MICHAEL KEATON, Actor Michael Keaton is set to be honored Friday as the 2026 Man of the Year by Harvard University’s Hasty Pudding Theatricals.
The theater group, which dates to 1844 and describes itself as the world’s third-oldest still-operating theatrical organization, said Keaton will receive the Pudding Pot award during a celebratory roast Friday evening. Following the ceremony, Keaton is scheduled to attend a performance of Hasty Pudding’s 177th production, “Salooney Tunes.”
Hasty Pudding Theatricals awards its Man and Woman of the Year honors to individuals who have made lasting and impressive contributions to the world of entertainment.
The Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning actor is widely known for his roles in films such as “Batman,” “Birdman,” “Beetlejuice,” and “Spotlight.” More recently, Keaton starred in and directed the short film “Sweetwater” and starred in and served as executive producer on the eight-part Hulu miniseries “Dopesick.”
“He was Batman, then Birdman, and now, most importantly, he’s a Pudding man!” Hasty Pudding producer Eloise Tunnell said in a statement. “Keaton is no stranger to being a superhero, but let’s see if that training earns him a Pudding Pot. We cannot wait to welcome him on February 6th: until then, don’t say his name three times!”
Actor Jon Hamm received the Man of the Year honor last year. Other recent recipients have included Clint Eastwood, Tom Hanks, Robert De Niro, Harrison Ford, Samuel L. Jackson, and Ryan Reynolds.
Hasty Pudding’s Woman of the Year award, which dates back to 1951, will be presented on February 13 to Australian actor Rose Byrne.
Friday’s event comes just days after the U.S. Department of Justice released a large collection of records related to Jeffrey Epstein, a longtime donor to the organization. The documents detailed Epstein’s financial contributions to Hasty Pudding between roughly 2013 and 2019, during which he reportedly donated $50,000 annually to secure top-tier donor status. The total contributions exceeded $300,000 and included benefits such as free tickets and other perks.
The donations were made through the Jeffrey Epstein Virgin Islands Foundation and Gratitude for America, a charity affiliated with Epstein.
In an undated news release announcing Epstein’s donations, Hasty Pudding officials described Epstein as a “well-known science and Harvard philanthropist” and stated that he had “put his substantial support behind Harvard’s famous and oldest theatrical troupe.”
A spokesperson for Hasty Pudding referred questions to Andrew Farkas, chairman of the Hasty Pudding Institute of 1770, which includes the theatrical group. An email seeking comment was sent to Farkas’ office.
