An American film and television actor, director, and producer, Michael Keaton is known for appearing in movies like Mr. Mom (1983), Beetlejuice (1988), Batman (1989), Batman Returns (1992), Much Ado About Nothing (1993), Noah's Ark: The New Beginning (2012), Birdman (2014) and Spotlight (2015). Keaton received an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe Award for playing the titular character in Alejandro G. Iñárritu black comedy, Birdman.
For his contribution to the world of cinema, he was named the Officer of Order of Arts and Letters in France, in 2016.
Early Life
Born Michael John Douglas in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania U.S, Keaton is the youngest of seven children. His mother, Leona Elizabeth was a housewife, while his father, George A. Douglas, worked as a civil engineer. Keaton was interested in the performing arts even as a kid and would often participate in comedy plays, where he got a chance to display his impeccable sense of humor.
For graduation, Keaton went to Kent University, where he studied speech for two years, but dropped out to fulfill his dream of making it big, in the world of entertainment. While trying to build a career in stand-up comedy, he even worked as an ice-cream truck driver and cab driver.
Personal Life
From 1982 to 1990, the actor was married to American actress Caroline McWilliams, famous for appearing in the TV series Benson, as Marcy Hill. The couple has a son Sean Maxwell Douglas, who is a songwriter and producer. Following the divorce in 1990, Keaton started dating Courteney Cox, popularly known for her role as Monica Geller on the NBC sitcom Friends. The couple called it quits after being in a relationship for five years.
Movie Career
After making an appearance in the comedy film Rabbit Test, Keaton starred in Ron Howard’s drama Night Shift, in 1982. The movie opened to positive reviews and Keaton was appreciated for his portrayal of Bill "Blaze" Blazejowski. He subsequently did a starring role in another comedy film Mr. Mom, where he co-starred with Jeffrey Tambor, Ann Jillian, Christopher Lloyd and Martin Mull.
In 1988, the actor appeared as the obnoxious ghost Betelgeuse in the fantasy comedy film Beetlejuice. Directed by Tim Burton, the movie, co-starring Winona Ryder was a blockbuster hit. Moving away from the genre of comedy, Keaton, in his next project, showed that he has the sensibilities to handle more serious projects too. Clean and Sober directed by Glenn Gordon Caron, saw him essay the role of a real estate agent, struggling to cope with his substance abuse addiction. For his performances, in both Beetlejuice and Clean and Sober, Keaton bagged the 1988 National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actor.
In 1989, he took another huge risk by accepting to play Batman, one of the world’s most iconic comic characters. Batman, the movie, saw the reunion of Keaton with director Tim Burton. The distribution company Warner Bros. received tons of letter by DC comic fans, expressing their concern and disappointment for casting Keaton in such a popular role. When the movie went on floors, it was a huge hit and Keaton received praises from all quarters for his portrayal of Bruce Wayne. He reprised his role as Bruce Wayne/Batman in the sequel Batman Returns (1992), which received a good opening too. Keaton then starred in movies like Much Ado About Nothing (1993), Jackie Brown (1997), Desperate Measures (1998), and First Daughter (2004). He also worked as a voice actor in several animated films like Cars (2006), Toy Story 3 (2010), and Minions (2015).
Another milestone in his already prolific career came with Academy Award winning film Birdman (2014). Keaton was widely appreciated for essaying an actor, Riggan Thomson, who in order to regain his lost glory, joins Broadway. Co-starring with Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton, Emma Stone, and Naomi Watts, for Birdman, Keaton received a Golden Globe and an Academy Award nomination. In the subsequent year, he appeared in the drama film Spotlight, based on the scandalous child sex abuse in the Boston area by numerous Roman Catholic priests. The movie starring Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, John Slattery, Stanley Tucci, Brian d'Arcy James, Liev Schreiber, and Billy Crudup, was inspired by a series of true stories.
His 2017 release includes the biographical drama movie The Founder. Directed by John Lee Hancock, the movie stars Michael Keaton in the lead role.
As a Director
Michael Keaton made his directorial debut with the 2008 drama film The Merry Gentleman. Featuring Kelly Macdonald, alongside Keaton in the lead role, the movie was screened at the Sundance Film Festival and received a good response.
Television career
Michael Keaton has been a part of TV shows like Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (1975), All's Fair (1976–1977), The Mary Tyler Moore Hour (1979), and Saturday Night Live (1982, 1992, 2015)