10 Facts About Michael Keaton, the actor who plays Batman

 

Michael Keaton has had a lengthy and successful acting career in Hollywood, and it's no surprise that his work in superhero films like Batman and Spider-Man: Homecoming has helped him become a household name. His eccentric demeanor and inventive acting style can be seen in his several Box Office hits, in which he co-stars with other top Hollywood performers. The multi-talented and versatile performer has appeared in a number of films and television shows.

There is a growing roster of actors who have played both heroes and villains in DC and Marvel Comics-based films. DC fans from the late 1980s and early 1990s will recall Keaton as Batman, while Marvel fans will remember him as the supervillain in Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) and the mid-credits scene in Morbius. (2022). Here are 10 facts about Michael Keaton that you probably didn't know.

1. Movies You've Seen Michael Keaton's

Michael Keaton is well-known to moviegoers from various decades, as he has featured in a number of popular films. Keaton made his leading debut in Night Shift in the 1980s. In the 1982 comedy film, Keaton portrayed Bill Blazejowski. By 1989, Keaton had taken on the character of Bruce Wayne/Batman, which he reprised in 1992's Batman Returns.

In Herbie: Fully Loaded, Keaton portrayed Ray Peyton Sr., the parent of Lindsay Lohan's character. In Birdman, Keaton played Riggan Thomson/Birdman. (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance). Then there's Keaton's turn as Vulture in Spider-Man: Homecoming.

2. Michael Keaton's Beginnings in Television

Everyone has to start somewhere, and for Michael Keaton, it was on television. Keaton's first television appearances were in Where the Heart Is and Mister Rogers' Neighborhood in 1975. Keaton was a worker in Mister Rogers' Neighborhood and is best known for his role as one of the Flying Zookeeni Brothers. Keaton supplemented his money by performing stand-up comedy in various shows.

3. Why Did Michael Keaton Choose A Stage Name?

Michael Keaton was born Michael John Douglas on September 5, 1951, in Kennedy Township, Pennsylvania. Keaton moved to Los Angeles to seek a professional acting career after appearing on several TV shows in Pittsburgh. When he learned that there was already an actor and TV host with different spellings of his name, he decided to use a stage name. Keaton looked up a last name in a phone book after deciding to retain his first name. Moving on to names beginning with the initial "K," he came to Keaton. The rest, as they say, is history.

4. Michael Keaton Breakout Roles in Film

Michael Keaton had several breakthrough parts that catapulted him into the spotlight. His part in Night Shift (1982) was the first that catapulted him to fame. Playing the fast-talking, funny Bill Blazejowski helped give Keaton the focus he needed for his career. It helped him secure a lead role the following year as Jack Butler in the comedy Mr. Mom. (1983).

1988 was a watershed moment in Keaton's career, as he appeared in two films that catapulted him to stardom. Keaton played Betelgeuse in Tim Burton's dream horror comedy Beetlejuice. In the same year, he starred as Daryl Poynter in Glenn Gordon Caron's thriller Clean and Sober. With his Hollywood A-list reputation established, it came as no surprise that he was cast as Bruce Wayne/Batman in Tim Burton's Batman. (1989).

5. Michael Keaton's Top Three Grossing Films

Few actors have had as many great films as Michael Keaton. According to the IMDb ranking of Keaton's best-grossing films, the sequel to his first Batman film is his third highest earner. In the 1992 sequel Batman Returns, Keaton reprised his character as Bruce Wayne/Batman. At the box office, the film grossed $266.8 million.

In 1989, Keaton's second highest-grossing picture was his first Batman film. The film Batman was a critical and financial success, grossing $411.6 million at the box office. The MCU's Spider-Man: Homecoming is Keaton's highest-grossing film. The film grossed $880.2 million globally at the box office, with the actor playing the antagonist.

6. Other Films Michael Keaton Appeared In

In addition to his roles as a hero and a villain in superhero films, Michael Keaton has appeared in a number of other famous films. Keaton portrayed President John MacKenzie in First Daughter (2004), and he made his vocal debut in the Japanese animated adventure-fantasy Porco Rosso. (2005). Porco Rosso's speech was provided by Keaton. Need for Speed (2014), Minions (2015), American Assassin (2017), and The Protégé are some other noteworthy Keaton films. (2021).

7. Nominations and Awards Received by Michael Keaton

Michael Keaton has been nominated for numerous honors by major and non-major organizations. In 2015, he was shortlisted for an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award. Keaton won three Golden Globe Awards in 2003, 2015, and 2022, and was nominated for two more in 2015.

Keaton has been nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards, the most recent being in 2022 for his work in Dopesick. Keaton has received four of his six SAG Awards nominations. He received his most recent four nods in 2015, 2016, 2021, and 2022.

8. Other TV Shows Michael Keaton Was In

Michael Keaton's first major television appearance was in Hulu's drama miniseries Dopesick. Dr. Samuel Finnix was portrayed by Keaton. Keaton has previously featured as a guest star and in recurring roles in a number of television shows. Keaton appeared as Jack Crowley in an episode of The Simpsons in 2001, as well as in The Company (2007) and 30 Rock. (2011). In 1982 and 2019, Keaton presented Saturday Night Live.

9. Michael Keaton has dated coworkers in the past

Michael Keaton married his first and only wife, actress Caroline McWilliams, in 1982. Sean was born in 1983, and the pair divorced in 1990. Caroline McWilliams died of multiple myeloma on February 11, 2010. Keaton started a relationship with actress Courteney Cox in 1990. They were married for five years before splitting up in 1995.

10. Michael Keaton's Next Project

Michael Keaton will reprise his Bruce Wayne/Batman character in Andy Muschietti's upcoming The Flash. It will be Keaton's third appearance in the Batman costume. The plot of the film revolves around its primary character, The Flash. Barry Allen goes back in time to prevent his mother from dying. Allen must bear the consequences of his deeds.