Who is Michael Keaton?

Michael Keaton, born Michael John Douglas on September 5, 1951, in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, is an American actor known for both comedic and dramatic roles. He studied speech at Kent State University and worked as a TV cameraman before pursuing acting. Keaton gained recognition through TV shows like Maude and The Mary Tyler Moore Hour , before his big break in Working Stiffs . His early comedic success includes roles in Mr. Mom and Beetlejuice . Keaton later achieved critical acclaim for his performances in Batman , Birdman , and Spotlight .

What are some famous movies that Michael Keaton has acted in?

Michael Keaton, born Michael John Douglas on September 5, 1951, is an American actor known for both comedic and dramatic roles. Keaton gained prominence in comedy with roles in Night Shift (1982), Mr. Mom (1983), and Beetlejuice (1988). He transitioned to dramatic roles, achieving success in Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992). In later years, Keaton starred in Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014) and Spotlight (2015), both of which earned widespread acclaim and won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Which superhero did Michael Keaton famously play in the 1980s and 1990s?

Michael Keaton famously portrayed Batman in the 1980s and 1990s in the films Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992). Despite initial criticism for casting a comedic actor in the role, Keaton's performance as the Caped Crusader was highly praised.

How did Michael Keaton begin his acting career?

Michael Keaton (born Michael John Douglas on September 5, 1951) is an American actor known for comedic and dramatic roles. Before his big break, he studied speech for two years at Kent State University and then moved to Pittsburgh, where he worked as a stand-up comic. After working as a TV cameraman, Keaton moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting. He had a few TV appearances in shows such as Maude and The Mary Tyler Moore Hour . His role opposite James Belushi in the short-lived TV comedy Working Stiffs (1979) led to his big-screen debut with Henry Winkler in Night Shift (1982).

What awards or recognitions has Michael Keaton received for his acting?

Michael Keaton, born Michael John Douglas on September 5, 1951, is an American actor known for both comedic and dramatic roles. Keaton received his first Academy Award nomination and won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for his performance in Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014). The film itself also won the Oscar for best picture. In Birdman , Keaton plays an actor trying to regain his glory days. The film was also nominated for a Golden Lion award at the Venice International Film Festival.

How has Michael Keaton's acting style or choice of roles changed over time?

Michael Keaton began his career primarily in comedic roles, but he later achieved success in dramas. His early career included films such as Mr. Mom and Beetlejuice . Keaton's role as Batman was a departure from comedy that drew criticism, but he surprised audiences with his performance. Keaton broadened his movie credits, taking on diverse roles in Pacific Heights , Much Ado About Nothing , Multiplicity , and Jackie Brown . After a period of mixed success in the early 2000s, Keaton returned to the spotlight in Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) , for which he received an Academy Award nomination and won a Golden Globe Award. He continued his success in the drama Spotlight .

Michael Keaton

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Images

Michael Keaton wearing a dark suit, white shirt, and patterned tie, smiling at an event in 2015 with a blurred backdrop featuring text.

Michael Keaton as Batman stands in his black suit and cape in front of multiple monitors displaying the Joker in a scene from the 1989 film Batman.

Michael Keaton, wearing a brown suit, stands pressed against a wall as Edward Norton, in a white shirt with suspenders, points at him in a tense hallway scene from Birdman.

Michael Keaton as Riggan Thomson walks on a city sidewalk wearing a beige coat, with a man in a dark feathered Birdman costume standing closely behind him in a scene from Birdman.

Quick Facts

In full:: Michael John Douglas

Born:: September 5, 1951, Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, U.S. (age 75)

Awards And Honors:: Emmy Award (2022); Golden Globe Award (2022); Golden Globe Award (2015): Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy

Married To:: Caroline McWilliams (1982–1990)

Movies/Tv Shows (Acted In):: "Johnny Dangerously" (1984); "Minions" (2015); "Quicksand" (2003); "Touch and Go" (1986); "Report to Murphy" (1982); "Need for Speed" (2014); "Night Shift" (1982); "Toy Story 3" (2010); "Penthouse North" (2013); "Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)" (2014); "Family" (1978); "The Tony Randall Show" (1978); "Gary the Rat" (2003); "Mary" (1978); "Documentary Now!" (2019); "The Simpsons" (2001); "Desperate Measures" (1998); "One Good Cop" (1991); "Post Grad" (2009); "Jackie Brown" (1997); "RoboCop" (2014); "White Noise" (2005); "Rabbit Test" (1978); "Clean and Sober" (1988); "Mr. Mom" (1983); "The Other Guys" (2010); "Herbie Fully Loaded" (2005); "The Dream Team" (1989); "MisteRogers' Neighborhood" (1974–1975); "The Founder" (2016); "The Squeeze" (1987); "My Life" (1993); "Batman Returns" (1992); "The Company" (2007); "Gung Ho" (1986); "The Last Time" (2006); "30 Rock" (2011); "Beetlejuice" (1988); "Batman" (1989); "Porco Rosso" (1992); "Much Ado About Nothing" (1993); "Spider-Man: Homecoming" (2017); "American Assassin" (2017); "Working Stiffs" (1979); "The Paper" (1994); "Multiplicity" (1996); "Jack Frost" (1998); "All's Fair" (1976–1977); "Pacific Heights" (1990); "The Merry Gentleman" (2008); "Game 6" (2005); "King of the Hill" (2003); "Speechless" (1994); "Noah" (2012); "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver" (2019); "Spotlight" (2015); "The Mary Tyler Moore Hour" (1979); "A Shot at Glory" (2000); "Frasier" (2002); "Cars" (2006); "Worth" (2020); "Studs Lonigan" (1979); "Dumbo" (2019); "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" (1977); "Maude" (1977); "First Daughter" (2004)

