Gladys Brockwell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gladys Brockwell
Brockwell, c. 1920
Born	Gladys Lindeman September 26, 1894 Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Died	(1929-07-02)July 2, 1929 (aged 34) Hollywood, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1913–1929
Spouse(s)	Robert B. Broadwell ​ ​ (m. 1915; div. 1918)​ Harry Edwards ​ ​ (m. 1918; annulled 1919)​
Parent(s)	Billie Brockwell (mother)

Gladys Brockwell (born Gladys Lindeman; September 26, 1894 – July 2, 1929) was an American actress. She became famous during the silent film era, when movies had no sound.

Early Life and Acting Career

Gladys Brockwell was born in Brooklyn, New York, on September 26, 1894. Her mother, Lillian Lindeman, was an actress. She helped Gladys start acting at a very young age.

By the time Gladys was 7, she was already performing in plays. She worked with a theater group in Williamsport, West Virginia. When she was 14, she played the main characters in plays. By age 17, she even had her own acting group!

She chose the stage name Gladys Brockwell. In 1913, she made her first movie for Lubin Studios. Soon, she was starring in many films.

Gladys Brockwell (1917)

Gladys moved to Hollywood to continue her acting career. She got important roles in famous movies. These included the 1922 film Oliver Twist and The Hunchback of Notre Dame in 1923.

Her mother, Lillian, also started acting in movies in 1914. She also used the last name Brockwell, becoming known as Billie Brockwell. She became famous too, but after her daughter.

By the mid-1920s, Gladys was still a top actress. She often played important supporting roles. People thought she was one of the best "character actresses" of her time. A character actress is someone who is very good at playing many different kinds of people.

Gladys was also good at acting in "talkies," which were movies with sound. Her first talkie was Lights of New York in 1928. This movie was special because it was the first full-length film with completely synchronized dialogue. This means the actors' voices matched their lip movements perfectly.

Her acting in Lights of New York got great reviews. Warner Bros. signed her to make more movies. She was looking forward to more success in sound films. Sadly, she died in a car accident in 1929.

Personal Life

Gladys Brockwell married actor Robert B. Broadwell on March 3, 1915. They separated just a few months later. Gladys said they often argued and didn't agree on things. Their divorce was finalized in March 1918.

On July 1, 1918, she married Harry Edwards, a film director. However, this marriage was canceled the next year.

Her Death

Gladys Brockwell died on July 2, 1929, in Hollywood Hospital in Los Angeles. She had serious internal injuries from a car accident. These injuries led to an infection called peritonitis.

The accident happened on June 27, 1929. Gladys and her friend, Thomas Stanely Brennan, were in a car near Calabasas, California. The car went off the road and fell about 75 feet down a hill. Gladys was trapped under the car.

Doctors tried to save her life. She seemed to get better for a while, but then the infection started. Her friend, Thomas Brennan, also had serious injuries but recovered. He said dust blew into his eye, causing him to lose control of the car.

Gladys Brockwell's last movie was The Drake Case. It was released in September 1929, after she had passed away.

Gladys Brockwell was cremated, and her ashes were given to her mother. Her ashes are now with her mother's at Inglewood Park Cemetery.

Selected Filmography

Conscience (1917)

See also

In Spanish: Gladys Brockwell para niños