Gladys McConnell

Gladys McConnell (October 22, 1905 – March 4, 1979) was a multifaceted American actress and aviator, hailing from Oklahoma City, Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma). Born to William Marshall McConnell and Harriet Sharp, she grew up alongside her sister, Hazel, and later attended Hollywood High School.

McConnell's cinematic journey spanned a short yet impactful period from 1926 to 1930, during which she sometimes adopted the stage name Gladys Morrow. Her film debut came with *The Devil Horse* (1926), featuring the famous stallion Rex the Wonder Horse. She further showcased her talent opposite Harry Langdon in *Three's A Crowd* (1927) and portrayed his talkative wife in *The Chaser* (1928). After parting ways with Fox Film Company due to creative differences, she opted for a freelance career. In 1927, she was named a WAMPAS Baby Star, a recognition that highlighted her potential alongside contemporaries like Iris Stuart and Rita Carewe.

In her personal life, McConnell married Arthur Q. Hazerman in 1926, but the marriage ended in divorce three years later. She later wed attorney A. Ronald Button in 1931, and they welcomed a daughter, Mary Barbara Button, known today as Barbara McAllister.

Beyond acting, McConnell pursued aviation, becoming an accomplished pilot in Portland, where she logged significant flight hours, rivaling only Ruth Elder among her Hollywood peers. Gladys McConnell passed away in Fullerton, California, in 1979 at the age of 73.