More Obituaries

Somehow I missed the death of actress Evelyn Keyes, 91, who died July 4. She made many movie appearances over the years, including playing Suellen O'Hara in 1939's Gone With the Wind. It was a relatively minor role.

I enjoyed her most when she played "Julie Benson," a thinly-disguised Ruby Keeler because Keeler would NOT allow her name to be associated with any film about her ex-husband Al Jolson, in the 1946 classic, The Jolson Story. This is one of my favorite films of all time.

Actually Keyes was a far better actress than Keeler ever was, but audiences didn't mind. The film was a hit.

Keyes wrote an autobiography many years ago called Scarlett O'Hara's Younger Sister, but I haven't bought this book or read it. She had been married to director John Huston. Other husbands included Charles Vidor and the much-married Artie Shaw. She shacked up with producer Michael Todd for three years before he ditched her and married Elizabeth Taylor. Keyes wasn't too bitter about being dumped; after all, she invested her money in his film, Around the World in 80 Days, which set her up for life financially.

Her death was announced yesterday. She died of uterine cancer. Her death announcement was delayed by her lawyers until her death certificate was filed, according to AP.