Actor, Pittsburgh Native Michael Keaton Receives Honorary Doctorate From CMU

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Sunday was graduation day at Carnegie Mellon University, and the students were in good company.

Acclaimed actor and Pittsburgh native Michael Keaton, known best for his work in "Batman" and "Birdman," received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree.

He was honored for his work as a vising CMU scholar, and KDKA's Paul Martino spoke exclusively with him after the ceremony.

Martino: Now you're Doctor Keaton?

Keaton: Yes I am, don't forget it.

Martino: What does that mean to you?

Keaton: It means a lot, receiving an award like this. This university. It means a lot. Great. I was very moved.

Keaton has come a long way since growing up as the youngest of seven children in the Coraopolis-McKees Rocks area.

"We were kind of country kids. In between those two towns. One was a mill town. Coraopolis was probably more of a railroad town," he said.

Aside from "Batman" and "Birdman," Keaton appeared in Academy Award-winning "Spotlight" and many other successful films.

Still, he's never forgotten his roots and he's a die-hard Pittsburgh sports fan.

"I got 'em on the tube all the time. Check the box scores every day. Kinda sweat," he said.

When it comes to politics, Keaton is no fan of President Trump.

Martino: Do you ever get grief from your buddies back here in Pittsburgh about becoming a Hollywood liberal?

Keaton: *Laughs* I'm no liberal. I'm logical. Makes sense, I don't fall into any one category.

After the interview, Keaton rushed over the PPG Paints Arena to watch the Penguins take on the Senators.

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