The talented scion of a show-business family, Keenan Wynn's father was the great burlesque and television buffoon 'Ed Wynn' is also a Broadway singer and actress.
Keenan helped push his father Ed Wynn to become an actor.
Grandson of Frank Keenan
Father of Ned Wynn with first wife Evie Wynn Johnson. Ned is the author of the funny but tragic autobiography, "We Will Always Live In Beverly Hills", which chronicled the wild life of a boy growing up with famous, divorced parents. It offers a fascinating and revealing look into his mothers eventual marriage to Van Johnson.
Father of screenwriter Tracy Keenan Wynn.
Following his death, he was interred along with his father Ed Wynn at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California, in the Great Mausoleum, Daffodil Corridor, Columbarium of the Dawn.
Suffered from tinnitus (a chronic ringing in the ears) during the last years of his life, forcing him to wear hearing aids. Appeared with them in a photo accompanying a 1983 "National Enquirer" article, where he personally warned young people to protect their hearing.
Was originally to play Perry White in Superman , but had to drop out upon arriving in London for filming due to heart problems. The role went to Jackie Cooper.
He was uncle to The Hudson Brothers due to his marriage to Sharley (they are her nephews). Daughter Hilda was married to singer-songwriter Paul Williams from 1993-2004. Daughter Emily (February 13, 1960 - November 27, 1980) died at age 20 from cancer. Granddaughter Jessica Keenan Wynn is also a Broadway singer and actress.
Keenans wife Evie Wynn Johnson was a young actress who toured with Katharine Cornell but gave up her career when she married Wynn.
Part of the reason for his eventual loss of hearing was due to the fact that he raced just about anything on land or water and most of the vehicles were loud and unmuffled. He was a regular feature in and around the Detroit, Michigan, area racing boats, cars and motorcycles, sometimes racing boats on the Detroit River (the border between the United States and Ontario, Canada).
Introduced Steve McQueen and Lee Marvin to the power of Triumph motorcycles on a hill climb.
He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1515 Vine Street in Hollywood, California on February 8, 1960.
In his later years, Wynn undertook a number of philanthropic endeavors and supported several charity groups. He was a long-standing active member of the Westwood Sertoma International service club in West Los Angeles, California.
Had appeared with Van Johnson in seven films: Between Two Women , Week-End at the Waldorf , Ziegfeld Follies , No Leave, No Love , Easy to Wed , Its a Big Country: An American Anthology and Men of the Fighting Lady .
Had appeared with Leon Ames in six films: Week-End at the Waldorf , No Leave, No Love , Song of the Thin Man , Its a Big Country: An American Anthology , The Absent Minded Professor and Son of Flubber .
Had appeared with Janet Leigh in six films: Angels in the Outfield , Its a Big Country: An American Anthology , Fearless Fagan (1952) , The Perfect Furlough , Touch of Evil and House on Greenapple Road .
