Volume III: Biographies

KEENE, Mattie *

Actress (1915-1916)

Thanhouser Career Synopsis: Mattie Keene was an actress at the Thanhouser studio in 1915 and appeared in a 1916 Falstaff film.

Biographical Notes: Mattie Keene was born in 1862. She was a well known stage actress for many years. Among her notable performances were roles in Too Many Cooks, The Third Party, Ourselves, and Mavourneen. She wrote numerous plays and sketches, often with the collaboration of Ella Wheeler Wilcox. She worked with Thanhouser in 1915 and was seen in a 1916 film. In autumn 1916 she was with Rolfe-Metro and gave her mailing address care of the studio at 3 West 61st Street, New York City. By that time she had been in numerous Metro comedies with Ralph Herz, Max Figman, and Lolita Robertson. A directory noted that her pastimes included writing and swimming.

Mattie Keene was an actress and scenario writer in later years. In 1923 she was on stage in Romeo and Juliet, in 1924 in Alloy, in 1926 in Naked, and in 1927 in My Maryland. Her last stage performance was in a revival of My Maryland in 1936. Her married name was Mrs. Joseph Phillips (no kin to the Thanhouser player Joseph H. Phillips). Mattie Keene died on September 1, 1944 in New York City, at which time she lived at the Langwell Hotel, 123 West 44th Street.

Thanhouser Filmography:

1916: A Clever Collie's Comeback (Falstaff 2-1-1916)

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