Gladys Walton
Walton in 1922
Born(1903-04-13)April 13, 1903
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedNovember 15, 1993(1993-11-15) (aged 90)
Morro Bay, California, U.S.[1]
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

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

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-PlaysLost film
1920La La LucillePeggy HughesLost film
The Secret GiftWinnieLost film
Pink TightsMazie DartonLost film
Risky BusinessPhillipaLost film
1921Rich Girl, Poor GirlNora McShane / Beatrice VanderfleetLost film
All Dolled UpMaggie Quick
Desperate YouthRosemary MerridewLost film
The Man TamerThe Lion TamerLost film
Short SkirtsNatalie SmithLost film
The RowdyKit PurcellLost film
High HeelsChristine TrevorLost film
Playing With FireEnid GregoryLost film
1922The GuttersnipeMazie O'DayLost film
The Wise KidRosie CooperLost film
Second Hand RoseRose O'GradyLost film
The TrouperMamie JuddLost film
Top o' the Morning'Jerry' O'DonnellLost film
The Girl Who Ran WildM'lissLost film
The Lavender Bath LadyMamie ConroyLost film
A Dangerous GameGretchen Ann PeeblesLost film
1923The Love LetterMary Ann McKeeLost film
GossipCaroline WeatherbeeLost film
The Town ScandalJean CrosbyLost film
Crossed WiresMarcel MurphyLost film
SawdustNita Moore
The UntameableEdna Fielding / Joy FieldingLost film
The Wild PartyLeslie AdamsLost film
The Near LadyNora SchultzLost film
1925Easy Money
Enemies of YouthLost film
The Sky RaiderMarieLost film
Anything OnceDorothy NixonLost film
A Little Girl in a Big CityMary Barry
1928The ApeLost film[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. 1 2 "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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