Background
Gardner was born Cyril Gottlieb in Paris, France in 1898 and emigrated to the United States at an early age, where he changed his surname to "Gardner".
Gardner was born Cyril Gottlieb in Paris, France in 1898 and emigrated to the United States at an early age, where he changed his surname to "Gardner".
He began his career as a child actor, most notably in a starring role in the 1913 Thomas H. Ince-directed Cilvil War drama The Drummer of the 8th, opposite child star Mildred Harris.