Born in Dutchess County, NY. Connell began covering baseball games for his father's newspaper at age ten and was editing the paper at age sixteen. He served in World War I, and then lived in various European countries. After settling in Beverly Hills, CA, Connell began writing short stories, some of which were adapted into silent films: EAST OF BROADWAY (1924), BRIGHT LIGHTS (1925), and NO PLACE TO GO (1927). Connell's screenwriting credits, alone or in collaboration, include THE MILKY WAY, F-MAN and OUR RELATIONS (all 1936), LOVE ON TOAST (1937), DR. RHYTHM (1938), BROTHER ORCHID and HIRED WIFE (both 1940), NICE GIRL? and MEET JOHN DOE (both 1941), RIO RITA (1943), PRESENTING LILY MARS (1943), TWO GIRLS AND A SAILOR (1944), THRILL OF ROMANCE, HER HIGHNESS AND THE BELLBOY and A GAME OF DEATH (all 1945), THE KID FROM BROOKLYN (1946, from THE MILKY WAY), LUXURY LINER (1948), and THE DANGEROUS GAME (1953). His story "The Most Dangerous Game" was also used as the basis for several other features: RUN FOR THE SUN (1953), BLOODLUST! (1961), THE WOMAN HUNT (1973), SLAVE GIRLS FROM BEYOND INFINITY (1987), DEADLY PREY (1988) and LETHAL WOMAN (1989). Connell died in Beverly Hills in 1949.  Nominated for Writing (Original Story) 1941: MEET JOHN DOE (w. Robert Presnell)  Nominated for Writing (Original Screenplay) 1944: TWO GIRLS AND A SAILOR (w. Gladys Lehman) 2 nominations