Evelyn Keyes

Actor

About

Birth Place

Port Arthur, Texas

Born

November 20, 1919

Died

July 04, 2008

Biography

Filmography

Wicked Stepmother (1989)

John Huston: The Man, The Movies, The Maverick (1988)

Herself

Going Hollywood: The War Years (1988)

Herself

The Making Of A Legend: Gone With The Wind (1988)

A Return To Salem's Lot (1987)

Artie Shaw: Time Is All You've Got (1984)

Photos & Videos

View All

Lady In Question, The (1940) -- (Movie Clip) This Is An Unusual Case

Lady In Question, The (1940) -- (Movie Clip) He Threatened To Kill Me

Family & Companions

Barton Leon Bainbridge

Husband

Businessman. Committed suicide in 1940 shortly after he and Keyes separated.

Charles Vidor

Husband

Director. Born in 1900; married in 1943; divorced in 1945; died in 1959.

John Huston

Husband

Director, actor. Married in 1946; divorced in 1950; died in 1987.

Mike Todd

Companion

Producer. Together 1953-56.

Bibliography

"I'll Think About That Tomorrow"

Evelyn Keyes, Dutton (1991)

"Scarlett O'Hara's Younger Sister"

Evelyn Keyes, Lyle Stuart (1977)

"I Am a Billboard"

Evelyn Keyes, Lyle Stuart (1971)

Biography

An attractive former chorine, Evelyn Keyes entered films in the late 1930s under contract to Cecil B DeMille. She debuted in the director's swashbuckling "The Buccaneer" (1938) and followed with DeMille's "Union Pacific" (1939). For many film buffs, she is best remembered as Scarlett's younger sister Suellen O'Hara in "Gone With the Wind" (also 1939). Keyes went on to distinguish such efforts as the farcical "The Lady in Question" (1940, directed by her second husband Charles Vidor) and was especially fine as the young woman who becomes involved with the re-incarnated Robert Montgomery in the charming fantasy "Here Comes Mr. Jordan" (1941). After playing an innocent in Vidor's "The Desperadoes" (1943), she portrayed an impish genie in "A Thousand and One Nights" (1945) before reaching her peak as the lead of the immensely popular biopic "The Jolson Story" (1946). (Although based on her, Keyes' character was not named Ruby Keeler, then the ex-Mrs. Al Jolson). She continued to appear in a number of mostly forgotten films, often delivering performances better than the material. Keyes was fine as David Niven's niece in the romance "Enchantment" (1948) and was particularly effective as Van Heflin's married lover in Joseph Losey's fine thriller "The Prowler" (1951). She proved to be an effective foil for Tom Ewell in "The Seven Year Itch" (1955), although most viewers only recall Marilyn Monroe standing over a subway grate. After an appearance in the all-star, Oscar-winning "Around the World in 80 Days" (1956), Keyes retired from Hollywood.

After fifteen years, the actress re-emerged as a writer with the novel "I Am a Billboard" in 1971 before making a one-shot return to films with an uncredited cameo in "Across 110th Street" (1972). She published a spicy memoir "Scarlett O'Hara's Younger Sister" in 1977 which detailed her many romantic entanglements and her relationships with her husbands Charles Vidor, John Huston and Artie Shaw. Ten years later, Keyes was seen in a featured role in the horror sequel "A Return to Salem's Lot" (1987) and delivered her last big screen performance playing a witch in "Wicked Stepmother" (1989).

Filmography

Life Events

1938

Feature film debut, "The Bucaneer"

1939

Cast as Suellen O'Hara in "Gone With the Wind"

1941

Co-starred in "Here Comes Mr. Jordan"

1946

Had female lead in "The Jolson Story", opposite Larry Parks; played Julie Benson, a character based on Ruby Keeler

1955

Appeared as wife of Tom Ewell in Billy Wilder's film version of the Broadway comedy "The Seven Year Itch"

1956

Last film for 16 years, "Around the World in 80 Days"

1971

Published first novel, "I Am a Billboard"

1972

Made uncredited cameo appearance in "Across 110th Street"

1977

Wrote and published her memoirs "Scarlett O'Hara's Little Sister"

1987

Returned to films in a featured role in "A Return to Salem's Lot" after 17 years

1989

Final feature appearance in "Wicked Stepmother"

1991

Published second memoir "I'll Think About That Tomorrow"

Photo Collections

Here Comes Mr. Jordan - Movie Poster

Here is an original release movie poster from Columbia Pictures' Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941), starring Robert Montgomery. This is an Insert poster, measuring 14 x 36 inches.

Mr. Soft Touch - Movie Posters

Johnny O'Clock - Movie Posters

Mr. Soft Touch - Lobby Cards

Johnny O'Clock - Lobby Card Set

Johnny O'Clock - Behind-the-Scenes Photos

The Prowler - Lobby Cards

Here are several Lobby Cards from Joseph Losey's The Prowler (1951), starring Van Heflin and Evelyn Keyes. Lobby Cards were 11" x 14" posters that came in sets of 8. As the name implies, they were most often displayed in movie theater lobbies, to advertise current or coming attractions.

The Killer That Stalked New York - Lobby Card Set

Here is a set of Lobby Cards from Columbia Pictures' The Killer That Stalked New York (1950), starring Evelyn Keyes. Lobby Cards were 11" x 14" posters that came in sets of 8. As the name implies, they were most often displayed in movie theater lobbies, to advertise current or coming attractions.

Ladies in Retirement - Movie Poster

Here is the American one-sheet movie poster for Columbia Pictures' Ladies in Retirement (1941), starring Ida Lupino, Louis Hayward, and Evelyn Keyes. One-sheets measured 27x41 inches, and were the poster style most commonly used in theaters.

Flight Lieutenant - Movie Poster

Here is a half-sheet movie poster for Flight Lieutenant (1942), starring Pat O'Brien. Half sheets measured 22 x 28 inches.