Michael Keaton

Michael Keaton married actress Caroline McWilliams in 1982. They had one son and the couple divorced in 1990.

Michael Keaton was born as Michael John Douglas on September 5, 1951, in Robinson Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. His father George A. Douglas worked as a civil engineer and surveyor, and his mother, Leona Elizabeth was a homemaker. He was the youngest of seven children.

He attended Montour High School in Pennsylvania following which he studied speech for two years at Kent State, before dropping out and moving to Pittsburgh. While at school he used to perform humorous skits to entertain his classmates.

He tried to pursue a career as a stand-up comedian but was not successful. In order to make ends meet he took up a job as a television cameraman at public television station WQED (TV). It was during this time that he realized that he wanted to work in front of the cameras.

He began auditioning for television roles and made appearances in Pittsburgh public television programs, including ‘Where the Heart Is’ and ‘Mister Rogers' Neighborhood’ (1975), as one of the "Flying Zookeeni Brothers”.

Determined to make his mark as an actor, he moved to Los Angeles in the lookout for more opportunities. Naturally talented and charismatic, he proved to be skilled at playing comedic roles. It did not take him long to bag parts in television shows like ‘Maude’ and ‘The Mary Tyler Moore Hour’.

Once he became a popular television actor, he changed his surname to “Keaton” in order to avoid confusion with well-known actor Michael Douglas and daytime host Mike Douglas.

Michael Keaton ventured into films following his television stint and made his film debut with a small non-speaking role in Joan Rivers film ‘Rabbit Test’. During this period he also worked with James Belushi in the short-lived comedy series ‘Working Stiffs’. He also appeared in the comedy hits ‘Mr. Mom’, ‘Johnny Dangerously’ and ‘Gung Ho’.

Michael Keaton is best known for his role as Riggan Thomson, a faded Hollywood actor once famous for playing the role of superhero “Birdman”. The film follows the actor’s life as he desperately tries to resurrect his failed career. Keaton received critical praise for this role which earned him several accolades and an Academy award nomination.