If you are a fan of animation, video games, or superhero movies, you might have heard of Josh Keaton and Michael Keaton. Josh Keaton is a voice actor who has lent his voice to characters such as Spider-Man, Shiro from Voltron: Legendary Defender, and Anduin Wrynn from World of Warcraft. Michael Keaton is a film actor who has starred in movies such as Batman, Birdman, and Spotlight. But are these two actors related by blood or by name? The answer might surprise you.
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The Origin of the Keaton Name
The first thing to know is that neither Josh nor Michael was born with the surname Keaton. Josh’s birth name is Joshua Luis Wiener, and Michael’s birth name is Michael John Douglas. So how did they end up with the same last name?
According to Wikipedia, Josh adopted the stage name Keaton when he was a child actor, because he liked the sound of it and because he was a fan of Buster Keaton, a famous silent film comedian. He also wanted to avoid confusion with another actor named Josh Weiner.
Michael, on the other hand, changed his name when he moved to Los Angeles to pursue his acting career. According to IMDb, he chose Keaton because he liked the way it sounded and because he was inspired by Diane Keaton, an actress he admired. He also wanted to avoid confusion with another actor named Michael Douglas.
The Family Background of Josh and Michael
Another thing to know is that Josh and Michael have very different family backgrounds and ethnicities. Josh was born in Hacienda Heights, California, to a father from New York City and a mother from Lima, Peru. His father is Jewish and his mother is Catholic. He has three sisters and is fluent in Spanish and some Quechua. He married Elizabeth Melendez in 2009 and has two children.
Michael was born in Kennedy Township, Pennsylvania, to a father from McKees Rocks and a mother from Coraopolis. His father was a civil engineer and surveyor and his mother was a homemaker. He has six siblings and was raised in a Catholic family. His mother was of Irish descent and his father was of Scottish, Scotch-Irish, German, and English ancestry. He married Caroline McWilliams in 1982 and divorced in 1990. He has one son, Sean Douglas, who is a songwriter and producer.
The Career Paths of Josh and Michael
The third thing to know is that Josh and Michael have followed different career paths and achieved success in different fields. Josh started his career as an infant in an OshKosh B’gosh commercial. He then appeared in several TV shows as a child actor, such as Back to the Future: The Animated Series and Full House. He was also a member of the boy band No Authority in the 1990s. He later focused on voice acting for animation and video games, becoming known for his roles as Spider-Man, Shiro, Anduin Wrynn, Revolver Ocelot, Spyro the Dragon, Green Lantern, Hercules, and many others.
Michael started his career as a TV cameraman in a cable station. He then tried stand-up comedy before landing roles in TV shows such as Maude and The Mary Tyler Moore Hour. He gained fame for his comedic roles in movies such as Night Shift, Mr. Mom, Johnny Dangerously, and Beetlejuice. He then achieved stardom for his dramatic roles as Batman/Bruce Wayne in Batman and Batman Returns. He also starred in movies such as Pacific Heights, Much Ado About Nothing, The Paper, Jackie Brown, Herbie: Fully Loaded, The Other Guys, Birdman, Spotlight, The Founder, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Dumbo, The Trial of the Chicago 7, and The Flash.
The Conclusion: Are Josh and Michael Related?
The final thing to know is that Josh and Michael are not related by blood or by name. They just happen to share the same stage name that they chose for different reasons. They have different birth names, different family backgrounds, different ethnicities, different career paths, and different achievements. They are both talented actors who have entertained millions of fans with their performances on screen and behind the microphone. But they are not related in any way other than by coincidence.
I hope you enjoyed reading this article about Josh Keaton and Michael Keaton. If you did, please share it with your friends and family who might be interested in learning more about these two actors. Thank you for your time and attention!
