Cyril Gardner

Film actor/editor/writer/director Cyril Gardner began acting in films at the age of 13. His real name was Cyril Gottlieb, but like many actors of German ancestry he found it prudent to change his name after America entered World War 1. He gave outstanding performances in such films as Thomas Ince's Civil War tragedy "The Drummer of the 8th" (first released on May 28, 1913). Sadly, a few years later Gardner's face was disfigured by a skin infection, after which he gave up acting to work behind the camera as an editor, director and writer.