Jerry O'Connell Reveals Real Name Is Michael Jeremiah Witkowski O’Connell

Actor Jerry O'Connell disclosed that Jerry is not his real name. He said he has always thought of himself as a Jerry.

O'Connell, 52, appeared on "Live with Kelly and Mark" with his mother, Linda. She revealed his birth name is Michael Jeremiah Witkowski O’Connell. "His grandfather is Jeremiah, and our favorite cousin is Jerry DeScipio," she said.

Although born Michael, O'Connell said he was always a Jerry. "I will often look at myself, and I go, 'Yeah, I am a Jerry. I don't look like a Michael, actually,'" he told the hosts.

O'Connell recently drew criticism after comments on Bill Maher's podcast in March. He said his wife and daughters got physical with him after the 2024 presidential election. He had suggested there was no planning and that there should have been a primary.

On Jamie Kennedy's "Hate to Break It to You" podcast in April, O'Connell walked back the claim. "They did not," he said. "I take that back. I fully take that back. I was making a joke."

He faced more backlash on the same podcast for remarks about his 16-year-old daughters. O'Connell said they are starting to go out and socialize. Since they are nepo babies in Los Angeles, he added, they are going to party.

When Kennedy urged him to stop them from vaping, O'Connell replied that it is easier said than done. "It's addicting," he said. "Like, so doesn't it replace with another vape? Shouldn't I deal with, like, talking to them about, like, addiction and how this is going to lead to a lifetime of addiction as opposed to like, 'It's not the vape's fault.'"

Listeners criticized his stance. One wrote, "Get rid of the vape. Listen to your buddy. Also...protect your daughters."

Another said, "Poor Jerry. Nice guy. Wants an easy life. Very scared of confrontation and backlash from critics, the public and the ones at home."

The "Stand By Me" star has spoken about his own addiction to cigarettes. On Sophia Bush's "Work In Progress" podcast, he said he quit only after an ultimatum from his wife, actress Rebecca Romijn.

"I struggled with nicotine for decades, struggled with it. Had to get hypnotized. I haven't had a ciggy in like 14 years," he said. "My wife said she would not touch me if I smoked. And that lasted about two months. And by the way, no contact. My wife said, 'I'm not touching you anymore until you quit smoking.' I thought it was a joke, and then, after, like, two weeks, there was no physical contact."