What is the reason that names have to be changed in movies? Jimmy Burke's name was changed to Jimmy Conway in GoodFellas, but in The Big Heist his name wasn't changed...(because he already died by then??)..

This question has been asked before:
A public figure (even a well-known criminal like Jimmy Burke) has no claim to privacy in a movie or novel that mentions him. But if the movie or novel puts words in his mouth that he may not have uttered, literally, it's possible that he or his heirs could sue the publisher or studio for libel, invasion of privacy, etc. If that sounds far-fetched, Juventus, just remember that America is the most litigious country in the world--everyone sues everyone else. So, the publisher or studio can protect itself by changing the person's name, which (technically) gives them a way to head off a lawsuit by claiming they were "protecting" the real Jimmy Burke by changing the last name of his character--as if that would fool any viewer.

Now, you might wonder why Nicholas Pileggi, the author of the nonfiction book "Wiseguy" on which the movie "Goodfellas" is based, would use Burke's real name, while the film changed his name. The answer is that a book that's intended as history is protected by our our Constitution (First Amendment guarantees "freedom of the press"). But a movie that has fictional elements (such as dialog that the real-life Burke may not have uttered) isn't protected thus.

bravo

Jimmy Burke was born Jimmy Conway, but he had his name changed after one of his foster families I believe.

Murray's real name is censored in the commentary.