
Kathleen Key
Known for Acting · 30 credits
- Born
- 1903-04-01
- Died
- 1954-12-22
- Place of birth
- Buffalo, New York, USA
- Also known as
- Kitty Lanahan · Kathleen Keys
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.
Known For
Movies (30)

Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ
1925
as Tirzah

Revelation
1924
as Madonna

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
1921
as Georgette (uncredited)

The Sea Hawk
1924
as Andalusian Slave Girl

Thunder in the Night
1935
as Party Guest

The Big Parade
1925
as Miss Apperson (uncredited)

Hell's Hole
1923
as Mabel Grant

The Rookie's Return
1920
as Gloria

Klondike Annie
1936

1925 Studio Tour
1925
as Self

Irish Hearts
1927
as Clarice

North of Hudson Bay
1923
as Estelle MacDonald

The Rendezvous
1923
as Varvara

Under Western Skies
1926
as Milly Lewis

Hey! Hey! Cowboy
1927
as Emily Decker
The Phantom of the North
1929
as Colette

Reno
1923
as Yvette - The Governess

Money Talks
1926
as Vamp
The Fighting Breed
1921
as Enid MacDonald (as Ethel Payton)

West of Chicago
1922
as Señoria Gonzales

The Flaming Frontier
1926
as Lucretia

The Trouble Shooter
1924
as Nancy Brewster

The Jackeroo of Coolabong
1920
as Edith MacDonald

Bells of San Juan
1922
as Florrie Engel

A Lover's Oath
1925
as Sherin
Sweeping Against the Winds
1930

Golf Widows
1928
as Ethel Dixon

The Desert's Toll
1926
as Muriel Cooper

The Man from Brodney's
1923
as Neenah
Where's My Wandering Boy Tonight?
1922
About Kathleen Key
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, Kathlee… With 30 credits spanning from 1920 to 1936, Kathleen Key has appeared in 30 films and 0 TV shows.
Fans searching for Kathleen Key movies, Kathleen Key filmography, or the latest projects starring Kathleen Key can stream many of these titles on CineFlixo, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Kathleen Key Movies
- Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925) — as Tirzah
- Revelation (1924) — as Madonna
- The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1921) — as Georgette (uncredited)
- The Sea Hawk (1924) — as Andalusian Slave Girl
- Thunder in the Night (1935) — as Party Guest
Where to Watch Kathleen Key Films
Most Kathleen Key movies and series are available to stream on CineFlixo in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Kathleen Key, check our movies catalogue and browse page.