Iconic Actor Michael Keaton Ponders Name Change After Decades

Veteran actor Michael Keaton is contemplating an update to his stage name after over 30 years. Initially choosing 'Keaton' due to industry guidelines, he now considers 'Michael Keaton Douglas'. Although his latest film credit remained unchanged, he hints at future updates.

Veteran actor Michael Keaton is mulling over a change to his professional name after more than three decades in the industry, People magazine reported. Keaton, who adopted his famous moniker due to Screen Actors Guild rules, is considering updating his name to 'Michael Keaton Douglas'.

In an interview with People, Keaton shared that his stage name was chosen on a whim. 'I was looking through -- I can't remember if it was a phone book,' he said. 'I must've gone, 'I don't know, let me think of something here.' And I went, 'Oh, that sounds reasonable.''

Keaton revealed that he intended to debut his updated name in the film 'Knox Goes Away,' but the plan didn't materialize. '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,' he explained. He confirmed that his credit in the upcoming Beetlejuice sequel will still be 'Michael Keaton.' At the Venice Film Festival, Keaton joked about how his Beetlejuice character has 'matured' in the new movie.

'As suave and sensitive as he was in the first, I think he's even more so in this one. Just his general caring nature and his sense of social mores and his political correctness,' he quipped.

(With inputs from agencies.)