Michael Keaton

Born: 9 September 1951 Birthplace: Coraopolis, Pennsylvania Best Known As: Star of Beetlejuice and Batman Name at birth: Michael Keaton Douglas Keaton is known as a comic actor who can also go the serious route. The manic morgue comedy Night Shift (1982), his movie debut, was typical of his wacky comedy style. He really became a star as the frenetic title ghoul in Tim Burton's dark comedy Beetlejuice (1988). The next year he played Batman in Burton's big-budget movie Batman; it was considered casting against type, but Keaton worked well enough to make the movie into a lucrative Hollywood series. He played the Caped Crusader in the 1992 sequel, Batman Returns, before giving way to Val Kilmer (Batman Forever, 1995) and George Clooney (Batman and Robin, 1997). When he began acting, Keaton dropped the name Douglas to avoid confusion with established star Michael Douglas.