WHAT IS A STAGE NAME AND WHY DOES CK USE ONE?

A stage name is an alias used by an actor for several possible reasons, including a desire for anonymity. Most actors use stage names such as Tom Cruise and Marilyn Monroe.

Particularly interesting are the double characters such as Sir Les Patterson and Dame Edna Everage which are both stage names and independent characters created by comedian Barry Humphreys. 

Stage names may be used for many reasons including where:

• the presenter wishes the message to stand in its own right independent of the messenger,

• the actor wishes to retain some degree of personal privacy or anonymity,

• the actor is intending to convey a separate image / brand identity,

• multiple persons may be presenting behind a single identity,

All of these are reasons are true in the case of Celestial Koan, although the last is of limited application, and is generally only true for characters such as puppets, or in films where presentation can be altered with graphic effects and CGI or whatever. Stunt men commonly do play the part of leading characters in films, with little acknowledgement, but Celestial Koan performs his own stunts.