Hilda Keenan

American actress and vaudeville performer

Hilda Keenan

Born| November 1891

New York City, U.S.

Died| August 20, 1940 (age 48)

New York City, U.S.

Education| Wellesley College
Occupations|

* Actress
* vaudeville performer

Years active| 1911–1940
Spouse|

Ed Wynn

(m. 1914; div. 1937)​

Children| Keenan Wynn
Parent|

* Frank Keenan (father)

Hilda Keenan (November 1891 – August 20, 1940) was an American actress and vaudeville performer, part of a family of actors including her father Frank Keenan, her husband Ed Wynn, and her son Keenan Wynn.

## Early life[edit]

Hilda Keenan was the daughter of actor Frank Keenan and New Brunswick-born Katherine Agnes Long Keenan.[1] Her older sister Frances was also an actress. Keenan attended Wellesley College.[2]

## Career[edit]

Keenan was in vaudeville with a one-act sketch called Sarah in 1911.[3] She appeared in the plays The Heights (1911),[4] The Road to Arcady (1912),[5] Within the Law and The Salamander.[6] In Within the Law, she co-starred with Margaret Illington;[7] one critic commented that "Hilda Keenan's Agnes Lynch, a blackmailer, is noticeably excellent, and makes an engaging characterization of a rôle which ordinarily would scarcely win our friendly feelings."[8]

## Personal life[edit]

Keenan was married to actor Ed Wynn from 1914[9] until their protracted, widely publicized[10] and rancorous[11][12] divorce in 1937.[13] They had a son, actor Keenan Wynn.[14] Hilda Keenan died in New York in 1940, aged 48 years,[2] after years of mental illness including alcoholism.[15][16]

Her grandson Tracy Keenan Wynn is a screenwriter[17] and her great-granddaughter Jessica Keenan Wynn is an actress.

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Began Stage Career in Boston Museum" Daily Boston Globe (February 22, 1929): 4.
2. ^ a b "Hilda Keenan" New York Times (August 22, 1940): 19.
3. ^ "Hilda Keenan" Brooklyn Daily Eagle (March 26, 1911): 36. via Newspapers.com
4. ^ American Play Company, The Catalogue of the American Play Company, with Original Casts, Volume 2 (American Play Company 1911): 109.
5. ^ Dixie Hines, Harry Prescott Hanaford, eds., Who's who in Music and Drama (Hanaford 1914): 458.
6. ^ Ada Patterson, "Grandparents of the Stage" Green Book Magazine (December 1914): 1007.
7. ^ Mae Tinee, "Miss Keenan Hit with her Dad and Others" Chicago Daily Tribune (August 24, 1913): B3.
8. ^ "The Northwestern Bellman" The Bellman (October 4, 1913): 439.
9. ^ "Dramatic Notes" The Independent (September 21-23, 1914): 11.
10. ^ "Ed Wynn's Wife Sues Comedian for Divorce" Atlanta Constitution (May 11, 1937): 23.
11. ^ "Suit Says Ed Wynn Had Guard to Control Wife" Los Angeles Times (October 24, 1934): 7.
12. ^ "Ed Wynn Is Cruel, His Wife Charges In Separation Suit" Washington Post (December 20, 1936): M17.
13. ^ "Reno Divorce Seekers, Class of '37" Life Magazine (June 21, 1937): 37.
14. ^ "Mrs. Ed Wynn Sues for Divorce in Reno" New York Times (May 11, 1937): 31.
15. ^ Jan Stuart, The Nashville Chronicles: The Making of Robert Altman's Masterpiece (Hal Leonard Corporation 2003): 186. ISBN 9780879109813
16. ^ Ted Thackrey Jr., "Character Actor Keenan Wynn, Once Tagged as 'Ed Wynn's Son,' Dies at 70" Los Angeles Times (October 15, 1986).
17. ^ Bob Thomas, "Acting Centenary for Wynn Clan" Los Angeles Times (May 28, 1976): F26.

*[m.]: married
*[div.]: divorced