“Blessed are the laughmakers,” is one of the later beatitudes, and on
that score May Irwin will certainly receive her share of blessings.
She was born at Whitby, Ontario, Canada, in 1862, and made her début
at the Adelphi theater, Buffalo, in February, 1876. Later, with her
sister Flora, she became a member of Tony Pastor’s company, and
shortly afterward joined Augustin Daly’s company. She ranks as one
of the wholesome mirth-making actresses of the American stage. The
plays in which she has starred include The Widow Jones, The Swell Miss
Fitzgerald, Courted Into Court, Kate Kip, Buyer, and other farcical
comedies. In 1878 she was married to Frederick W. Keller, of St. Louis,
who died in 1886.