So the deal here is that early on as a beginner actor I used my real name for the credits of everything I was involved in. After a few years have gone by and realizing that I want to attempt this as a profession, I realize for my privacy I should go with a stage name.

Problem is that I am already credited on IMDB under my real name and just learned it's going to be happening again as this film I did years ago just got a distro deal. I use those credits on my resume that has my stage name on it nowadays.

I'm wondering if I kind of screwed myself now. If agents want to check my credits they will see that someone with a name other than what's on my resumef is playing those roles and might think I'm a psycho or just lying. IMDB will already have my real name on it twice. I'm just a supporting role in each film, though I'm prominent and you can't miss me, I appear throughout each, so I'm thinking it wouldn't really be a good idea to just forget about the films even though they're on the site and start fresh with my new name...

What to do...

I'm pretty sure IMDB can put it an addendum like, "credited as:"

You should email their support department and see if they can do anything.

See the thing is, I feel I'd be doing further damage to my anonymity if I blatantly linked my stage name with the credited name. If someone googled my real name they'd see that and check out the iMDB link and see the real name linked to the stage name and viola, purpose for stage name down the tubes.

The vast majority of actors use their real names.

Generally, the only time I see stage names used is not for purposes of anonymity, but simply because the actor is unhappy with his/her real name, or in the case of SAG, their actual name is already in use. Sometimes, a young child's parents are worried about online predators, but I rarely see such fears in adult actors.

Why all the concern about hiding your true identity?

Well to be honest its 80% wanting to be anonymous and not have to deal with people from my past divulging dirt if I do ever make a name for myself. I'm not a criminal but hey we all have done some stuff we'd rather no one outside a select circle of friends know about, and you know how people would like to spread around stories to make a name for their own selves. Who can pass up spreading crazy stories about someone they used to know that's now even semi famous?

The other 20% is because my last name truly blows. The stage name I have now is very snappy and is true to my heritage.

While I'm a big believer in stage names to correct an accident from birth, I don't believe in making ANY important decision based upon fear.

Using stage names never guarantees any degree of protection from slander or protection from abuse. Several famous stars have been murdered by crazed fans, and the crazies never bothered to ask if their names were real.

Think about it.