Kathleen Key

Kathleen Key (born Kitty Lanahan; 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.

Kathleen Key
From Stars of the Photoplay, 1924
Born
Kitty Lanahan

(1903-04-01)April 1, 1903
Buffalo, New York, U.S.
DiedDecember 22, 1954(1954-12-22) (aged 51)
Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting placeValhalla Memorial Park Cemetery
Other namesKathleen Keys
Ethel Payton
OccupationActress
Years active1920–1936

Early life and career

Born in Buffalo, New York, Key made her debut in the 1920 Australian 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 itself, and never gained much notice for the roles she had, although there were some exceptions.

In 1922, she was featured in Omar Khayyam (which was not released until 1925 as A Lover's Oath)[1] and played a vamp in Where's My Wandering Boy Tonight?. The same year she signed to play with Charles Buck Jones in Vamoos for Fox Film.

Key spent a year in Australia as a leading lady in Snow Baker productions around this time. Prior to making Vamoos, Kathleen starred with John Gilbert in St. Elmo, also for Fox studios. She was cast as an "innocent young thing" rather than playing her usual vamp role.

An early career highpoint was her selection as one of the 1923 WAMPAS Baby Stars; however, by the end of the decade Key’s had her last significant film role, as Colette in 1929’s The Phantom of the North,[2]. Her name does not appear in the credits of her four final films: as Rosalie Lawrence in Sweeping Against the Winds (1930), as an unnamed Guest in Thunder in the Night (1935), and in 1936, as a Dance Hall Girl in Klondike Annie, and finally, a bit part in One Rainy Afternoon. After these last, tiny roles, Key apparently retired from film altogether.

Personal life

In the early 1930s, Key had a well-known love affair with silent-film actor Buster Keaton, who was married at the time. As told in Marion Meade's biography of Keaton, 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. Sidney Skolsky, a Daily News columnist, sent Keaton a joking telegram, reading: "Congratulations. Hear you are off Key."[3] It was also reported that the dressing-room fracas was sparked by Keaton refusing to give Key a monetary loan.[4]

Death

On December 22, 1954, Key died from cirrhosis of the liver. She was buried at Valhalla Memorial Park in North Hollywood, California.[5]

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1920 The Jackeroo of Coolabong Edith MacDonald
The Rookie's Return Gloria
1921 The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse Georgette Uncredited
The Fighting Breed Enid MacDonald
1922 Where's My Wandering Boy Tonight? Veronica Tyler
West of Chicago Señoria Gonzales
Bells of San Juan Florrie Engel
The Beautiful and Damned Rachel
1923 Hell's Hole Mabel Grant
The Rendezvous Varvara
North of Hudson Bay Estelle McDonald Alternative title: North of the Yukon
Reno Yvette, the governess
The Man from Brodney's Neenah
1924 The Trouble Shooter Nancy Brewster
The Sea Hawk Andalusian Slave Girl
Revelation Madonna
1925 A Lover's Oath Sherin
The Big Parade Miss Apperson Uncredited
Ben Hur Tirzah Alternative title: Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ
1926 Under Western Skies Milly Leewis
The Flaming Frontier Lucretia
Money Talks Vamp
College Days Louise
The Desert's Toll Muriel Cooper
1927 Hey! Hey! Cowboy Emily Decker
Irish Hearts Clarice
1928 Golf Widows Ethel Dixon
1929 The Family Picnic Cleo of Paris
The Phantom of the North Colette Alternative title: Phantoms of the North
1930 Sweeping Against the Winds Rosalie Lawrence
1935 Thunder in the Night Guest Uncredited
1936 Klondike Annie Dance Hall Girl Uncredited
One Rainy Afternoon Bit Role Uncredited
Alternative title: Matinee Scandal
(final film role)

References
  1. Kadivar, Darius (March 3, 2003). "Khayyam Mania!!!: Hollywood's depiction of the great Persian Poet's life". Retrieved 2014-05-01.
  2. "The Phantom of the North (1929) - Overview - TCM.com". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 2017-07-15.
  3. Meade, Marion. Buster Keaton: Cut to the Chase. HarperCollins. p. 202.
  4. "Keaton Tells Story of Beating by Girl". The Pittsburgh Press. 1931-02-05. Retrieved 2018-12-08.
  5. Resting Places

Further reading
  • The Los Angeles Times, "In Race to Reign at Legion's Fete", November 9, 1921, Page III 1.
  • The Los Angeles Times, "Dancers Versatile", January 16, 1922, Page 19.
  • The Los Angeles Times, "Stops Vamping Awhile", July 28, 1922, Page I 14.
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