Credit: Saban FilmsDid you know that Beetlejuice star Michael Keaton was not born Michael Keaton?
Actor Michael Keaton, a legendary figure in Hollywood, has enjoyed a career spanning decades, marked by iconic performances shaping modern cinema. His net worth, hovering around $50 million, reflects not just longevity but a constant evolution as an actor who can tackle everything from superheroes to haunted spirits.
Keaton shot to fame in the late ’80s with his portrayal of Betelgeuse/Beetlejuice in Tim Burton’s beloved 1988 dark comedy, and soon after, he donned the cape and cowl in Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992).
Keaton’s Batman, dark and brooding, became a benchmark for future portrayals of the Caped Crusader, so much so that when he returned to the role in The Flash (2023), fans were thrilled to see him reclaim his spot as one of the best ever to play Gotham’s hero. He was also set to appear in Batgirl—the movie that was famously trashed and written off by Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav in 2022.
Keaton didn’t just stick to blockbusters, though. His ability to shift from major roles to smaller, character-driven projects defines his legacy. His Best Actor-nominated performance in Birdman (2014), playing a washed-up actor haunted by his past fame, brought him back into the limelight, earning him a Golden Globe and reinvigorating his career.
Not long after, his work in Spotlight (2015) as part of an ensemble investigating the Catholic Church abuse scandal helped the film snag an Academy Award for Best Picture, as did Rachel McAdams’ Oscar-nominated turn as Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Sacha Pfeiffer.
These films were testaments to Keaton’s chameleon-like ability to seamlessly blend into dramas and comedies, further solidifying his place as one of the most versatile actors in Hollywood.
Yet, while Michael Keaton was the name stretched across billboards, the actor wasn’t always known as Michael Keaton.
The 73-year-old actor was born Michael John Douglas, but, for obvious reasons, could not keep his real name for his performing career.
“As Hollywood legend has it, when Michael Keaton was pursuing a show business career in the 1970s, he picked his stage name out of a phone book,” PEOPLE wrote. “He couldn’t use his birth name, Michael Douglas, since the Screen Actors Guild prohibits members from using another member’s professional name.”
“The union already had a Michael Douglas (the future Wall Street Oscar winner) and a Mike Douglas (the talk show host),” the publication continued. “So he became Michael Keaton.”
When asked by PEOPLE about this legend, Keaton recalls that the story sounded familiar. “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.’”
Keaton eventually explained he wanted to reclaim his name and be credited as Michael Keaton Douglas for his professional projects moving forward.
The Bruce Wayne and Beetlejuice actor revealed he meant to be credited this way for Knox Goes Away (2023), the thriller that Keaton starred in (as John “Aristotle” Knox) and directed.
“I said, ‘Hey, just as a warning, my credit is going to be Michael Keaton Douglas.’ And it totally got away from me,” Keaton said. “And I forgot to give them enough time to put it in and create that. But that will happen.”
For his upcoming turn as bio-exorcist Betelgeuse in Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024), Keaton will remain credited as he has been since 1978 when he made his feature film debut in the non-speaking role of the sailor in Rabbit Test starring Joan Rivers and Billy Crystal.
Related: “It Could Be Possible” Tim Burton Teases ‘Beetlejuice 3’ After Michael Keaton Reunion
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is once more helmed by the master of the macabre, Tim Burton, with Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara also reprising their roles as Lydia Deetz and Lydia’s stepmother, Delia Deetz. Scream franchise and Wednesday star Jenna Ortega stars as Lydia’s daughter, Astrid Deetz.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is slated to be released on September 6.
With it already in post-production, it is unclear whether the Hollywood legend will be credited as Michael Keaton or Michael Keaton Douglas in the upcoming comedy Goodrich (2024). From writer and director Hallie Meyers-Shyer, Goodrich stars Keaton as Andy Goodrich, who, after being left by his younger second wife, seeks out his adult daughter Grace (Mila Kunis) to help with his nine-year-old twins.
Related: New Michael Keaton Batman Sequel Underway, Tim Burton Not Directing
His philanthropic efforts and commitment to environmental causes, such as participating in PETA’s 2019 campaign protesting exploitative tourist animal attractions, highlight a man whose talents and passions extend far beyond Hollywood.
Whether he’s playing a haunted ghost, a dark knight, or a determined journalist, Keaton has left an indelible mark on the film industry. His resurgence over the past decade ensures that his legacy will continue to thrive for years to come.
How do you feel about Michael Keaton reverting back to Michael Douglas moving forward? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!