authenticity while making it more distinctive.