Best Alter Egos

Best Alter Egos

Even celebs get tired of their ho-hum, day-to-day existence. So, what do they do? They create alter egos. See if you can match each star to his or her dark side. 

When celebrities get bored of their public personas, they often take a page out of this fictional classic that explores the concept of an alter ego. Some -- like this actor, writer and producer -- dress up like the opposite sex. Others -- such as this famous recording artist -- use it to tap into their darker side. 

Sacha Baron Cohen

Sacha Baron Cohen

Cohen debuted his alter ego on this U.K. television station over a decade ago. It became so popular that a full-length film was made about the adventures of the mustachioed oddball from this Eastern European country 

Eminem

Eminem

Eminem fans got to know his alter ego quite well on his controversial debut album. On his second album, Eminem dedicated his first single to his diabolical alter ego. Listen to the single.

Nicki Minaj

Nicki Minaj

Though Minaj has several alter egos, it's her gay twin brother who's been getting the most attention. Listen to Minaj hook up with another famous alter ego on this new single.

Dr. Henry Jekyll

Dr. Henry Jekyll

A Scottish author created Dr. Jekyll in this novel that may have been the first to illustrate a peculiar mental condition. 

Shock G

Shock G

Despite a successful career with this rap group, Shock, who hails from this West Coast city, will forever be better known for his big-nosed alter ego. 

Will Smith

Will Smith

Before Smith became a movie star, he was best known by his cool, free-wheeling alter ego --as both rapper and TV actor.

David Bowie

David Bowie

An alien with this sexual identity is sent to Earth to give a message of hope on this concept album by Bowie, which gave birth to his alter ego. 

Christina Aguilera

Christina Aguilera

The former member of this squeaky-clean club felt the need to shred her good-girl image for her second studio album by creating an alter ego. Wonder which one of her bombed this recent performance

The Beatles

The Beatles

This legendary band member is said to have come up with the idea of a band alter ego and album out of spite because of their fame, yet the album only added more to the legend, spawning hits such as this one about a girl named Lucy

T.I.

T.I.

The rapper's alter ego is better known for his criminal activity than for rapping. In 2007, he released an album trying to reconcile the two identities

Andy Kaufman

Andy Kaufman

Kaufman's alter ego was a grouchy, drunken singer of this style. He became so well known -- he even got kicked off the set of this 1980s sitcom -- that many thought they were two separate people.

Garth Brooks

Garth Brooks

In 1999, the country star created an alter ego who played a different music genre. Brooks released an album under the name of his alter ego and even performed on a popular sketch comedy show as him.

Tyler Perry

Tyler Perry

Perry's alter ego lifted him to prominence with this 2006 film. It received a huge bump when a well-known talk show host promoted it.

Jamie Foxx

Jamie Foxx

Before he was a recording artist and movie star, Foxx played a much less attractive character on a '90s sketch comedy show. Rumor has it his character may be reprised in an upcoming film.

Rod Smart

Rod Smart

Smart, who played college football at this Kentucky school, added to the controversy of this start-up football league when he put the name of his alter ego on the back of his jersey.

Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant

Leave it to this shoe company to create a short film about Bryant's alter ego, going so far as to hire a star director, and casting an action-movie star and a star rapper in the commercial.

Spike Lee

Spike Lee

Lee's alter ego debuted in his late 1980s film as a gold chain-wearing B-boy from Brooklyn, N.Y., but he became best known for the shoes he wore, spawning a decade of commercials.

Steve Urkel

Steve Urkel

When the lovable nerd, played by this actor on this 1990s ABC sitcom, created a suave alter ego, ladies were in for a treat.

Beavis

Beavis

Don't give the co-star of this snarky 1990s animated series too much of this stimulant, or he becomes his "great" alter ego.

Paul Reubens

Paul Reubens

Reubens' playful alter ego became a hit on Broadway and eventually spawned a children's show for network television. He incited controversy in 1991 when he was arrested for a lewd act.