I'm familiar with the Ava Gardner connection; when my dad was alive, he told me that there was a family connection. A genealogical account I read about William Gardner (as an ancestor of Ava Gardner) identified Edwin Gardner as the witness to William's marriage and the author presumed that Edwin was William's brother - however, I haven't found evidence substantiating that relationship with certainty. If not a brother, it is highly likely there is a close family connection. Thanks for the info and links.