Michael Keaton

American actor

Also known as: Michael John Douglas

Written by

Karen Sparks

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Britannica Editors

Last updated

Oct. 31, 2026 •History

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Richard Gadd, Bill Camp and Ray McKinnon Join Michael Keaton-Directed Western ‘Rode to Ruin’ (EXCLUSIVE) • Oct. 22, 2026, 3:00 AM ET (Variety)

Comedy hits: Night Shift, Mr. Mom, and Beetlejuice

Keaton studied speech for two years at Kent State University before moving to Pittsburgh, where he struggled as a stand-up comic. After a stint as a TV cameraman in a cable station, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. He scored a few TV appearances on such shows as Maude (1972) and The Mary Tyler Moore Hour (1979) before getting his big break opposite James Belushi in the short-lived TV comedy Working Stiffs (1979). That role catapulted him to the big screen as a costar with Henry Winkler in the comedy Night Shift (1982), in which Keaton portrayed a fast-talking dreamer who fashioned a variety of get-rich-quick schemes while working in a morgue.

Other comedy hits followed, notably Mr. Mom (1983), Johnny Dangerously (1984), Gung Ho (1986), and the Tim Burton horror-comedy Beetlejuice (1988), in which Keaton costarred with Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, and Winona Ryder and appeared in the title role as an obnoxious mischievous ghost.

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Batman movies

Moving away from comedy, Keaton was the surprise pick by Burton to appear as the Caped Crusader in his darkly atmospheric film Batman (1989). The choice of Keaton drew criticism from moviegoers who questioned the choice of a comic actor for that role. Nevertheless, Keaton surprised audiences with his superb portrayal of the superhero crime fighter opposite Jack Nicholson as the Joker.

In an attempt to broaden his movie credits, Keaton took on the role of a psychopathic tenant in Pacific Heights (1990) before donning his black cape again in Batman Returns (1992). A host of other films followed, including the Shakespearean Much Ado About Nothing (1993), Multiplicity (1996), Jackie Brown (1997), and Desperate Measures (1998). In the early 2000s his films, such as Live from Baghdad (2002), First Daughter (2004), and Herbie Fully Loaded (2005), met with mixed success. He provided character voices in the animated films Cars (2006), Toy Story 3 (2010), and Minions (2015).

Birdman and Spotlight

In 2014 Keaton returned to the spotlight in such movies as RoboCop, Need for Speed, and Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance). He earned particular acclaim for the latter film, in which he starred as an actor who had achieved iconic status as the titular superhero and was desperately trying to regain his glory days by staging a serious Broadway play. For his portrayal, Keaton received his first Academy Award nomination, and he won a Golden Globe Award. In addition, the film garnered the Oscar for best picture.

His success continued in 2015 with the drama Spotlight, in which he gave a riveting performance as a Boston Globe reporter investigating the cover-up of sexual abuse by Roman Catholic priests. The film won the Oscar for best picture. Keaton also starred in The Founder (2016), which was based on the true story of Ray Kroc, the salesman who grew McDonald’s from a small hamburger restaurant in California to a worldwide enterprise.

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Later work: Dopesick and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

In 2017 Keaton returned to comic book characters, playing the villainous Adrian Toomes (Vulture) in Spider-Man: Homecoming, and to action thrillers, portraying a Persian Gulf War veteran who trains a young CIA recruit in American Assassin (2017), which was based on the best-selling novel of the same name. He later was cast as the owner of an amusement park in Dumbo (2019), Tim Burton’s live-action remake of the 1941 Disney classic. Keaton’s credits from 2020 included The Trial of the Chicago 7, Aaron Sorkin’s drama about a group of political activists who were tried for their antiwar activities during the 1968 Democratic National Convention.

Keaton later appeared as an Appalachian doctor dealing with the opioid crisis in the miniseries Dopesick (2021), which was based on a book by Beth Macy. For his performance, Keaton won an Emmy Award. In the horror film Morbius (2022), he reprised the role of Adrian Toomes (Vulture). Keaton then returned to the character of Batman for the superhero film The Flash (2023). In 2024 he reunited with Tim Burton for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, a sequel to the 1988 film. Other returning cast mates included Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara.

In 2016 Keaton was named Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters in France.

Karen Sparks The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Michael Keaton

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Comedy hits: Night Shift, Mr. Mom, and Beetlejuice

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Batman movies

Birdman and Spotlight

Later work: Dopesick and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice