Ronald Reagan's Real Name: Ronald Wilson Reagan

Quick answer: Ronald Reagan's real name was Ronald Wilson Reagan. He was born on February 6, 1911, in Tampico, Illinois, and died on June 5, 2004. Nicknamed "Dutch," he used his birth name throughout acting and politics.

Birth name, "Dutch," and early work

Ronald Wilson Reagan was born to Jack and Nelle Reagan; older brother Neil ("Moon") was born in 1908. After moves around Illinois, the family settled in Dixon in 1920—the town Reagan called home. He lifeguarded at Lowell Park, graduated Dixon High School, and earned a B.A. in economics and sociology from Eureka College (1932) (Reagan Presidential Library timeline; Britannica).

As a sports announcer at WOC/WHO radio he was billed as "Dutch" Reagan—a childhood nickname, not a legal name change. In 1937 Warner Bros. signed him; his first film was Love Is on the Air. He made dozens of features, notably as George Gipp in Knute Rockne, All American (1940) and Drake McHugh in Kings Row (1941) (Reagan Library).

Hollywood, SAG, and television

Reagan served in the Army Air Forces' First Motion Picture Unit during World War II, producing training films. He married Jane Wyman (1940; divorced 1949) and later Nancy Davis (1952). He was elected president of the Screen Actors Guild for multiple terms beginning in 1947 and testified before the House Un-American Activities Committee that year. From 1954 he hosted and starred on General Electric Theater, touring as a GE spokesman—experience that sharpened his political speaking (Reagan Library).

Governor and president

His 1964 televised speech for Barry Goldwater, "A Time for Choosing," launched a national political career. He was elected governor of California in 1966 and 1970, then the 40th president of the United States in 1980 (re-elected 1984). This bio page focuses on the documented birth name and entertainment years; presidential policy is covered elsewhere in U.S. history sources (Reagan Library; Miller Center).

Reagan memoir An American Life or Where's the Rest of Me? Knute Rockne, All American DVD documentary/biography DVD from Reagan Library–related titles