“This means the world to me.”
Award-winning actor and West Hills native Michael Keaton delivered those words Monday while he was honored with a bronze star on Pittsburgh’s Walk of Fame in the Strip District.
Keaton, who grew up as Michael John Douglas in Kennedy and Robinson townships with his six older siblings, was one of 10 famous Pittsburghers inducted into the inaugural Walk of Fame class.
“This is one of the greatest days of my life,” he told the large crowd gathered outside The Terminal on Smallman Street.
Keaton graduated from Montour High School in 1969 and began his career at WQED-TV on the production crew of “Mister Rogers Neighborhood” before heading off to Hollywood. Since arriving, he’s appeared in nearly 100 movies and TV series, most notably “Batman,” “Birdman” and “Beetlejuice.”
Several Douglas family members attended the ceremony, including Michael’s brother Robert, who came in from Florida.
“I was thinking of George A. Douglas and Leona Loftus Douglas, my dad and mother today, probably looking down just unbelievably proud of him,” Robert Douglas said.
“My mom and dad would just think he was the greatest thing in the world and he is one of the greatest things in the world,” he added.
Keaton and musician George Benson were the only two living honorees in the inaugural class. Benson did not attend the ceremony but did send video remarks.
The posthumous inductees included Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Roberto Clemente, television pioneer Fred Rogers, journalist Nellie Bly, author and environmentalist Rachel Carson, industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, medical researcher Dr. Jonas Salk, artist Andy Warhol and playwright August Wilson.
Criteria for enshrinement in Pittsburgh’s first Walk of Fame class included accomplishments that had a major impact on America’s cultural heritage. The selection committee was made up of 140 leaders from various colleges and universities, historical societies, community groups, visitors bureaus, chambers of commerce, cultural institutions and news outlets.
Keaton said, “I love places like this, but I especially love this, my hometown. I love these immigrant cities.”
Keaton said there’s nothing like being recognized by one’s hometown.
“To be honored here and to be included among this inaugural group of honorees, people who’ve not just shaped Pittsburgh, but literally shaped the world – this is almost embarrassing,” he said.
Then, in true Michael Keaton style, he added, “Almost.”
Nancy Polinsky Johnson, executive director of the Pittsburgh Walk of Fame, who spearheaded the project, was inspired by a similar walk of fame in St. Louis.
“I flew home to Pittsburgh thinking about it the whole way,” she said. “We have so many people from this area to brag about.”
After years of hard work by many people, Johnson was thrilled to see everything fall into place. “The words ‘dream come true’ are often used rather lightly,” she said. “But this truly is a dream come true for me.”
Rick Sebak, WQED-TV personality and the event’s master of ceremonies, touted the attraction as “a very cool addition to our city.”
The Pittsburgh Walk of Fame’s bronze stars were manufactured by local firm Matthews International, which has made stars for other walks of fame across the country. The Pittsburgh stars are embedded along the lower sidewalk as a way to compel people to walk all five blocks of The Terminal.
The Pittsburgh Walk of Fame ceremony will become an annual event, with the number of inductees eventually dropping to around three a year. “We wanted to get this project jump-started with more in the first two or three years,” Johnson said.
Editor’s note: Co-author Drew Moniot offered his thoughts on the film career of Michael Keaton:
DREW’S TAKE:
Mickael Keaton is a cinematic cultural icon with a long list of movie credits. He is a bona fide pop culture superstar and living legend whose films include:
“Night Shift” (1982). Keaton’s hilarious breakout role as Bill Blazejowski, a hyperactive overnight morgue assistant brimming with creative ideas. Henry Winkler may have had star billing but audiences discovered and fell in love with Keaton and his signature style of crazy comedy. Like so many of his movies, it went on to become a classic. It’s been said that, in this film, Keaton was the first person to use the word “jagoff” in a major motion picture.
“Mr. Mom” (1983). Keaton followed his success in “Night Shift” with his role as Jack, a husband who tries to take over for his wife when her career suddenly skyrockets. He wasted no time proving that he was not a flash-in-the-pan, overnight sensation. His chemistry with Teri Garr was pure magic. His performance was comedy genius.
“Beetlejuice” (1988). Keaton pulled out all the stops to play a fast-talking phantom struggling to be freed from a dark, spiritual limbo in this strange, otherworldly comedy from Tim Burton. It was creepy, crazy fun that only Burton and Keaton could ever pull off. It was a collaboration made in Hollywood Heaven.
“Batman” (1989) and “Batman Returns” (1992). Despite the outrage created by his casting to play the Caped Crusader, Keaton proved that he had the charm, sophistication and good looks to play Bruce Wayne as well as toughness and authority to play Batman. Director Tim Burton banked everything on Keaton’s eyes — the window to his character’s schizophrenic, dual personality. They needed to reflect intensity and some degree of insanity. The rest, as they say, is movie history.
“Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” (2014). Keaton as a washed-up superhero actor at the breaking point, trying to salvage his failing career. His long, extended camera takes were mind-blowingly complex but meticulously staged by visionary director Alejandro G. Iñárritu. It was a challenging, career-topping role that earned Keaton an Oscar nomination. He was deserving of the statuette.
“Spotlight” (2015). Keaton portrayed Walter “Robby” Robinson in this true story of how the Boston Globe investigated and uncovered a massive scandal of child molestation within the Boston Catholic Archdiocese. In this tense, real-life drama, Keaton proved that he could handle serious roles in addition to movie comedy and action adventure.
Over the years, Keaton has demonstrated that his immense talent has spanned the full range of movie roles and movie genres throughout his illustrious career. It’s an impressive body of work.
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