Michael Keaton to adopt birth name for future projects after years in spotlight
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Michael Keaton captured attention by revealing that he will use his birth name for future projects, Michael Douglas. He has opened up about the origins of his stage name and the challenges he faced trying to switch names during his film career.
Keaton also shared the reasons behind the prohibition of his birth name and revealed his plans to incorporate it into future projects, despite the success he has enjoyed with the name 'Keaton.'
Michael Keaton to adopt birth name Michael Douglas
In an interview with People, Hollywood icon Michael Keaton shared that he chose his stage name from a phone book while pursuing his career in the 1970s. He was unable to use his birth name, Michael Douglas because the Screen Actors Guild prohibits members from using names already taken by other members.
At the time, there were already individuals with the names Michael Douglas and Mike Douglas, so Keaton had to find a different name. Reflecting on his choice, Keaton admitted he is now uncertain about how he arrived at the name that has graced numerous movie posters.
He explained, "I was looking through — I can’t remember if it was a phone book. I must’ve gone, I don’t know, let me think of something here. And I went, oh, that sounds reasonable."
Despite the success the name 'Keaton' has brought him, Keaton had plans to use a combination of his birth name and stage name, Michael Keaton Douglas, for his future projects.
He attempted to make this change for his recent directorial effort, 'Knox Goes Away,' a dramatic thriller released earlier this year, but was unable to do so due to the pressures of filmmaking.
He noted, "I said, hey, just as a warning, my credit is going to be Michael Keaton Douglas. And it totally got away from me. And I forgot to give them enough time to put it in and create that. But that will happen." For his latest film, 'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,' Keaton’s name appears as Michael Keaton.
Internet reacts to Michael Keaton's change of name
After Michael Keaton announced his decision regarding his professional name, many internet users flocked to the comment section to share their opinions. Some praised his choice, while others suggested additional names.
One user wrote, "That's a fascinating tidbit about Michael Keaton! It's pretty cool to imagine him randomly selecting his stage name from a phone book back in the 1970s. It's amazing how these little details can become part of a Hollywood legend."
A second user added, "A long time ago, I VIVIDLY remember him saying he really liked Diane Keaton, so that's how he chose it."
A third user added, "I think Michael Douglas Keaton sounds better than Michael Keaton Douglas."
Some one else shared, "He should go by Micheal K. Douglas."
One netizen claimed, "Good thing since Douglas is already a famous actor."
Another user shared, "One barely remembers him anyway, so I say go for it. Lol."
Michael Keaton's humble beginnings in becoming movie star
In the same interview, Michael Keaton opened up about his journey from humble beginnings to becoming a movie star. The youngest of seven children born to George Douglas, a civil engineer, and Leona, a homemaker, Keaton described his childhood in the Pittsburgh suburbs as “fantastic,” despite his family’s modest means.
He reminisced about roughhousing with his brothers and watching Westerns on TV, noting that he always had a knack for entertaining. “I was always entertaining. Because when you’re the youngest, you have a built-in audience. And they were receptive,” he said. “I realized I could make people laugh and get out of trouble or get into trouble.”
Keaton’s acting career began in earnest after he dropped out of Kent State University. He started with a role in a local production of David Rabe’s dark comedy 'Sticks and Bones,' which drew positive attention from a newspaper critic. “Someone said, ‘Hey, nice review.’ I had no idea what he was talking about,” he recalled.
It took years of odd jobs, including breaking down sets and working for $2 per hour at a PBS station, before he landed a role in the 1979 sitcom 'Working Stiffs' alongside Jim Belushi.
Although the show was canceled after one season, Keaton remained optimistic. “I thought, ‘Well, if it doesn’t work, I know I’m capable of doing a lot of other things.’ I always knew I could have a job, I could find a small apartment, I could get an inexpensive car that was owned by seven other people, and I’d do okay. So that takes a lot of pressure off." he explained.
Keaton’s career took off in the 1980s as a leading comedic actor with roles in films like 'Night Shift' and 'Mr Mom.' His career skyrocketed further with iconic roles in 'Beetlejuice' and 'Batman.'
More recently, he has received numerous accolades, including an Oscar nomination for Best Actor for his role in 'Birdman' and several awards for his performance as a doctor in the Hulu series 'Dopesick.' His latest film, 'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,' hits theaters on Friday, September 6.
This article contains remarks made on the internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.
