
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)

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

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

The Big Parade
1925
as Miss Apperson (uncredited)

Thunder in the Night
1935
as Party Guest

The Sea Hawk
1924
as Andalusian Slave Girl

Irish Hearts
1927
as Clarice

Klondike Annie
1936

Revelation
1924
as Madonna

1925 Studio Tour
1925
as Self

West of Chicago
1922
as Señoria Gonzales

Reno
1923
as Yvette - The Governess

North of Hudson Bay
1923
as Estelle MacDonald
The Fighting Breed
1921
as Enid MacDonald (as Ethel Payton)

The Flaming Frontier
1926
as Lucretia
The Phantom of the North
1929
as Colette

The Rendezvous
1923
as Varvara

Hey! Hey! Cowboy
1927
as Emily Decker
Where's My Wandering Boy Tonight?
1922

Hell's Hole
1923
as Mabel Grant

Money Talks
1926
as Vamp

The Rookie's Return
1920
as Gloria

A Lover's Oath
1925
as Sherin

Under Western Skies
1926
as Milly Lewis

The Desert's Toll
1926
as Muriel Cooper

Golf Widows
1928
as Ethel Dixon

The Trouble Shooter
1924
as Nancy Brewster

Bells of San Juan
1922
as Florrie Engel

The Jackeroo of Coolabong
1920
as Edith MacDonald

The Man from Brodney's
1923
as Neenah
Sweeping Against the Winds
1930
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 Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Kathleen Key Movies
- The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1921) — as Georgette (uncredited)
- Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925) — as Tirzah
- The Big Parade (1925) — as Miss Apperson (uncredited)
- Thunder in the Night (1935) — as Party Guest
- The Sea Hawk (1924) — as Andalusian Slave Girl
Where to Watch Kathleen Key Films
Most Kathleen Key movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV 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.