Batman himself was summoned to Pittsburgh’s Strip District on Monday — but no bat signal went up.
Rather, it was the Pittsburgh Walk of Fame inaugural induction ceremony that drew actor Michael Keaton back to his hometown.
Though he’s best known for his title roles in “Batman,” “Birdman” and “Beetlejuice,” Keaton has appeared in nearly 100 movies and TV series. He was born and raised in Kennedy and Robinson and began his career at WQED, where he made his first TV appearance on “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.”
In an outdoor ceremony on Smallman Street filled with pomp, circumstance and jazz tunes, Keaton’s new star was unveiled alongside nine other honorees.
Here is @MichaelKeaton’s speech after unveiling his new star on the Pittsburgh Walk of Fame today @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/eJtHOG0dXx
— Megan Swift (@mgswift7) October 20, 2025
The movie star was touched.
“This is ridiculously nice,” Keaton said of the ceremony. “There’s nothing like being recognized by your hometown.”
He touted Pittsburgh as a home for immigrants while he spoke.
“I love these immigrant cities. The entire country is a country of immigrants,” Keaton said. “My own family looks like the U.N., and I’m so proud of it.”
The Montour High School graduate was the first person in the world to use the Pittsburghese term “jagoff” in a major motion picture, “Night Shift,” according to WQED producer and host Rick Sebak, master of ceremonies on Monday.
Keaton closed his speech saying he hopes his star will inspire kids walking through the Pittsburgh Walk of Fame to dream big and “wonder what’s possible.”
“I wanna thank you honestly from the bottom of my heart for even showing up for this. … This is true what everyone says about these people … It’s such a great place.”
To be selected for a star, nominees must have been born in or spent their formative or creative years in Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington or Westmoreland counties. Their contributions must have had a national impact.
The first class of 10 honorees included:
George Benson, a famed jazz musician born in the city’s Hill District
Benson accepted his star via a recorded video that played at the ceremony. He was unable to make it in person due to health issues.
George Benson accepted his star via a recorded video. He was unable to appear in person due to health issues @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/HMhcSvRDkX
— Megan Swift (@mgswift7) October 20, 2025
“This is a great honor, and I’m glad to share it with you,” he said. “Thank you for walking on my face.”
He emphasized Pittsburgh’s role in the world of music.
“Some of the greatest musicians of all time,” Benson said. “Pittsburgh was a jam session town.”
Nellie Bly, a pioneering investigative journalist, who was born in Armstrong County
Andrew Carnegie, the industrialist and philanthropist who led the expansion of the steel industry in the late 19th century
Rachel Carson, a conservationist and writer, who was born in Springdale
Roberto Clemente, the Pittsburgh Pirates legend, who also is remembered for his humanitarian efforts
Two of Clemente’s sons, Robert Clemente Jr. and Luis Roberto Clemente, accepted the honor on behalf of their dad.
Two of Roberto Clemente’s sons accepted his star at the ceremony @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/Qj4vxV7cbY
— Megan Swift (@mgswift7) October 20, 2025
Luis said he just arrived Sunday night from Puerto Rico.
“I would not miss it for anything in the world — I don’t need an excuse to come back home,” he said. “I feel so honored to see how Pittsburgh still honors dad.”
Roberto Clemente Jr. echoed his brother’s sentiment.
“This is a great, great day for the city of Pittsburgh,” he said. “We truly believe this city is the home of champions, yes, but today, it’s the city of superstars and stars. We’re very proud that this is our home … but today, he’s a Puerto Rican yinzer forever.”
Keaton, the Oscar-nominated actor who has played Batman, Birdman and Beetlejuice
Fred Rogers, who was born and raised in Latrobe and hosted the iconic children’s TV show “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”
Rogers’ sons, James and John, unveiled the star in their father’s honor.
John Rogers spoke on behalf of his father, Fred Rogers, who was honored with a star in the Pittsburgh Walk of Fame @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/U57W1Z0hFN
— Megan Swift (@mgswift7) October 20, 2025
John Rogers said his dad was probably looking down on the ceremony from above — “blessing us all.”
“Dad is truly still in my heart,” he said. “It’s hard to believe he’s been gone since 2003, but his memory and his work live on beyond belief, and Pittsburgh reminds me of him.”
A Florida resident, John Rogers was born and raised in Pittsburgh and lived here until he was 30.
“I can’t find nicer people than Pittsburgh; that’s why I visit here quite often,” he said. “It’s a lot of Mister Rogers type people who live here that really are caring and wonderful loving people.”
Jonas Salk, who led the University of Pittsburgh medical research team that developed the polio vaccine
Andy Warhol, who was raised in Oakland and is considered among the most important artists of the 20th century
August Wilson, a Hill District native and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright best known for plays chronicling the experiences of America’s Black community
Constanza Romero, Wilson’s wife, spoke at the ceremony on behalf of August Wilson. She read a poem he wrote.
August Wilson’s wife, Constanza Romero, spoke on behalf of the playwright @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/jGFCarhHvo
— Megan Swift (@mgswift7) October 20, 2025
“August … would’ve been beside himself,” she said, to have a star right by where he liked to buy groceries like salami and go to breakfast. “He took his community and spun gold with his words on the paper.”
Each star also includes a commemorative plaque underneath that explains more about the honoree’s life.
Nancy Polinsky Johnson, the project’s founder and executive director, previously told TribLive that more than 250 Western Pennsylvania icons had been nominated in the first round.
Johnson anticipates adding 10 people each year for the next three years before slowing the pace to about three per year.
During the ceremony Monday, she said getting to unveil the first stars in the Pittsburgh Walk of Fame is a “dream come true.”
Johnson is a longtime WQED on-air host and former publisher of Shady Ave magazine, which was acquired by Trib Total Media in 2022. She told TribLive previously that she was inspired to launch the Pittsburgh Walk of Fame after visiting similar installations across the country, like in St. Louis.
There is now a Pittsburgh Walk of Fame app available for download. People will be able to point their phone at each star and have more information about that inductee at their fingertips, Johnson explained during the ceremony.
“I don’t think there’s a better place,” Dan Onorato, executive vice president and chief corporate affairs officer at Highmark Health, said of the stars on Smallman Street. Highmark Health was the presenting sponsor of the event.
He encouraged audience members to read the inductees’ bios in the program, as some people might not recognize all of the names. That’s the point, he said — to allow more people to understand the broad history of the Pittsburgh area and all of the people who have made an impact.
“Our history will get lost if we don’t tell it … you can achieve anything growing up here,” Onorato said.
