History of Michael Keaton in Timeline
"Michael Keaton, born Michael John Douglas, is a highly acclaimed American actor known for his diverse roles. His accolades include a Primetime Emmy Award and two Golden Globe Awards, alongside nominations for an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award. In recognition of his contributions to the arts, he was appointed Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters in France in 2016."
1905: Birth of George A. Douglas
Michael Keaton's father, George A. Douglas, was born in 1905.
1909: Birth of Leona Elizabeth Douglas
Leona Elizabeth (née Loftus), Michael Keaton's mother, was born in 1909.
September 5, 1951: Birth of Michael Keaton
Michael John Douglas, known professionally as Michael Keaton, was born on September 5, 1951, in Kennedy Township, Pennsylvania.
1968: Setting for The Trial of the Chicago 7
The film "The Trial of the Chicago 7," in which Michael Keaton played Ramsey Clark, revolves around the protests and riots that occurred during the 1968 Democratic National Convention.
1969: Keaton Graduates High School
Michael Keaton graduated from Montour High School in Robinson Township, Pennsylvania in 1969.
1975: Early Television Appearances
Michael Keaton makes his early television appearances on Pittsburgh public television programs "Where the Heart Is" and "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" in 1975.
1977: Death of George A. Douglas
George A. Douglas, Michael Keaton's father, passed away in 1977.
1982: Marriage to Caroline McWilliams
Michael Keaton married Caroline McWilliams in 1982.
1982: Keaton's Early Recognition in Comedy
Michael Keaton begins to gain recognition for his comedic roles in films, starting with "Night Shift" in 1982.
1983: "Mr. Mom" Boosts Keaton's Career
Michael Keaton lands a leading role in the comedy "Mr. Mom" in 1983, further solidifying his presence as a comedic actor.
1983: Birth of Son Sean
Michael Keaton's son, Sean, was born in 1983.
1984: Seeking Dramatic Roles
Despite his success in comedies, Michael Keaton seeks out dramatic roles, taking on the part of a hockey player in "Touch and Go" in 1984, although the film's release was delayed.
1986: Inspiration for Game 6
The film "Game 6," starring Michael Keaton, centers around the Boston Red Sox's attempt to win the World Series in 1986.
1986: "Touch and Go" Faces Marketing Challenges
The release of "Touch and Go" in 1986 presents marketing difficulties as the studio struggles to present Keaton in a dramatic light, affecting the film's reception.
1988: "Beetlejuice" and "Clean and Sober"
1988 proves to be a pivotal year for Michael Keaton as he takes on two diverse and unconventional roles that reshape his career trajectory: the comedic "Beetlejuice" and the dramatic "Clean and Sober."
1988: Clean and Sober Influence
Keaton considered his role in the 1988 film "Clean and Sober" as preparation for his performance in the miniseries "Dopesick."
1988: "Beetlejuice" and the Start of a Collaboration with Tim Burton
Keaton starred in Tim Burton's horror-comedy "Beetlejuice" in 1988, earning him critical acclaim and marking the beginning of a successful partnership with the director.
1989: Keaton's "Batman" Wins Over Audiences
Despite initial skepticism from fans, Michael Keaton's performance as Batman in the 1989 film is met with widespread acclaim, solidifying his ability to embody complex characters and silencing critics.
1989: Keaton Dons the Cape in "Batman"
Breaking away from his comedic image, Michael Keaton takes on the role of the iconic superhero Batman in Tim Burton's 1989 film, surprising audiences and critics alike with his performance.
1990: Divorce and Relationship with Courteney Cox
Keaton's marriage to Caroline McWilliams ended in 1990. He began a relationship with actress Courteney Cox that same year.
1991: Support for Pittsburgh Penguins
Keaton took a break from filming "Batman Returns" to support the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1991 Stanley Cup Finals.
1992: Return to Gotham in "Batman Returns"
Michael Keaton reprises his role as Batman in Tim Burton's sequel, "Batman Returns," in 1992, further cementing his portrayal of the Dark Knight.
1992: Last Time Playing Batman Before 2023
Michael Keaton's reprisal of Batman in "The Flash" marked his first time playing the character since 1992.
1993: From Gotham's Shadows to Shakespearean Comedy
Showcasing his versatility, Keaton stars in Kenneth Branagh's adaptation of Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing" in 1993.
1994: "Speechless" and Political Satire
Keaton stars in "Speechless" in 1994, a romantic comedy set against the backdrop of a political campaign, showcasing his comedic timing and versatility.
