ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- He was Batman and Beetlejuice. He was the lovable dad in Mr. Mom.
Then after what felt like too long away from a big role on the big screen, actor Michael Keaton shot right back into stardom as a leading man in Birdman, which won Best Picture at the 2015 Academy Awards and earned him a Best Actor nomination.
He followed up that triumph with Spotlight, which took home Best Picture at the 2016 Academy Awards.
"This is a treat for me, for the obvious reasons." Keaton said. "Anytime someone honors you anywhere, I don't take that stuff for granted."
Keaton's work brought him to the stage at the George Eastman Museum Thursday for the presentation of the Eastman Award.
The Eastman Award honors those who have contributed to film and after a decades-long career, Keaton reflected on what he thought his contribution has been.
"The fact that I make a contribution is still kind of amazing to me," Keaton said. "Honestly, because I just look at it as it's my job. It's what I'm supposed to do. I just try to go to work and make it as good as I can everytime and in fact I try to make it better every time."
Keaton joins other legends who have received the Eastman Award. Among them Charlie Chaplin, Greta Garbo, Meryl Streep and just last year Michael Douglas.
"We have a committee of staff where we talk about who's really deserving," said Eliza Koslowski of Eastman Museum Communications. "That it needs to be essentially lifetime achievement. Also we want to bring people to Rochester, it's very important that someone's available to come to Rochester. It's a major fundraiser for the institution."
This is not Keaton's first visit to Rochester. His oldest brother has lived here for years.
Keaton's award presentation Thursday night is sold out.