Michael Keaton has a new name for you to say three times in a row.
Michael Keaton, better known for his role in the 1988 cult classic “Beetlejuice,” recently told People that he plans to combine his stage name and real name for future projects.
In the interview, the 72-year-old actor revealed that he wants to go by Michael Keaton Douglas — a combo of his real name, Michael John Douglas, and his stage name.
According to Keaton, the name change began at the very start of his career in the 1970s. A Screen Actors Guild (SAG) rule prohibits members from using another member’s professional name.
Keaton couldn’t use his real name, Michael Douglas, because SAG already had a Michael Douglas — as in, the Academy Award-winning “Wall Street” actor — and a Mike Douglas. With his real name off the table, the actor swapped out his last name for Keaton.
“I was looking through — I can’t remember if it was a phone book,” he recalled. “I must’ve gone, ‘I don’t know, let me think of something here.’ And I went, ‘Oh, that sounds reasonable.’”
Over the years, Keaton’s stage name became iconic, especially as he became a star in films like “Batman” and “The Paper.” Now, he’s hoping to return to his roots with the addition of Douglas, though he did miss a chance to use “Michael Keaton Douglas” for his latest directorial project, “Knox Goes Away.”
“I said, ‘Hey, just as a warning, my credit is going to be Michael Keaton Douglas.’ And it totally got away from me. And I forgot to give them enough time to put it in and create that. But that will happen.”
While the name change didn’t happen in time he said he’s determined to make it a reality in the future.
Keaton isn’t the only actor to use a stage name because of SAG restrictions.
Actors who changed their names because of SAG rules
Emma Stone
Real name: Emily Jean Stone
Why: Emily Stone was already taken.
“(Emily Stone) was taken at Screen Actors Guild,” explained to TODAY in an interview. “It’s sort of like when you register a business, and you can’t have the same name as someone else.”
Diane Keaton
Real name: Diane Hall
Why: SAG already registered Diane Hall, so the actor took on Keaton, her mother’s maiden name.
Michael J. Fox
Real name: Michael Andrew Fox
Why: According to the actor’s website, Michael Fox was already registered with SAG, so the “Family Ties” actor added the “J” as a tribute to his favorite character actor, Michael J. Pollard.
