Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Michael Keaton
open-in-new
<p>Michael John Douglas (born September 5, 1951), known professionally as Michael Keaton, is an American actor. He has received <a href="/facts/List_of_awards_and_nominations_received_by_Michael_Keaton/IafMMY3u">numerous accolades</a>, including a <a href="/facts/Primetime_Emmy_Award/4eAaPW0F">Primetime Emmy Award</a> and two <a href="/facts/Golden_Globe_Awards/1v50C2Tb">Golden Globe Awards</a>, in addition to nominations for an <a href="/facts/Academy_Award/CwTxYuNQ">Academy Award</a> and a <a href="/facts/BAFTA_Award/GszEPR7E">BAFTA Award</a>. In 2016, he was named <a href="/facts/Ordre_des_Arts_et_des_Lettres/DSP5bE6f">Officer of Order of Arts and Letters</a> in France. </p><p>Keaton gained early recognition for his comedic roles in <i><a href="/facts/Night_Shift_(1982_film)/zeCLocw3">Night Shift</a></i> (1982), <i><a href="/facts/Mr._Mom/PYuFg89D">Mr. Mom</a></i> (1983), <i><a href="/facts/Johnny_Dangerously/KPhWYpMo">Johnny Dangerously</a></i> (1984), <i><a href="/facts/Beetlejuice/RHdlJpLk">Beetlejuice</a></i> (1988), and <i><a href="/facts/The_Dream_Team_(1989_film)/eFWaaeMq">The Dream Team</a></i> (1989). He gained wider stardom portraying <a href="/facts/Bruce_Wayne_(1989_film_series_character)/8zhpRlG4">the titular superhero</a> in <i><a href="/facts/Batman_(1989_film)/oA3rQ6fJ">Batman</a></i> (1989) and <i><a href="/facts/Batman_Returns/Yadsrnhb">Batman Returns</a></i> (1992). Other notable roles include <i><a href="/facts/Pacific_Heights_(film)/wjf3mkCg">Pacific Heights</a></i> (1990), <i><a href="/facts/Much_Ado_About_Nothing_(1993_film)/JlbKUfHS">Much Ado About Nothing</a></i> (1993), <i><a href="/facts/Jackie_Brown/sq88IMkX">Jackie Brown</a></i> (1997), <i><a href="/facts/Jack_Frost_(1998_film)/pfBLmI0D">Jack Frost</a></i> (1998), <i><a href="/facts/RoboCop_(2014_film)/zwAAu83G">RoboCop</a></i> (2014), and <i><a href="/facts/Dumbo_(2019_film)/WAxtQtKt">Dumbo</a></i> (2019). He also performed voice roles in the animated films <i><a href="/facts/Cars_(film)/gC91ywsI">Cars</a></i> (2006), <i><a href="/facts/Toy_Story_3/rbYoYxxY">Toy Story 3</a></i> (2010), and <i><a href="/facts/Minions_(film)/v7EMEPpJ">Minions</a></i> (2015). </p><p>Keaton experienced a career resurgence after taking a starring role as a faded actor attempting a comeback in <a href="/facts/Alejandro_Gonz%25C3%25A1lez_I%25C3%25B1%25C3%25A1rritu/nfV9cQrz">Alejandro González Iñárritu</a>'s <i><a href="/facts/Birdman_(film)/SeFB5XBf">Birdman</a></i> (2014), for which he won a <a href="/facts/Golden_Globe_Award_for_Best_Actor_%25E2%2580%2593_Motion_Picture_Musical_or_Comedy/KukFJ1VF">Golden Globe Award for Best Actor</a> and a nomination for the <a href="/facts/Academy_Award_for_Best_Actor/ESeGU7vo">Academy Award for Best Actor</a>. He has since acted in biographical dramas such as <i><a href="/facts/Spotlight_(film)/LQ19Vake">Spotlight</a></i> (2015), <i><a href="/facts/The_Founder_(film)/h8hWuI0q">The Founder</a></i> (2016), <i><a href="/facts/The_Trial_of_the_Chicago_7/gbjwbRHc">The Trial of the Chicago 7</a></i> (2020), and <i><a href="/facts/Worth_(film)/YEDXAbJT">Worth</a></i> (2021). He portrayed <a href="/facts/Characters_of_the_Marvel_Cinematic_Universe%3a_M%25E2%2580%2593Z/J4YFgHmK">the Vulture</a> in <i><a href="/facts/Spider-Man%3a_Homecoming/yoNtPMpY">Spider-Man: Homecoming</a></i> (2017), while also reprising his roles as Batman in <i><a href="/facts/The_Flash_(film)/EwxkKT7A">The Flash</a></i> (2023) and the title role in <i><a href="/facts/Beetlejuice_Beetlejuice/vDeLRDFE">Beetlejuice Beetlejuice</a></i> (2024). </p><p>Keaton starred as a journalist in the <a href="/facts/HBO/gGSPvEEu">HBO</a> film <i><a href="/facts/Live_from_Baghdad_(film)/vIoAFdbf">Live from Baghdad</a></i> (2002). He portrayed a drug-addicted doctor in the <a href="/facts/Hulu/BzDs7GsQ">Hulu</a> limited series <i><a href="/facts/Dopesick_(miniseries)/0Uf8V62Q">Dopesick</a></i> (2021), for which he won a <a href="/facts/Primetime_Emmy_Award_for_Outstanding_Lead_Actor_in_a_Limited_Series_or_Movie/NIf4dy79">Primetime Emmy Award</a> and <a href="/facts/Golden_Globe_Award_for_Best_Actor_%25E2%2580%2593_Miniseries_or_Television_Film/SaMGLgec">Golden Globe Award for Best Actor</a>. Keaton directed the films <i><a href="/facts/The_Merry_Gentleman/NcKBw7Do">The Merry Gentleman</a></i> (2008) and <i><a href="/facts/Knox_Goes_Away/nFfRS5QK">Knox Goes Away</a></i> (2023), in which he also played the starring role. </p>