[1] He had blue eyes and his naturally blond hair was tinged with gray from the age of 16.

[citation needed] Gallagher was born on July 28, 1891 in Terre Haute, Indiana.

As a child he was nicknamed Skeets, short for mosquito, because of his frequent speedy bursts of running.

His stage career began by writing a one-act skit that he took to a local theatre group.

[citation needed] He started acting in vaudeville, and later signed with Paramount Pictures.