Kathleen O'Connor (actress)

Kathleen O'Conner (sometimes credited as Kathleen Conners) (July 7, 1894 – June 24, 1957) was an American actress active in Hollywood during the silent era.

Kathleen O'Connor
Born
Kathleen Mavourneen O'Connor

(1894-07-07)July 7, 1894
Dayton, Ohio, US
DiedJune 24, 1957(1957-06-24) (aged 62)
Los Angeles, California, US
OccupationActress
Spouse(s)Lynn Reynolds (1921-1927, his death)

Early life

O’Connor was born in Dayton, Ohio, to John O'Connor (a police officer) and Elizabeth Kinney.[1] Her parents were both Irish immigrants.[2] She graduated from high school and began working as a telephone operator in Toledo.[3]

Hollywood career

After touring with a local stock company, she convinced her parents to let her go to Hollywood around 1917 to seek her fortune in the movies.[4] Early on, she secured work as an extra in Mack Sennett comedies,[5] but she was soon discovered by Tom Mix and selected to be the cowboy's leading lady. She became known as a leading lady in 1920s Westerns.[2]

Death of Lynn Reynolds

She married prolific director Lynn Reynolds in 1921. Reynolds committed suicide in front of Kathleen and a handful of guests at a dinner party in 1927. Witnesses reported that Reynolds had beaten Kathleen before retrieving the gun.[6]

Later life

O'Connor withdrew from the film industry after Lynn Reynolds's death. She later married Clark Reynolds (no relation to Lynn). She died on June 24, 1957, at the age of 62 after a long illness.[5]

Selected filmography

References
  1. "Kathleen O'Connor, Dayton Girl, Wins Fame and Fortune". The Dayton Daily News. 13 Dec 1918. Retrieved 2019-11-13.
  2. "The Lion's Man Stirring Serial at Dreamland". The Edmonton Journal. 9 Oct 1920. Retrieved 2019-11-13.
  3. "Kathleen O'Connor". The Fairview Republican. 15 Jul 1921. Retrieved 2019-11-13.
  4. "Kathleen O'Connor and Jack Perrin". The Salina Evening Journal. 3 Jul 1920. Retrieved 2019-11-13.
  5. "Former Leading Lady Dies at 60". The Province. 26 Jun 1957. Retrieved 2019-11-13.
  6. "S.F. Film Man Beats Wife, Kills Self". The Oakland Tribune. 25 Feb 1927. Retrieved 2019-11-13.
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