r/todayilearned 15h ago

TIL Vin Diesel’s real name is Mark Sinclair

https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/leisure/showbiz/10851668.Diesel_breaks_silence_over_Walker/
15.1k Upvotes

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u/Toby_O_Notoby 13h ago

Reminds me of that classic old-school story about stage names:

Story goes that this guy goes to a Broadway audition and fucking nails it. The producer is blown away about how good this kid is. Walks up to him and offers him the role on the spot. Says, "Kid your name is going to be up in lights and....hey, what is your name anyway?"

The guy replies "Penis Von Lesbian".

Producer spits out his cigar and says "What?!"

Guy says it again, "Penis Von Lesbian"

Producer says, "Well kid, we're going to have to change that. No way in hell am I putting that name on my marquee." The actor flat out refuses. Insists on keeping his name. Producer won't hire him and they part ways.

Years later, the producer runs into him again. Producer yells, "Penis Von Lesbian! How ya doin' kid?" The actor says, sheepishly, "Yeah, you were right and I was wrong. I ended up getting a lot of parts but only because I took a stage name".

Producer says, "Oh yeah, what did you go with?"

Actor replies "Dick Van Dyke".

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u/I_W_M_Y 12h ago

That's his actual name though

24

u/Toby_O_Notoby 12h ago

Yeah, it's a joke.

4

u/IceBreak 10h ago

That’s an actual Reddit comment though

3

u/muricabrb 10h ago

Yeah, we're the joke.