Keenan Wynn was a talented actor born on July 27, 1916, in New York City, to a show-business family. His father, Ed Wynn, was a famous burlesque and television performer, and his maternal grandfather, Frank Keenan, was a Shakespearean tragedian. Keenan's mother, Hilda Keenan, was also a minor actress.
Keenan was educated at St. John's Military Academy and initially followed in his grandfather's footsteps, making his professional debut in Maine with the Lakewood Players in a production of "Accent of Youth." He later moved to Broadway, where he met his first wife, actress Evie Wynn Johnson, who became his coach, manager, and advisor.
Keenan eventually signed with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) and became a character player, known for his versatility and ability to play a wide range of roles. He made his unbilled debut in "Somewhere I'll Find You" (1942) and went on to play a variety of characters, including shady brutes, soldiers, and news editors.
Keenan was married twice, first to Evie Wynn Johnson and then to Betty Jane Butler. He had two sons with Evie, but the couple divorced in 1947. Keenan's second marriage lasted only four years.
After leaving MGM in 1954, Keenan turned to television, where he appeared in a number of productions, including "The Great Man" (1956) and "Requiem for a Heavyweight" (1956). He also appeared in a number of films, including "The Absent Minded Professor" (1961) and "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb" (1964).
Keenan continued to act until the end of his life, earning an Emmy Award nomination for his guest-starring role on "Police Woman" (1974). He died of pancreatic cancer on October 14, 1986, at the age of 70.
