Michael Keaton is considering reverting to his birth name for his upcoming film projects. Known to audiences for decades as Michael Keaton, he has been credited with this name in iconic roles such as those in *Beetlejuice* and *Birdman*. In his latest venture, he will reprise his role as Beetlejuice in Tim Burton’s anticipated sequel, *Beetlejuice Beetlejuice*. The film, featuring Jenna Ortega, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, Justin Theroux, and Willem Dafoe, is scheduled for release on September 6.
According to *People*, Keaton has shared his reasons for wanting to use his real name in future works. The actor revealed that his actual name is Michael Douglas. He adopted the stage name Michael Keaton due to a rule imposed by the Screen Actors’ Guild (SAG) when he began his career. He humorously admits that he barely remembers choosing the name Keaton, speculating that it might have been a random choice from a phone book. Here is Keaton’s full quote:
“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.’
[On the set of Knox Goes Away] 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.”
Explaining Michael Keaton’s Name Change
Oscar Winner Michael Douglas Had the Name First
Keaton’s decision to adopt a stage name occurred in the 1970s, as he embarked on his acting career. Upon joining SAG, he encountered a rule that prohibited two actors from having identical names. The registry already included actor Michael Douglas and talk show host Mike Douglas, compelling the *Beetlejuice* star to choose a new surname. According to Keaton, the selection process was somewhat haphazard.
Michael Keaton's 10 Best Movies, Ranked
Even without the SAG rule mandating unique names, having a distinct name likely benefited Keaton. By the time Keaton was emerging, Michael Douglas was already a well-established actor with credits in films like *Romancing the Stone* and *A Chorus Line*. In 1988, Douglas won the Best Actor Oscar for *Wall Street*. The distinct surname ensured there was no confusion between the two, allowing Keaton to carve out his niche.
Today, Keaton is a highly respected actor in his own right. With an Oscar nomination for *Birdman* and an Emmy win for Best Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for the acclaimed series *Dopesick*, Keaton likely has the clout to revert to his original name in future credits, staying true to his birth identity.
Source: *People*
