Hollywood is not what it used to be. Hollywood has become overcrowded with so many entertainers that somehow got lucky and made it big due to popularity but not necessarily capability. Looking back on when Hollywood was full of legends who took pride in their work rather than just making a movie for a pay check I would like to nominate my own “Actor’s of Legend.”
Michael Keaton is a name that many know from the 80’s for roles in movies such as Beetlejuice, Batman, and Mr. Mom. For those of you who were not around for his popular era, his movies are still highly popular. He was most recently in Toy Story 3 and The Other Guys.
Michael Keaton was born Michael John Douglas September 5th of 1951 in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania. Keaton began his career unsuccessfully as a stand-up comedian. His failure wound him up in a job as a cameraman for a public television station in Pittsburgh. Michael Keaton first appeared on television in TV productions such as “Where the Heart is,” and “Mr. Rogers Neighborhood” in 1975 as one of the “Flying Zucchini Brothers.”
Michael Keaton served as full-time production assistant for Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. In 2004 following the death of Mr. Rogers, Michael Keaton hosted a PBS memorial tribute program, Fred Rogers: Everybody’s Favorite Neighbor. His next key break was working alongside James Belushi in the short-lived comedy series Working Stiffs, which showcased his comedic talent and led to a co-starring role in the comedy Night Shift directed by Ron Howard. His role as the hilariously fast-talking schemer Bill "Blaze" Blazejowski alongside nerdish morgue attendant Henry Winkler earned Keaton some critical acclaim, and he scored leads in the subsequent comedy hits Mr. Mom, Johnny Dangerously, and Gung Ho.
Keaton’s role as the title character in the 1988 Tim Burton horror-comedy Beetlejuice, which co-starred Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Catherine O’Hara, and Winona Ryder, earned Keaton widespread acclaim and boosted him to movieland’s A-list. He originally turned down the title role in Beetlejuice but of course reconsidered. Keaton now considers Beetlejuice his favorite of his own films. That same year, Keaton also gave an acclaimed dramatic performance as a drug-addicted businessman in Clean and Sober. Newsweek featured him in a story during this time.
Michael Keaton may best be remembered for his role as Batman. The two films done by Tim Burton that Keaton portrayed a dark side of the DC hero surprised the public and enthralled fans all over the world. When Tim Burton was dropped from doing the third Batman film, Michael Keaton refused to return and historically that ended the Batman franchise no matter who Warner Brothers were able to get to play Batman. It just added to the proof who everyone thought was the greatest Batman of the 80’s and 90’s.
