It’s Batman: Michael Keaton Named Hasty Pudding Man of the Year

The Hasty Pudding Theatricals announced Thursday that actor Michael Keaton — best known for donning the cape in “Batman” — will be honored as their 2026 Man of the Year.

Keaton — who starred in “Batman” and “Batman Returns” — has built a decades-long career spanning television, film, and voice acting. His work includes acclaimed performances in “Birdman” and the 2021 miniseries “Dopesick,” for which he earned an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and honors from the Screen Actors Guild.

As Man of the Year, Keaton will be honored with a celebratory roast and awarded the ceremonial Pudding Pot at the student group’s annual celebration, scheduled for Feb. 6.

“He was Batman, then Birdman, and now, most importantly, he’s a Pudding man!” said Eloise E. Tunnell ’27, Hasty Pudding’s producer, in a press release.

“We cannot wait to welcome him on February 6th: until then, don’t say his name three times!” she added, referencing Keaton’s lead role in the 1988 cult classic “Beetlejuice.”

Keaton recently starred in “Sweetwater,” a short film written by his son, Sean Douglas. Funded by Google, the film aims to offer a more optimistic perspective on the global rise of artificial intelligence.

“The one thing I wanted to do, and I think we did, was say, okay, but how does that apply to human emotion?” Keaton said during a Q&A following the film’s premiere. “Humans are still more complex."

Keaton will be Hasty Pudding’s 59th Man of the Year, joining a roster of past honorees that includes Clint Eastwood, Tom Hanks, Harrison Ford, Samuel L. Jackson and Ryan Reynolds. Each year, Hasty Pudding Theatricals names both a Man and a Woman of the Year — traditions dating back to 1967 and 1951, respectively — to recognize significant contributions made to the entertainment industry.

Last year’s honorees were Jon Hamm and Cynthia Erivo. Their celebration included a parade through Harvard Square, which drew crowds of students and spectators alike hoping to get a glimpse of the pair.

The annual celebrations also serve as a kickoff for Hasty Pudding Theatricals’ annual production. This year marks the group’s 177th musical comedy show, “Salooney Tunes.” Written and performed by students, the show will debut at Harvard before touring New York and Bermuda.

Keaton is expected to attend the show’s premiere, taking place at Farkas Hall, Hasty Pudding Theatricals’ original theatre and now a Harvard-wide performing arts space.

The group has yet to announce its 2026 Woman of the Year, who will be honored in a separate roast on Jan. 30.

—Staff writer Sebastian B. Connolly can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on X @SebastianC4784.

—Staff writer Summer E. Rose can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on X @summerellenrose.