1994: Keaton Navigates Politics and Journalism
Keaton takes on roles in two distinct films: "The Paper," where he portrays a journalist, and "Speechless," playing a political speechwriter, both released in 1994.
1995: End of Relationship with Courteney Cox
Michael Keaton and Courteney Cox's relationship ended in 1995.
1995: Departing the Batcave
Despite being offered a substantial sum of $15 million, Michael Keaton makes the decision to depart from the Batman franchise in 1995 due to creative differences with the new director, Joel Schumacher.
1996: Exploring Identity in "Multiplicity"
Keaton tackles a unique role in the comedy "Multiplicity" (1996), playing multiple versions of the same character.
1997: Navigating the Criminal Underworld
Keaton showcases his acting prowess in "Jackie Brown" (1997), portraying the character of Agent Ray Nicolette.
1998: From Dark Knight to "Jack Frost"
In 1998, Keaton takes on a family-friendly role in the holiday film "Jack Frost."
2002: Death of Leona Elizabeth Douglas
Leona Elizabeth Douglas, Michael Keaton's mother, passed away in 2002.
2002: Keaton Reports "Live from Baghdad"
Michael Keaton takes on the role of a journalist in the HBO film "Live from Baghdad" in 2002, showcasing his dramatic range.
2003: Honoring a Television Icon
Keaton hosted a PBS memorial tribute to Fred Rogers, titled "Fred Rogers: America's Favorite Neighbor," following Rogers' death in 2003.
September 28, 2004: Mr. Rogers: America's Favorite Neighbor DVD Release
On September 28, 2004, Triumph Marketing LLC released "Mr. Rogers: America's Favorite Neighbor" on DVD, a PBS TV special hosted by Michael Keaton.
2005: Appearance at Steelers Game
During the 2005 AFC Championship Game, Michael Keaton made a surprise appearance on KDKA's pre-game coverage.
2005: Keaton Gets Behind the Wheel in "Herbie: Fully Loaded"
Keaton joins the classic Disney franchise, starring in "Herbie: Fully Loaded" in 2005.
2006: Lending His Voice to Animation
Keaton ventures into voice acting, lending his talents to the animated film "Cars" in 2006.
2006: Cars Release and Game 6 Role
Michael Keaton voiced the character Chick Hicks in the Disney/Pixar film "Cars," which brought him renewed box-office success. He also starred in the film "Game 6" about the Boston Red Sox's 1986 World Series bid.
2007: The Company Miniseries
Michael Keaton starred in the Cold War-era TV miniseries "The Company" in 2007, portraying real-life CIA counterintelligence chief James Jesus Angleton.
2008: Support for Barack Obama
Michael Keaton publicly supported Barack Obama's presidential campaign in 2008.
2008: Screen Actors Guild Award Nomination
Michael Keaton received a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries for his role in "The Company" in 2008.
2009: Stepping Behind the Camera for "The Merry Gentleman"
Keaton expands his creative horizons by directing the film "The Merry Gentleman" in 2009, demonstrating his filmmaking talents.
2010: Toy Story 3 Release
Keaton provided the voice of Ken in the critically acclaimed and financially successful animated film "Toy Story 3" in 2010.
2010: Action and Comedy Collide in "The Other Guys"
Keaton showcases his comedic timing alongside Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg in the action-comedy "The Other Guys" in 2010.
2013: ESPN Blog on the Pirates
Keaton, a dedicated fan of the Pittsburgh Pirates, wrote an ESPN blog about the team during the final stretch of their 2013 season.
2014: RoboCop and Birdman Roles
Michael Keaton played the villainous OmniCorp CEO Raymond Sellars in the "RoboCop" remake and starred as Riggan Thomson in "Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)" in 2014.
2014: A Career Resurgence with "Birdman"
Michael Keaton experiences a significant career resurgence with his acclaimed performance as a faded actor in Alejandro González Iñárritu's "Birdman" in 2014, earning him a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination.
2014: Birdman Accolades and Spotlight Role
For his performance in "Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)" in 2014, Keaton won a Golden Globe Award and received an Academy Award nomination. He also appeared in the film "Spotlight" in 2015.
2015: Investigative Journalism in "Spotlight"
Continuing his career resurgence, Keaton joins the ensemble cast of the biographical drama "Spotlight" in 2015, portraying Walter "Robby" Robinson Jr., editor of the Boston Globe's "Spotlight" team.
2015: Joining the Minions in "Minions"
Keaton further explores his voice acting capabilities in the animated film "Minions" in 2015.
