Many people wonder if Michael Keaton and Diane Keaton are related, since they share the same last name and are both famous actors. The answer is no, they are not related by blood or marriage. In fact, Keaton is not even their real surname. Both Michael and Diane changed their names early in their careers for different reasons. Here is the story behind their stage names and why they chose Keaton.
Contents
Michael Keaton’s Birth Name Was Michael Douglas
Michael Keaton was born as Michael John Douglas on September 5, 1951, in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania. He started his acting career in the 1970s, appearing in TV shows like *Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood* and *The Mary Tyler Moore Hour*. However, when he tried to register with the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), he found out that there were already two other actors with his name: Michael Douglas and Mike Douglas. To avoid confusion and legal issues, he had to change his name.
According to the Golden Globes website, Michael went down the alphabet and randomly picked Keaton as his new surname. He said he thought he would change it later to something cooler, but he never did. He also said he liked the name because it sounded Irish and it paid homage to the silent film comedian Buster Keaton, whom he admired.
Diane Keaton’s Birth Name Was Diane Hall
Diane Keaton was born as Diane Hall on January 5, 1946, in Los Angeles, California. She began her acting career in the 1960s, starring in Broadway plays like *Hair* and *Play It Again, Sam*. However, when she had to register for an Actors’ Equity card, she faced a similar problem as Michael: there was already another actress named Diane Hall. She had to choose a different name to work in the industry.
According to BuzzFeed, Diane considered several names, such as Dorrie Hall and Corry Hall, before settling on Diane Keaton as her stage name. She said she chose Keaton because she liked the sound of it and because it was her mother’s maiden name. She also said she felt more comfortable with a name that had some connection to her family.
Conclusion
Michael Keaton and Diane Keaton are not related, despite having the same last name and being successful actors. They both changed their names early in their careers because of conflicts with other performers who had their original names. They both picked Keaton for different reasons: Michael liked it because it was Irish and funny, while Diane liked it because it was her mother’s maiden name. They have never worked together in a film or a TV show, but they have met each other and expressed mutual respect and admiration.
