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IMDbPro

Michael Keaton(I)

  • Actor
  • Additional Crew
  • Producer
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Michael Keaton
IMDb takes a closer look at the notable career of actor Michael Keaton in this retrospective of his various roles.
Play clip1:42
Michael Keaton Career Retrospective
99+ Videos
99+ Photos
Quirky, inventive and handsome American actor Michael Keaton first achieved major fame with his door-busting performance as fast-talking ideas man Bill Blazejowski, alongside a nerdish morgue attendant (Henry Winkler), in Night Shift (1982). He played further comedic roles in Mr. Mom (1983), Johnny Dangerously (1984), and Beetlejuice (1988), earned further acclaim for his dramatic portrayal of Bruce Wayne / Batman in Tim Burton's Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992), and since then, has moved easily between film genres, ranging from drama and romantic comedy to thriller and action.

Keaton was born Michael John Douglas on September 5, 1951 in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, to Leona Elizabeth (Loftus), a homemaker, and George A. Douglas, a civil engineer and surveyor. He is of Irish, as well as English, Scottish, and German, descent. Michael studied speech for two years at Kent State, before dropping out and moving to Pittsburgh. An unsuccessful attempt at stand-up comedy led Keaton to working as a TV cameraman in a cable station, and he came to realize he wanted to work in front of the cameras. Keaton first appeared on TV in several episodes of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (1968).

He left Pittsburgh and moved to Los Angeles to begin auditioning for TV. He began cropping up in popular TV shows including Maude (1972) and The Mary Tyler Moore Hour (1979). Around this time, Keaton decided to use an alternative surname to remove confusion with better-known actor Michael Douglas. He looked into the "K"'s for surnames and thought it was inoffensive to chose 'Keaton'. His next break was scoring a co-starring role alongside Jim Belushi in the short-lived comedy series Working Stiffs (1979), which showcased his comedic talent and led to his co-starring role in Night Shift (1982). Keaton next scored the lead in the comedy hits Mr. Mom (1983), Johnny Dangerously (1984) , Gung Ho (1986), the Tim Burton horror-comedy Beetlejuice (1988), and The Dream Team (1989).

Keaton's career was given another major boost when he was again cast by Tim Burton, this time as the title comic book superhero, millionaire playboy/crime-fighter Bruce Wayne, in Batman (1989). Burton cast him because he thought that Keaton was the only actor who could portray someone who has the kind of darkly obsessive personality that the character demands. To say there were howls of protest by fans of the caped crusader comic strip is an understatement! Warner Bros. was deluged with thousands of letters of complaint commenting that comedian Keaton was the wrong choice for the Caped Crusader, given his prior work and the fact that he lacked the suave, handsome features and tall, muscular physicality often attributed to the character in the comic books. However, their fears were proven wrong when Keaton turned in a sensational performance, and he held his own on screen with opponent Jack Nicholson, playing the lunatic villain, "The Joker". Keaton's dramatic work earned widespread acclaim from critics and audiences alike, and Batman (1989) became one of the most successful films of the year.

Keaton remained active during the 1990s, appearing in a wide range of films. Keen to diversify his work, Keaton starred as a psychotic tenant in Pacific Heights (1990), as a hard-working cop in One Good Cop (1991), and then donned the black cape and cowl once more for Batman Returns (1992). He remained in demand during the 1990s, appearing in a wide range of films, including the star-studded Shakespearian Much Ado About Nothing (1993), the drama My Life (1993), another Ron Howard comedy The Paper (1994), with sexy Andie MacDowell in Multiplicity (1996), twice in the same role, dogged Elmore Leonard character Agent Ray Nicolette, in Jackie Brown (1997) and Out of Sight (1998). He also played a killer in the mediocre thriller Desperate Measures (1998).

In the 2000s, Keaton appeared in several productions with mixed success, including Live from Baghdad (2002), First Daughter (2004), and Herbie Fully Loaded (2005). He also provided voices for characters in the animated films Cars (2006), Toy Story 3 (2010), and Minions (2015).

