Michael Keaton is an American actor best known for his portrayal of Batman in Tim Burton’s Batman and Batman Returns. He is also particularly known for his comic performances in the films Night Shift and Beetlejuice.
The youngest of the seven children, Michael Keaton was born on September 5, 1951 in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania. He grew up in a large Catholic family and attended Montour High School in Pennsylvania. He then entered Kent State University, where he studied speech. But he eventually dropped our after two years and moved to Pittsburgh.
After his unsuccessful attempt to enter the world of stand-up comedy, Michael Keaton worked as a cameraman for Pittsburgh’s local television network WQED (TV). He made his debut in American television when he appeared in several episodes of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood in 1975. After enjoying his short stint in the television series, Keaton decided to pursue a career in acting. He then followed this with his appearance in the television series Maude and The Mary Tyler Moore Hour.
Keaton had his big break in 1979 when he co-starred with James Belushi in the comedy series Working Stiffs. His performance on the sitcom showcased his comedic talent which eventually led him in landing a lead role in Ron Howard’s 1982 comedy film Night Shift. In the movie, Keaton played the fast talking Bill "Blaze" Blazejowski, who is one of the workers at the New York City morgue. This was then followed by his lead roles in the hit comedy films Mr. Mom (1983), Johnny Dangerously (1984), and Gung Ho (1986).
Keaton further showed his versatility as an actor when he starred in Tim Burton’s superhero film Batman, playing the title role. Despite of the public’s apprehensions on his ability to portray the role because of his long record as a comedian, Keaton received high critical praised for his sophisticated performance in the film. He later reprised the role for the film’s sequel, Batman Returns which was released in 1992.
After the success of the two Batman films, Keaton became one of the most sought-after actors in America during the 1990s. He then appeared in the films Much Ado About Nothing (1993), The Paper (1994), Multiplicity (1996), Jackie Brown (1997), Out of Sight (1998), Jack Frost (1998) and Desperate Measures (1998).