Like many actors, The Wolf of Wall Street star has used a stage name in his career.
It’s common among celebrities, with some A-listers selecting eccentric titles that are nothing like their real ones.
This is especially true for Reginald Kenneth Dwight, aka pop legend Elton John, and Farrokh Bulsara, aka Queen star Freddie Mercury.
While some, like Breaking Bad actor Aaron Paul, aka Aaron Paul Sturtevant, opt for much simpler changes.
Yet unlike many other A-listers, Hill has never spoken about his decision to use a stage name.
In an interview with The Guardian, the star reportedly remained silent for a few seconds when questioned on the matter, before responding: “Can we just not? Just… don’t.”
This isn’t the only change Hill has made in recent years.
As well as altering his name, the Don’t Look Up star has revealed that he’ll no longer be promoting the films he works on.
Hill made the decision following the release of his highly-praised Netflix documentary Stutz.
In an open letter published by Deadline, the actor shared that media appearances and public-facing events have ‘exacerbated’ his anxiety attacks.
Jonah Hill recently shared that he won’t be promoting his upcoming films, including his current one, as he focuses on protecting his well-being. He expressed, “If I made myself sicker by going out there and promoting it, I wouldn’t be acting true to myself or to the film.” In line with this decision, Hill has taken a step further in distancing himself from public engagement by deleting his Instagram account, according to Page Six.
In other news, Hill has made a formal change to his name. In November 2022, he filed a petition in Los Angeles to legally drop his birth surname, Feldstein, and be officially recognized as Jonah Hill. TMZ reported that the petition, which was granted, confirms his stage name is now his legal name. The change is irreversible without filing a new petition.
While Jonah Hill has chosen to drop the Feldstein name, his sister, Beanie Feldstein, continues to use it professionally, having found success in films like Booksmart and Lady Bird. Hill inherited the Feldstein surname from his father, Richard, a Hollywood business manager who has worked with stars like Kate Hudson and Adam Levine.