He returned to major film roles in the 2010s, co-starring in The Other Guys (2010), RoboCop (2014) and Need for Speed (2014). Also that year, Keaton starred alongside Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton, Emma Stone, and Naomi Watts in Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014), a film by 21 Grams (2003) and Biutiful (2010) director Alejandro G. Iñárritu. In the film, Keaton plays Riggan Thomson, a screen actor, famous for playing the iconic titular superhero, who puts on a Broadway play based on a Raymond Carver short story, to regain his former glory. Keaton's critically praised lead performance earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy, the Critics' Choice Award for Best Actor and Best Actor in a Comedy, and nominations for the Screen Actors Guild Award, British Academy Film Award, and Academy Award for Best Actor.

In 2015, he played a journalist in Spotlight (2015), which, like Birdman, won the Academy Award for Best Picture. In 2016, he starred as Ray Kroc, the developer of McDonald's, in the drama The Founder (2016).

He is a visiting scholar at Carnegie Mellon University.
BornSeptember 5, 1951
  • More at IMDbPro
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BornSeptember 5, 1951
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  • View contact info at IMDbPro
  • Nominated for 1 Oscar

Photos768

Michael Keaton in First Bottle (2021)
Michael Keaton in First Bottle (2021)
Jack Nicholson and Michael Keaton in Batman (1989)
Jack Nicholson and Michael Keaton in Batman (1989)
Kim Basinger and Michael Keaton in Batman (1989)
Michael Keaton in Batman (1989)
Kim Basinger and Michael Keaton in Batman (1989)
Michael Keaton in Batman (1989)
Michael Keaton in Batman (1989)
Michael Keaton in Batman (1989)
Kim Basinger and Michael Keaton in Batman (1989)
Kim Basinger and Michael Keaton in Batman (1989)

Known for

Edward Norton, Zach Galifianakis, Amy Ryan, Naomi Watts, Emma Stone, and Andrea Riseborough in Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
7.7
  • Riggan
  • 2014
Michael Keaton, Liev Schreiber, Brian d'Arcy James, Mark Ruffalo, and Rachel McAdams in Spotlight (2015)
Spotlight
8.1
  • Walter 'Robby' Robinson
  • 2015
Michael Keaton in The Founder (2016)
The Founder
7.2
  • Ray Kroc
  • 2016
Batman (1989)
Batman
7.5
  • Batman
  • Bruce Wayne
  • 1989

Credits

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IMDbPro

Actor

  • The Flash
    • Post-production
  • Goodrich
    • Pre-production
  • Knox Goes Away
    • Post-production
  • Batgirl
    • In Production
  • Jared Leto, Jared Harris, Tyrese Gibson, Matt Smith, and Adria Arjona in Morbius (2022)
    Morbius
  • Michael Keaton, Rosario Dawson, Peter Sarsgaard, Michael Stuhlbarg, John Hoogenakker, Will Poulter, and Kaitlyn Dever in Dopesick (2021)
    Dopesick
  • Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Keaton, and Maggie Q in The Protégé (2021)
    The Protégé
  • The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)
    The Trial of the Chicago 7
  • Michael Keaton, Stanley Tucci, and Amy Ryan in Worth (2020)
    Worth
  • John Oliver in Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (2014)
    Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
  • Saturday Night Live (1975)
    Saturday Night Live
    • (uncredited)
  • Danny DeVito, Danny Elfman, Michael Keaton, Colin Farrell, Derek Frey, Rick Heinrichs, Ehren Kruger, Deobia Oparei, Roshan Seth, Ben Davis, Eva Green, Joseph Gatt, Frank Bourke, Sharon Rooney, Ragevan Vasan, Finley Hobbins, Nico Parker, and Zenaida Alcalde in Dumbo (2019)
    Dumbo
  • Fred Armisen and Bill Hader in Documentary Now! (2015)
    Documentary Now!
  • Michael Keaton, Sanaa Lathan, Taylor Kitsch, Shiva Negar, Aso Sherabayani, and Dylan O'Brien in American Assassin (2017)
    American Assassin
  • Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
    Spider-Man: Homecoming
  • Michael Keaton in The Founder (2016)
    The Founder
  • Binky Nelson Unpacified (2015)
    Binky Nelson Unpacified
    • (voice)
  • Michael Keaton, Liev Schreiber, Brian d'Arcy James, Mark Ruffalo, and Rachel McAdams in Spotlight (2015)
    Spotlight
  • Sasheer Zamata in Saturday Night Live: Cut for Time (2013)
    Saturday Night Live: Cut for Time

