Background
Keenan, Frank was born on April 8, 1858 in Dubuque, Iowa, United States. Son of Owen and Frances (Kelly) Keenan.
Keenan, Frank was born on April 8, 1858 in Dubuque, Iowa, United States. Son of Owen and Frances (Kelly) Keenan.
Educated Boston College.
He was among the first stage actors to star in Hollywood, and he pursued work in film features a number of years. Born in Dubuque, Iowa, Keenan acquired his education both there and at Boston College. In New York, he became a star, a celebrated Shakespearean actor who later specialized in King Lear.
He was a noted Broadway matinee idol, his name appearing at the top of showbills.
He acted in such hits as The Capitol, A Poor Relative and The Girl of the Golden West. He played the title role in Macbeth opposite Nance O"Neil.
At one point he briefly operated his own theater, the Berkeley Lyceum in New York, which brought him recognition as both actor and director Keenan made his screen debut under the direction of Reginald Barker in.
His career lasted into his late 60s, and he was a leader in the s" Equity Association.
His last stage appearance, at 68, was as a Southern colonel in Black Velvet. Keenan was married for many years to Katherine Agnes Long, who often acted with him. The Keenans had two daughters, Frances and Hilda, both of whom were stage and film actresses.
Frank Keenan remarried at age 70 to a 41-year-old actress, Leah May from Atlanta, Georgia.
By daughter Hilda he was the grandfather of actor Keenan Wynn. Sherlock Holmes (1928) Peter Weston (1923) Honorary
John Grigsby (1902) At the Threshold (1905) Strolling Players (1905) The System of Doctor Tarr (1905) The Lady Bookie (1905) The Lady Across the Hall (1905) A Passion in the Suburb (1905) The Cardinal"s Edict (1905) A Woman"s Pity (1905) The Warrens of Virginia (1907).
Member Boston Museum Stock Company, later in New York for many years, and touring in the United States.
Married Katherine Agnes Long, of Saint Children: Mistress Frances Sloan, Mistress Hilda Wynn.