Who knew that was the case? Michael Douglas?
That’s right, the man who brought us ‘Beetlejuice’ and ‘Batman’ is reclaiming his birth name, and it’s causing quite the buzz in Hollywood.
- Michael Keaton is changing his name
- In fact, his real one is Michael Douglas
- THIS is why he's doing it now
Michael wants to be real
For those of you who’ve been living under a rock—or perhaps under a very large boulder of ‘Beetlejuice’ merchandise—Michael Keaton isn’t actually his birth name. The actor, born Michael Douglas, chose his stage name to avoid confusion with the legendary actor Michael Douglas. After all, there’s only room for one “Michael Douglas” in the spotlight, and the original is quite the powerhouse with ‘Fatal Attraction’ and ‘Wall Street’ under his belt.
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.
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 and a Mike Douglas (the talk show host). So he became Michael Keaton.
Asked about the phone book story, Keaton tells 'People' magazine he’s not quite sure how he opted for the moniker that’s appeared on dozens of movie posters.
So, that's why
“I was looking through — I can’t remember if it was a phone book,” says Keaton, 72, raising those famously expressive eyebrows at times as he talks. “I must’ve gone, ‘I don’t know, let me think of something here.’ And I went, ‘Oh, that sounds reasonable.’”
But now, it seems Keaton is ready to step out of the shadow of his stage name and re-embrace his roots. It's a move that feels a bit like "Batman" deciding to hang up the cape and go back to "Bruce Wayne"—minus the crime-fighting and, well, the Batmobile.
Keaton's career is a testament to his versatility and skill. He first captured our hearts as “Beetlejuice” in the eponymous film, where his performance was so over-the-top it practically defied gravity. Then there was his iconic turn as ‘Batman’ in Tim Burton’s ‘Batman’ and ‘Batman Returns,’ where he proved that you can be both brooding and dynamic while wearing a suit made of rubber.
Not to forget his memorable portrayal of “Birdman” in the film ‘Birdman’ or ‘The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance,’ which not only earned him critical acclaim but also a standing ovation for essentially playing a character who's struggling with the very notion of his own relevance.
As Michael Douglas, Keaton (or rather, Douglas) is stepping back into the limelight with a name that might just remind audiences of his impressive range of roles. Whether it’s his comeback as “Beetlejuice” or another groundbreaking role, he’s proving that you can teach an old star new tricks—especially when the tricks involve returning to your original name.
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Beautiful family!
Rare Sighting: Michael Douglas Walks The Red Carpet With His Kids
In a world where stage names and aliases can sometimes overshadow an actor’s true identity, Michael Douglas is taking a bold step to say, “Hey, I’m not just a character on screen; I’m the guy who brought that character to life.” So, next time you catch a film with Douglas in the credits, remember—it’s not just any Michael Douglas.
It’s the one who’s given us countless memorable performances and is now embracing his true name with style.
