Gladys Walton

Gladys Walton (April 13, 1903 November 15, 1993)[2] was an American silent film actress.

Gladys Walton
Walton in 1922
Born(1903-04-13)April 13, 1903
DiedNovember 15, 1993(1993-11-15) (aged 90)
Resting placeIndian Cemetery Road, Woodfords, Alpine County, California, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1919–1925
Spouses
  • Frank Liddell
    (m. 1923; div. 1923)
  • Henry Merritt Herbel
    (m. 1923; div. 1947)
  • Spiro (Samuel) Dilles
    (m. 1953; div. 1955)
  • Kenneth James Wells
    (m. 1971; div. 1973)
Children6
Signature

Early life and career

Born in Boston, Massachusetts and educated in Portland, Oregon, Gladys Walton debuted in films at the Fox Sunshine comedy studio's in 1919, doing small parts in their comedy short films.[3] As her acting talent came more out into the open, she was given larger and more important roles in films, such as La La Lucille in 1920 with Universal Studios, as well as The Secret Gift, also in 1920. She was also given her first starring role in Pink Tights (1920), opposite film star Jack Perrin. She was a contract player for Universal from 1920 to 1923, completing 28 films and earning $600 a week[4] at the peak of her career. After leaving Universal she went on to do a few independent films. Only 5 of her 38 films exist: Pink Tights from 1920, All Dolled Up from 1921, The Untameable and Sawdust both from 1923, and A Little Girl in a Big City, released in 1925.

Walton in 1924.

Walton retired from acting in 1925.[5] Gladys has been said to have done theater productions, but this is untrue. There were in fact two Gladys Waltons performing in the early 1920's. One was a theater actress on the East Coast, doing traveling stage productions, while the movie star Gladys was making films on the West Coast. Writers of the time often confused the two.[6]

Personal life

Walton married screenwriter Frank Liddell in 1920. She later married Henry M. Herbel in 1923, with whom she had six children. She later married Spiro (Samuel) Dilles and Kenneth James Wells. All the marriages ended in divorce.

Death

Walton died of cancer on November 15, 1993, aged 90.[5]

Filmography

Gladys Walton in Risky Business (1920)
Lobby card for High Heels (1921)
Year Title Role Notes
1908The Fairylogue and Radio-Plays
1920La La LucillePeggy Hughes
1920The Secret GiftWinnie
1920Pink TightsMazie Darton
1920Risky BusinessPhillipa
1921Rich Girl, Poor GirlNora McShane / Beatrice Vanderfleet
1921All Dolled UpMaggie Quick
1921Desperate YouthRosemary Merridew
1921The Man TamerThe Lion Tamer
1921Short SkirtsNatalie Smith
1921The RowdyKit Purcell
1921High HeelsChristine Trevor
1921Playing With FireEnid Gregory
1922The GuttersnipeMazie O'Day
1922The Wise KidRosie Cooper
1922Second Hand RoseRose O'Grady
1922The TrouperMamie Judd
1922Top o' the Morning'Jerry' O'Donnell
1922The Girl Who Ran WildM'liss
1922The Lavender Bath LadyMamie Conroy
1922A Dangerous GameGretchen Ann Peebles
1923The Love LetterMary Ann McKee
1923GossipCaroline Weatherbee
1923The Town ScandalJean Crosby
1923Crossed WiresMarcel Murphy
1923SawdustNita Moore
1923The UntameableEdna Fielding / Joy Fielding
1923The Wild PartyLeslie Adams
1923The Near LadyNora Schultz
1925Easy Money
1925Enemies of Youth
1925The Sky RaiderMarie
1925Anything OnceDorothy Nixon
1925A Little Girl in a Big CityMary Barry
1928The Ape(final film role)[7]

References

  1. "Gladys Walton; Starred in Silent Films". Los Angeles Times. November 21, 1993. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  2. Dates of birth and death are submitted by her son, John Walton, from her death certificate
  3. Michael G Ankerich (1993) Broken Silence: conversations with 23 silent film stars. p.299
  4. Michael G Ankerich (1993) Broken Silence: conversations with 23 silent film stars. p.300
  5. "Gladys Walton Dead; Silent-Film Actress, 90". The New York Times. December 23, 1993. Retrieved October 11, 2010.
  6. "The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current, October 15, 1922, SECTION FOUR, Page 7, Image 61 « Historic Oregon Newspapers". oregonnews.uoregon.edu.
  7. Workman, Christopher; Howarth, Troy (2016). "Tome of Terror: Horror Films of the Silent Era". Midnight Marquee Press. p. 322. ISBN 978-1936168-68-2.

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