History Main / TheDanza

** ''{{Quidam}}'': John (Gilkey), the emcee.
** ''"O"'': Le Vieux, the emcee, was long known as Eugen after original performer Eugene Brim.

** Christopher Titus in ''Series/{{Titus}}''.

** In the Korean dub of the same series, Hayato Kanzaki was renamed as ''Gang Jin-u'' who is voiced in Korean by '''Gang''' Su-'''jin'''

* In the ''Series/DoctorWho'' stage play "Seven Keys to Doomsday", the companions were going to be called Dave and Jenny; but when James Mathews was cast, his character was renamed to Jimmy. Later stage revivals reverted to "Dave", but in the BigFinish audio version he's "Jimmy" again.
* The short lived yet wildly popular Broadway musical ''Theatre/TitleOfShow''. In fact, the show takes it up a notch with it being "a musical about two guys writing a musical about two guys writing a musical" (guess how many guys wrote this musical?) and the song "I Am Playing Me."

* Most CirqueDuSoleil clowns use their own names for their characters, and occasionally more serious character roles get the same treatment, in which case the name may stick with the character after the original performer leaves. Notable examples:

* Mindy Kaling as Mindy Lahiri on ''Main/TheMindyProject''

* Several minor ''Series/BabylonFive'' characters who were not given names on their first appearance (usually being referred to only as something like "Emperor" or "Minister") were belatedly given the names of the actors playing them when they appeared or were mentioned in later episodes (such as Malachi Throne's Centauri Prime Minister being later named "Prime Minister Malachi").

* Two ''MrShow'' sketches have all the characters in the sketch share the names with their actors. The "Coupon: The Movie" sketch (during the scenes with the movie execs) has [[DavidCross David]], Bob, [[TomKenny Tom]], Jill, Paul, and Jay (John Ennis is not referred to by name). The "Intervention" sketch, three seasons later, has[[note]]all of which are the same actors, save Tom and Jay for Becky, being sketch comedy[[/note]] David, Bob, John, Jill, Paul and Becky.

* Two ''MrShow'' sketches have all the characters in the sketch share the names with their actors (if spoken). The "Coupon: The Movie" sketch (during the scenes with the movie execs) has [[DavidCross David]], Bob, [[TomKenny Tom]], Jill, Paul, and Jay (John Ennis is not referred to by name). The "Intervention" sketch, three seasons later, has[[note]]all of which are the same actors, save Tom and Jay for Becky, being sketch comedy[[/note]] David, Bob, John, Jill, Paul and Becky.

* Mocked on ''Series/{{Extras}}'' where (both InUniverse and Out-) CelebrityCameo Keith Chegwin's character has his name changed to Keith after the actor repeatedly fails to comprehend that the character has a different name to him.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'' has JerkassGenie Norm being voiced by [[Creator/NormMacDonald Norm [=MacDonald=]]].

* TheSuiteLifeOfZackAndCody fanfic "Zoey 1803" has a last name version with Zoey Martin played by Meaghan Martin.

* Rare last-name Danza: Mackenzie Phillips as Molly Phillips in ''SoWeird''.

** In the expanded universe, the full name of Wicket the Ewok (played by WarwickDavis) is revealed to be Wicket Wystri Warrick.

* Mindy Kaling as Mindy Lahiri on ''Series/TheMindyProject''

* ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'' has JerkassGenie Norm being voiced by NormMacDonald.

* NormMacDonald plays Norm Henderson on ''Series/TheNormShow''. An early commercial showed Norm not responding to his character's original name, forcing the showrunner to change it to his real name to avoid confusion.