Occupation: Film Director

Parents: Alex Reynolds and Deacon Edgewater

Siblings: Stormy and Miranda Blackthorne, Van Edgewater

Relationships: Kelly Kahoano

Appearances: Season 6

Who’d Play Him: Nick Zano

Searching for Where He Belongs: Keaton Hartley grew up knowing that he had been adopted, leaving him with a persistent need to uncover the truth about where he came from. Awkward, inquisitive, and fascinated by Hollywood’s golden age, he pursued a career as a filmmaker and was hired to direct The Benefactor at Sunset Studios. His intense interest in Nathan Blackthorne and the legendary stars once associated with producer Jonas Lamont initially appeared to be little more than youthful hero worship, but it soon made Keaton a suspect in a series of murders targeting figures connected to the studio’s darkest secrets.

Keaton’s collection of old photographs and his presence near several crime scenes drew Nathan’s suspicion. Eddie Distefano later discovered that Keaton had been working with Reconnections, an organization that helped adopted children locate their biological parents. Investigators initially believed Nathan might be his father, which seemed to explain Keaton’s fascination with him. Keaton was eventually cleared when another attack occurred while he was with Nathan.

The truth about Keaton’s parentage proved almost as devastating as the murder investigation. He learned that his biological mother was celebrated actress Alex Reynolds and that his father was Deacon Edgewater, the studio executive who had taken advantage of Alex shortly after she arrived in Hollywood. Alex had become pregnant and secretly placed the baby for adoption to protect her emerging career. Feeling abandoned and furious over the life that had been denied to him, Keaton confronted Deacon. Afterward, Deacon died by suicide, leaving Keaton burdened by the belief that their encounter had helped push him over the edge.

Overwhelmed by anger, Keaton broke into Alex’s home with a gun and forced her to confront the son she had hidden for decades. Alex managed to talk him down until Jordan Rydell arrived, but Keaton was arrested and jailed for aggravated assault. Alex later visited him and attempted to make peace, finally contacting his adoptive mother and acknowledging that Keaton needed the woman who had truly raised him. The confrontation began a difficult process of reconciliation between mother and son, though neither could erase the pain surrounding his birth or the choices Alex had made.