Myra Keaton

Myra Edith Keaton (née Cutler; March 13, 1877 – July 21, 1955) was an American vaudeville performer and film actress. She was the mother of actor Buster Keaton.

Myra Keaton
Born	Myra Edith Cutler (1877-03-13)March 13, 1877 Modale, Iowa, U.S.
Died	July 21, 1955(1955-07-21) (aged 78) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Spouse(s)	Joe Keaton ​ ( m. 1894; died 1946)
Children	3, including Buster Keaton

Early life and career

Myra Keaton was born in Modale, Iowa, the daughter of Frank Luke Cutler (1849–1935) and Sarah Elizabeth (née Shaffer; 1850–1887). She had an older brother, Burt Melvin Cutler, and two younger half-brothers, Clinton M. Cutler and Marine (Mel) Cutler.

As teenagers, Myra and Burt traveled and performed with their father's medicine show. Joe Keaton joined the show while they traveled through Oklahoma Territory in 1893. Myra and Joe married on May 31, 1894, and began performing together in various medicine shows and vaudeville. Their son, silent film actor Buster Keaton (Joseph Frank Keaton), was born on October 4, 1895. Their other children included Harry Keaton and Louise Keaton. At the age of four, Buster officially joined the family's vaudeville act, which was billed as "The Three Keatons". Myra and Buster left the act in 1917, as a result of problems arising from Joe Keaton's drinking.[1]

Six-year-old Buster Keaton with his parents Myra and Joe Keaton during a vaudeville act

All members of the Keaton family occasionally appeared in Buster's silent and sound comedies. Although estranged in later years, Myra remained married to Joe until Joe's death in 1946.

Death

Myra Keaton died on July 21, 1955, in Los Angeles, California, aged 78. She died while her son, Buster, was on tour in England. She is buried at Glen Haven Memorial Park in Sylmar, California.

References

1. Prikryl, Jana, "The Genius of Buster", The New York Review of Books, June 2, 2011, pp. 30–33

External links

• Myra Keaton on IMDb
• Keaton biography
• Myra Keaton at Find a Grave