With the success of the Academy Award-winning movie "Birdman," I was reminded at just how much I have enjoyed Michael Keaton movies over the last 30+ years. Keaton played the role of Riggan who is the main character of the 2014 winner of "Best Picture" at the Oscars last night.

While Keaton did not win the Academy's award for Best Actor, he did pick up hardware from the Golden Globes as well as the Independent Film Spirit Awards in the same category.  And while I have still yet to see "Birdman," I have been a fan of his since back in the early 80's when he broke onto the scene starring as the loose cannon Billy "Blaze" Blazejowski in "Night Shift" across Henry (Arthur "The Fonz" Fonzerelli) Winkler and Shelly Long.

Here, in ascending order, are my Top 5 favorite characters portrayed on screen by Michael Keaton:

5.) Carter Hayes - "Pacific Heights" (1990)
If you think of Keaton as just a quick funnyman on the silver screen, check this flick out.  Keaton portrays the tenant from hell whose diabolical and evil intentions make you appreciate his dramatic ability.

4.) Bill Blazejowski - "Night Shift" (1982)
This comedy about two workers in a morgue will introduce you to the twisted mind of "The Blaze" who has visions of grandeur that include: edible paper, feeding mayonnaise to tuna fish and the concept of "Love Brokers" as he farms out the morgue's hearse to shuttle prostitutes to Johns.

3.) Hunt Stevenson - "Gung Ho" (1986)
One of acclaimed actor/director Ron Howard's first films, Keaton plays the everyman Hunt Stevenson who tries to oversee his American car manufacturing co-workers through a Japanese auto maker takeover.  No humor is lost in translation in this gem co-starring Gedde Watanabe - most recognized as Long Duk Dong in John Hughes's "Sixteen Candles."

2.) Johnny Kelly - "Johnny Dangerously" (1984)
This is one of those movies that has spawned dozens of quotes that I still use in my everyday language some three decades later.  Keaton plays Johnny Kelly who, despite his brother being the D.A. and his mother thinking he is a good Irish boy, is really a mobster in this Roaring 20's period piece full of slapstick and sexually charged comedy.

1.) Jack - "Mr. Mom" (1983)
After he's laid off, a husband switches roles with his wife. She returns to the workforce and he becomes a stay-at-home dad - a job he has no clue how to do.  Again, countless quotes from this one.

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