Michael Keaton Turns 73 Years Old Today
Happy Birthday to one of Hollywood’s most celebrated actors!
Michael Keaton Turns 73 Years Old Today
Michael Keaton was born Michael John Douglas on September 5, 1951, raised in Pennsylvania where Keaton would begin his career in 1975 on the classic children’s show “Mister Roger’s Neighborhood”. Shortly thereafter the actor would move to Los Angeles where his career took flight. In the 80’s Keaton starred in projects such as “Working Stiffs”, “Night Shift”, “Mr. Mom” and won the role of a cunning and very naughty ghost named Beetlejuice in a film by the same name. But the actor’s career reaches brand-new heights when he got cast in Tim Burton’s “Batman” in 1989 and then again in 1992 for “Batman Returns”. Keaton’s performance in the 2002 TV movie, Live from Baghdad would earn him a Golden Globe nomination. In 2015 Keaton garnered both a Golden Globe and an Academy Award nomination for his work in “Birdman” winning the Golden Globe for Best Actor. Last July, Keaton was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and in July of 2017 played the iconic villain Vulture, in “Spider-Man: Homecoming.”
Michael Keaton, born Michael John Douglas on September 5, 1951, in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, grew up in a large family as the youngest of seven children. His father, George A. Douglas, worked as a civil engineer, and his mother, Leona Elizabeth, was a homemaker. After attending Kent State University, where he studied speech, Keaton moved to Pittsburgh to pursue a career in entertainment.
Keaton began his career in television, working as a production assistant and performing in comedy shows. He gained recognition for his comedic talent on the TV show Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood (1975) and later on the sitcom Working Stiffs (1979). To avoid confusion with actor Michael Douglas, Keaton adopted his professional surname. His breakout role came in 1982 with the comedy Night Shift, directed by Ron Howard, where he played a fast-talking morgue attendant. His energetic performance led to more prominent roles in 1980s comedies, including Mr. Mom (1983), Johnny Dangerously (1984), and Gung Ho (1986).
Keaton’s career took a significant turn when he was cast as the title character in Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice (1988), a surreal comedy-horror film. His eccentric and energetic portrayal of the ghostly trickster made him a fan favorite and showcased his ability to handle more unconventional roles.
In 1989, Keaton reached new heights of fame when Burton cast him as Bruce Wayne/Batman in Batman. Despite initial skepticism over his casting, Keaton’s dark, brooding performance won over audiences and critics, helping the film become a massive success. He reprised the role in Batman Returns (1992), further cementing his status as a leading actor. However, he declined to return for a third film in the series due to creative differences, marking a brief decline in his prominence during the mid-1990s.
Keaton continued to work steadily throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, appearing in films like Multiplicity (1996) and Jackie Brown (1997). His career resurgence began with his critically acclaimed performance in the dark comedy Birdman (2014), where he played a washed-up actor known for portraying a superhero, a role that drew parallels to his own career. The film earned him widespread acclaim, including a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor and an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
Following Birdman, Keaton took on a series of prestigious roles, including playing journalist Walter “Robby” Robinson in the Academy Award-winning film Spotlight (2015) and Ray Kroc in The Founder (2016). He also returned to the superhero genre, playing the villain Vulture in Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017).
Michael Keaton was married to actress Caroline McWilliams from 1982 until their divorce in 1990. They had one son, Sean Douglas, who became a successful songwriter and music producer. Keaton is known for keeping his private life out of the spotlight and has maintained a low profile despite his fame.
Recently, in 2024, he returned to his famous role of Beetlejuice in the sequel “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.”
By Ken Warren, 2018
Watch Michael Keaton talking about how he created the Beetlejuice character
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