Robert Emmett Keane was a prolific character actor who worked tirelessly in Hollywood, often finding himself near the bottom of the credit list. As an ex-vaudevillian, he began his career on Broadway in 1914 and later performed at the London Hippodrome in 1916, specializing in musicals and comedies.
Keane didn't enter the film industry until 1929, but once he did, he amassed an impressive record of nearly 200 screen appearances, frequently working with smaller studios such as RKO, Columbia, and Monogram.
As a natural farceur, Keane was known for his impeccable attire and signature toothbrush moustache. He played a wide range of roles, from timid clerks to dignified hotel managers, jewelers, headwaiters, judges, and pathologists.
In addition, Keane had a successful sideline in crooked defense attorneys, drunks, and conmen, showcasing his expressive features' ability to convey befuddlement, querulousness, or exasperation. Throughout his career, the affable Keane remained gainfully employed until his retirement in 1958.
During his personal life, Keane was married to the New York-born actress Claire Whitney.
