Kathleen Key Photo

Kathleen Key

Acting

0.9 Popularity Apr 01, 1903 (51 years old) Buffalo, New York, USA

From Wikipedia:

Kathleen Key (April 1, 1903 – December 22, 1954) was an American actress who achieved a brief period of fame during the silent era. She is best remembered for playing Tirzah in the 1925 film Ben-Hur. Key was the great-great granddaughter of Francis Scott Key, composer of "The Star...

Biography

From Wikipedia:

Kathleen Key (April 1, 1903 – December 22, 1954) was an American actress who achieved a brief period of fame during the silent era. She is best remembered for playing Tirzah in the 1925 film Ben-Hur. Key was the great-great granddaughter of Francis Scott Key, composer of "The Star Spangled Banner", and a distant cousin of author F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Born Kitty Lanahan in Buffalo, New York, she debuted in films in 1920 in the film The Jackeroo of Coolabong, playing a lead role. From that point on to the end of the 1920s, Kathleen Key, sometimes credited as Kathleen Keys, starred in several films, but never really reached stardom, and was never given much credit for the roles she had, although there were some exceptions.

In the early '20s, Key had a well-known love affair with silent-film actor Buster Keaton, who was married at the time. As told in Keaton's biography, the actor attempted to call off the relationship, but Key flew into a jealous rage and ransacked his MGM dressing room, which caused her to be virtually blacklisted afterward by the movie industry. It is also stated that Keaton refused to give Key a monetary loan. A telegram, sent by one of Keaton's friends who had heard about the argument, comically read: "Congratulations. Hear you are off Key."

After her retirement in 1936, Keys spent the rest of her days in moderate comfort at the Motion Picture Country House in Woodland Hills, California, where she died at the age of 51 in 1954. Her interment was located at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery.

Filmography 28

1936
1935
Thunder in the Night Movie

as Party Guest

1929
1927
Irish Hearts Movie

as Clarice

1927
Hey! Hey! Cowboy Movie

as Emily Decker

1926
The Desert's Toll Movie

as Muriel Cooper

1926
The Flaming Frontier Movie

as Lucretia

1926
Money Talks Movie

as Vamp

1926
Under Western Skies Movie

as Milly Lewis

1925
1925
The Big Parade Movie

as Miss Apperson (uncredited)

1925
A Lover's Oath Movie

as Sherin

1925
1925 Studio Tour Movie

as Self

1924
Revelation Movie

as Madonna

1924
The Sea Hawk Movie

as Andalusian Slave Girl

1924
The Trouble Shooter Movie

as Nancy Brewster

1923
The Man from Brodney's Movie

as Neenah

1923
Reno Movie

as Yvette - The Governess

1923
North of Hudson Bay Movie

as Estelle MacDonald

Photos 2

Kathleen Key Photo
Kathleen Key Photo

Personal Details

Known For Acting
Gender Not specified
Birthday April 01, 1903 (51 years old)
Died December 22, 1954
Place of Birth Buffalo, New York, USA
Also Known As Kitty Lanahan, Kathleen Keys
Years Active 1920 - 1936
Popularity 0.9
Career Stats
28 Total Credits
28 Movie Roles
2 Photos