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.

Early life and career Myra Keaton was born on March 13, 1877, in Modale, Iowa, and Sarah Elizabeth (née Shaffer). 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 children were actor Buster Keaton (né Joseph Frank Keaton), 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.

(left) with his parents Myra (right) and Joe Keaton (middle) 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.

Filmography Year Film Role Notes 1921 The Goat Minor roleShort, uncredited 1922 The Electric House Buster's Mother in Prologues 1935 Palooka from Paducah Ma DiltzShort Way Up Thar Molly 'Maw' Kurtz 1936 The Brain Busters 1937 Love Nest on Wheels Elmer's ma 1963 The Sound of Laughter Molly ‘Maw’ Kurtz (Hillbilly Smoking Pipe) Archive footage, Posthumous release

Death Keaton died on July 21, 1955, in Los Angeles, California, aged 78. She is buried at Glen Haven Memorial Park in Sylmar, California.