Actor Michael Keaton to change name

(WJW) – Michael Keaton’s acting credits date back to the 1970s.

Now, the longtime actor says he won’t be going by Michael Keaton, but instead a new name.

According to the actor, on future projects he’ll use the name: Michael Keaton Douglas.

The actor told PEOPLE it’s a combination of his real name, Michael John Douglas, and his stage name.

According to PEOPLE , in the new movie “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” he will be credited as Michael Keaton is his reprisal of his iconic Beetlejuice role.

According to Keaton, he was unable to use his real name, Michael Douglas, when he started acting in the 1970s because of the other Academy Award-winning actor of the same name.

A Screen Actors Guild (SAG) rule prohibits members from using another member’s professional name.

So where does the name Keaton come from?

He told PEOPLE he picked it from a phone book.

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