2015: Spotlight Role
Keaton played Walter V. Robinson in the Academy Award-winning film "Spotlight" in 2015.
July 28, 2016: Hollywood Walk of Fame Star
Michael Keaton received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to film on July 28, 2016, located at 6931 Hollywood Blvd.
2016: Michael Keaton named Officer of Order of Arts and Letters
In 2016, Michael Keaton was honored by France with the title of Officer of Order of Arts and Letters, recognizing his significant contributions to the arts.
2016: Support for Hillary Clinton
Keaton endorsed Hillary Clinton for president during the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
2016: From Superhero to "The Founder"
Keaton portrays Ray Kroc, the businessman behind McDonald's, in the biographical drama "The Founder" in 2016.
2017: From Batman to Birdman to Vulture
Keaton joins the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the villainous Vulture in "Spider-Man: Homecoming," released in 2017.
2017: Vulture Role and Cars 3 Recast
Michael Keaton played the villainous Vulture in "Spider-Man: Homecoming" but couldn't reprise his role as Chick Hicks in "Cars 3" due to scheduling conflicts, leading to his replacement by Bob Peterson. He also starred in "American Assassin" that year.
2018: Celebrating "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood"
Keaton hosted the 50th anniversary special of "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" for PBS, titled "Mister Rogers: It's You I Like," in 2018.
October 2019: Goodrich Filming Initially Set
Filming for "Goodrich," starring Michael Keaton and directed by Hallie Meyers-Shyer, was initially planned to begin in October 2019 but was delayed.
2019: PETA Ad Campaign
Michael Keaton appeared in a PETA ad campaign in 2019, urging tourists to boycott establishments that exploit animals, specifically roadside zoos offering photo opportunities with wild animals.
2019: Dumbo Role
Michael Keaton starred as the villain in Tim Burton's live-action adaptation of "Dumbo" in 2019. He later expressed dissatisfaction with his performance in the film.
2020: The Trial of the Chicago 7 Role
Keaton appeared as U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark in the legal drama "The Trial of the Chicago 7," set against the backdrop of the 1968 anti-Vietnam War protests, in 2020.
2020: A Legal Battle in "The Trial of the Chicago 7"
Keaton joins the star-studded cast of Aaron Sorkin's historical legal drama "The Trial of the Chicago 7" in 2020, playing former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark.
2020: Support for Joe Biden and Stance on Celebrities in Politics
While Keaton actively supported Joe Biden in the 2020 U.S. presidential election, he later expressed his belief that celebrities should not engage in political discourse.
2021: Worth and Dopesick Roles
Michael Keaton starred in the Netflix film "Worth" and the Hulu miniseries "Dopesick" in 2021. He received a Screen Actors Guild Award and a Primetime Emmy Award for his performance in "Dopesick."
2021: Tackling the Opioid Crisis in "Worth"
Keaton stars in the biographical drama "Worth" in 2021, which centers around the aftermath of the September 11th attacks.
2021: Emmy Award for "Dopesick"
In 2021, Keaton receives critical acclaim and wins a Primetime Emmy Award for his performance as a drug-addicted doctor in the Hulu miniseries "Dopesick."
April 1, 2022: Morbius Cameo
Keaton briefly reprised his role as Vulture from "Spider-Man: Homecoming" in the Sony's Spider-Man Universe (SSU) film "Morbius," which was released on April 1, 2022.
August 2022: Batgirl Cancellation
The release of the film "Batgirl," in which Keaton was set to reprise his role as Batman, was canceled in August 2022.
April 2023: Goodrich Filming Begins
Filming for the Hallie Meyers-Shyer-directed film "Goodrich," starring Michael Keaton, commenced in April 2023 after a delay.
2023: A Return to the Batsuit
After decades away from the role, Keaton reprises his iconic portrayal of Batman in the DC Extended Universe film "The Flash," released in 2023.
2023: Return as Batman, Aquaman Cameo, and Knox Goes Away
Keaton returned as Batman in "The Flash," reprising the role after nearly three decades. He also had a deleted scene as Batman in "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" and starred in and directed the thriller "Knox Goes Away" in 2023.
2024: Beetlejuice 2 Release
Keaton is set to reprise his role as Betelgeuse in "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice," scheduled for release in 2024.
2024: Revisiting the Supernatural in "Beetlejuice 2"
Keaton is set to reprise his role as the mischievous ghost Beetlejuice in the long-awaited sequel, "Beetlejuice 2," scheduled for release in 2024.