Additional Crew

  • Chuck Aber, Betty Aberlin, Don Brockett, José Cisneros, François Scarborough Clemmons, Johnny Costa, Michael Horton, Lenny Meledandri, Betty Seamans, Elsie Neal, Joe Negri, David Newell, John Reardon, Fred Rogers, Audrey Roth, Hedda Sharapan, Maggie Stewart, Carole Switala, Robert Trow, Charles Altman, David L. Nohling, and Bill Barker in Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (1968)
    Mister Rogers' Neighborhood

Producer

  • A Tree of Life (2022)
    A Tree of Life
  • Michael Keaton, Rosario Dawson, Peter Sarsgaard, Michael Stuhlbarg, John Hoogenakker, Will Poulter, and Kaitlyn Dever in Dopesick (2021)
    Dopesick
  • Michael Keaton, Stanley Tucci, and Amy Ryan in Worth (2020)
    Worth
  • Michael Keaton and Michelle Monaghan in Blindsided (2013)
    Blindsided
  • Brendan Fraser, Michael Keaton, and Amber Valletta in The Last Time (2006)
    The Last Time
  • Body Shots (1999)
    Body Shots
  • In-development projects at IMDbPro

Videos158

A Fresh Final Frontier, Lady Gaga, and a Wild Wild Comedy
Full Episode 3:19
A Fresh Final Frontier, Lady Gaga, and a Wild Wild Comedy
Spider-Man's Tribute to Co-Creator Steve Ditko
Full Episode 2:22
Spider-Man's Tribute to Co-Creator Steve Ditko
Michael Keaton Career Retrospective
Clip 1:42
Michael Keaton Career Retrospective
We Are Batman
Clip 2:09
We Are Batman
Will Morbius & Doc Ock Form the Sinister Six?
Clip 4:02
Will Morbius & Doc Ock Form the Sinister Six?
Is the New 'Joker' Most Like Jared, Heath, or Jack?
Clip 4:46
Is the New 'Joker' Most Like Jared, Heath, or Jack?
'Endgame' Is Only the Beginning for 'Spider-Man'
Clip 4:07
'Endgame' Is Only the Beginning for 'Spider-Man'
Tim Burton Wants to Reboot Which Classic '80s Comedy?
Clip 1:33
Tim Burton Wants to Reboot Which Classic '80s Comedy?
'Dumbo' Cast Confessions of Playing Tim Burton Outsiders
Clip 2:24
'Dumbo' Cast Confessions of Playing Tim Burton Outsiders
'The Batman': How Will Director Matt Reeves Reboot the Caped Crusader?
Clip 5:10
'The Batman': How Will Director Matt Reeves Reboot the Caped Crusader?
Hawaiian Vacation
Clip 0:27
Hawaiian Vacation
Toy Story 3: "Groovin' with Ken"
Clip 1:44
Toy Story 3: "Groovin' with Ken"

Personal details

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    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • September 5, 1951
    • Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, USA
    • Caroline McWilliamsJune 5, 1982 - January 29, 1990 (divorced, 1 child)
    • Sean Douglas
    • (Sibling)
  • Other works
    One of Michael his early jobs in "Hollywood" was pulling 'Mr. Trolley' for "Mr. Rogers Neighborhood".
  • Publicity listings
    • 12 Interviews
    • 9 Articles
    • 5 Pictorials
    • 17 Magazine Cover Photos

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Decided to change his name when he began acting because there was already a Michael Douglas in movies and a Mike Douglas in broadcasting. While he uses a stage name, he has never legally changed his name to Michael Keaton.
  • Quotes
    [after interviewer Michael Parkinson commented on his birth name being Michael Douglas] Yeah, I had to change my name because there were two other actors registered at Equity with that name. One of them is doing quite well from what I understand, the other is making cheap porn movies--like Basic Instinct (1992).
    • Wild hyper-kinetic energy in comedies
    • Batgirl
      $2,000,000

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