An onscreen luminary who grew up in the West Hills and went on to become one of Hollywood’s most well-known actors is one of 10 people to be inducted in the inaugural Pittsburgh Walk of Fame class.
Michael Keaton, known for such famous film roles as Batman, Birdman and Beetlejuice, is scheduled to appear at the ribbon-cutting and induction ceremony at Monday, Oct. 20, at the Strip District Terminal on Smallman Street.
The public is invited to attend the event, which is scheduled to start at 10:30 a.m.
Keaton, who grew up as Michael John Douglas in Kennedy and Robinson townships, is one of only two living honorees in the Walk’s inaugural class.
George Benson will not attend the Oct. 20 event but is expected to send remarks.
Joining Keaton and Benson in the inaugural class is a powerhouse group that features journalist Nellie Bly, industrialist/philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, environmentalist and author Rachel Carson, baseball player and humanitarian Roberto Clemente, television host and producer Fred Rogers, medical researcher Dr. Jonas Salk, artist Andy Warhol and playwright August Wilson.
All 10 will have their names featured on large bronze stars that will be embedded in the sidewalk at the Smallman Street Terminal, which stretches from 16th Street to 21st Street.
Each star will be accompanied by a narrative plaque that briefly discusses the honoree’s key achievements and ties to the Pittsburgh region, while a customized app will provide more information and visuals.
Nancy Polinsky Johnson, founder and executive director of the nonprofit Pittsburgh Walk of Fame, said everyone involved in creating the new visitor attraction is thrilled with the group of honorees.
“There are certainly many others who are equally deserving of the honor – and their time will come,” she said in a news release. “But this group really represents the diversity of the talent that has come out of southwestern Pennsylvania and left a noteworthy mark on American culture.
“And that’s what this Walk is designed to celebrate.”
Keaton, who graduated from Montour High School in 1969, attended college in Ohio and then returned to Pittsburgh, where he worked on the production crew of Rogers’ children’s TV series “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,”produced at the public television station WQED. It was during a 1975 episode of the show that the aspiring actor made his first TV appearance, as part of a zany troupe of circus performers.
Actor Michael Keaton, who grew up in Robinson and Kennedy townships and graduated from Montour High School, is part of the initial group to be honored in the Pittsburgh Walk of Fame. Keaton, who grew up as Michael Douglas, is scheduled to appear at the Oct. 20 ribbon-cutting and induction ceremony at the Strip District Terminal. (Photo courtesy of Michael Keaton)
Keaton’s sharp comedic timing led to early fame in the 1980s, when he landed leading roles in films like “Mr. Mom” and “Beetlejuice.” He reached global stardom in Tim Burton’s “Batman” and “Batman Returns,” with his brooding take on the superhero.
In 2014, Keaton earned critical praise and award recognition for his dynamic performance in “Birdman.” Since then, standout roles in acclaimed productions such as “Spotlight” and “Dopesick” have solidified his status as a top-tier dramatic actor.
According to its website, the nonprofit group behind the Walk of Fame launched the effort to create a landmark that honors people with ties to the Pittsburgh region “who have influenced America’s cultural heritage and to educate the public about the honorees and their accomplishments.”
Nominations for the first group of inductees were taken throughout the month of January. To be eligible for induction, someone had to either have been born in or spent their formative or creative years in one of 10 southwestern Pennsylvania counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington or Westmoreland. Their accomplishments must have had a major impact on America’s cultural heritage.
Johnson said officials received the names of just over 400 nominees, and 275 met the qualifications. Of the 275, a curated list of 50 nominees was then sent to a selection committee of about 140 leaders from colleges and universities, cultural institutions, news outlets, historical societies, chambers of commerce, community development groups and visitors bureaus from the 10-county area.
Committee members voted for their selections and based on that vote tally the Walk of Fame board made the final determination.
Jim Rudolph, president of the nonprofit’s board, said the group wanted to install the first class of honorees before the 2026 NFL draft, which will be he held in Pittsburgh.
“With hundreds of thousands of people coming to town in April, we thought it was important to get the first 10 stars on the sidewalk in time for all those visitors to be able to begin to know the Pittsburgh area’s influence on America,” he said. “With this attraction free to see and open 24/7, we’re accomplishing this goal.”
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