Jerry O'Connell reveals real name and why he never uses it
Page Six • • general
Key Points:
- Jerry O’Connell revealed his full birth name is Michael Jeremiah Witkowski O’Connell, but he has always identified as “Jerry,” a name inspired by family members like his grandfather Jeremiah and cousin Jerry DeScipio.
- On a Mother’s Day episode of “Live with Kelly and Mark,” Jerry and his mother Linda shared stories about his childhood, describing him as energetic, talkative, and often in trouble at school for being hyperactive.
- Linda recounted how teachers criticized Jerry for talking too much and not sitting still, but she defended his spirited nature, encouraging his lively personality rather than suppressing it.
- Jerry joked about his childhood nickname as “the fat kid from ‘Stand by Me’” and humorously noted that his mother would fiercely defend him against such comments, highlighting their close mother-son bond.
