Marilyn Manson's Real Name: Brian Hugh Warner

Quick answer: Marilyn Manson was born Brian Hugh Warner on January 5, 1969, in Canton, Ohio. Marilyn Manson is both his stage name and the name of the band he cofounded in 1989. The name combines Marilyn Monroe and Charles Manson. His hits include "The Beautiful People" and "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" (Britannica; AP).

Real name and early life

Britannica says Brian Hugh Warner was born to Barbara Wyer Warner and Hugh Angus Warner. AP describes Brian Warner as his legal name, and the Library of Congress name authority links "Manson, Marilyn" with "Warner, Brian." Britannica says he had a difficult childhood in Canton, where he was bullied. He attended Heritage Christian School, an experience that left him with a negative view of Christianity. As a teenager he moved with his family to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and later studied journalism at Broward Community College.

Career highlights

In 1989 Warner met guitarist Scott Putesky at a Fort Lauderdale club. Warner took the persona Marilyn Manson, Putesky became Daisy Berkowitz, and they formed Marilyn Manson & the Spooky Kids. The band gained a cult following in South Florida for its shocking live shows and shortened its name to Marilyn Manson in 1992.

Britannica lists Portrait of an American Family (1994), Smells Like Children (1995), with its Eurythmics cover "Sweet Dreams," Antichrist Superstar (1996), and Mechanical Animals (1998) among the group's influential albums. Later records such as Holy Wood (2000) and We Are Chaos (2020) were less successful. He acted in David Lynch's Lost Highway (1997) and Jawbreaker (1999).

Allegations and legal matters

Beginning in 2021, several women, including actress Evan Rachel Wood, publicly accused him of abuse. He called Wood's accusations "horrible distortions of reality" and has denied wrongdoing. AP reports that a lawsuit by actress Esmé Bianco was settled, and that he dropped his own lawsuit against Wood and agreed to pay her attorney fees.

On January 24, 2025, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced that no criminal charges would be filed after a four-year investigation. Hochman said the domestic violence allegations fell outside the statute of limitations and the sexual assault allegations could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. His attorney said the decision confirmed that he is innocent.

A civil suit by former assistant Ashley Walters was revived in 2026 under a new California law. Rolling Stone reports it is set for a jury trial on November 15, 2027, and that his lawyer expects to defeat it before trial. These remain allegations. He has not been charged with a crime.

Name notes for searchers

Brian Hugh Warner is his birth name. Court filings and news reports use "Brian Warner." "Marilyn Manson" refers to both the performer and the band.