Remarkable American silent cinema actress Myrtle Gonzalez, better known by her stage name Myrtle Gebhart, starred on the silver screen in the early 1900s. On November 23, 2022, Myrtle was highlighted in a Google Doodle. She starred in more than 160 films and made a lasting impression on Hollywood history.
Her legacy has persisted and her contributions to the cinema business are still honoured, even though she passed away in 1918. This post will go into Myrtle Gonzalez’s biography, films, wealth, cause of death, parents, and passion for doodling.
Who was Myrtle Gonzalez?
American actress Myrtle Gonzalez was born on September 28, 1891, and died on October 22, 1918. Between 1913 and 1917, she acted in at least 78 silent-era motion movies, of which 66 were one- and two-reel shorts. She is recognized as the first Latina and Hispanic movie star actress in Hollywood history. Gonzalez is included in the Doodle by Google.
Gonzalez was born on September 28, 1891, in Los Angeles, California. Her mother was a former opera singer with Irish ancestry, while her father was a Mexican who worked as a retail grocer.
Gonzalez, who inherited her mother’s lovely soprano voice and sang in several local concerts, benefit events, and church choirs, seemed destined for greatness from a young age.
Her attention quickly turned to the film industry, though, as the majority of American film production relocated from New York to Los Angeles—partly because of the area’s more varied picturesque landscapes—giving rise to the industry that would later be known as Hollywood.
Gonzalez, a native of Los Angeles, was in a prime position to benefit greatly. She joined the silent motion picture studio Vitagraph Company of America after making an impression in a few regional plays, and she later made her film debut in The Yellow Streak.
Gonzalez made a name for herself in the following years by portraying fearless, nature-loving heroines who were frequently portrayed as living in the woods and providing a contrast to the city females who were portrayed as struggling in their strange surroundings.
Myrtle Gonzalez Net Worth
Despite frequently playing roles that fit a certain mound, Gonzalez was praised for her portrayals of strong, resilient women who never shied away from embracing their Hispanic heritage.
Since there are little financial records from her era, Myrtle Gonzalez’s net worth at the time was estimated to be $2 million. She also utilized her wealth to own assets.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Charles Gebhart and Georgia Belle Brown welcomed Myrtle Gonzalez into the world in 1891 in Los Angeles, California. Her mother was a writer and her father was a painter, thus she grew up in a creative and artistic household.
Film producers quickly found Myrtle because they recognised her potential and she had always loved acting and the performing arts. She starred in the motion picture “An Assisted Elopement” in 1913.
Gonzalez, Myrtle Popular Films
Myrtle’s skill was immediately discovered, and she was in high demand as an actor in Hollywood. She starred in a number of films, including comedies, dramas, westerns, and even a couple scary flicks.
Her most well-known performances came from films like The Sagebrusher, The Evil Eye, and The Call of the Wild.
Myrtle Gonzalez Cause of Death
Myrtle Gonzalez tragically died in 1918 at the young age of 27. The Spanish flu epidemic that was sweeping the globe at the time was the reason of her death. Her fans lamented the death of a cherished actress, and the film industry was horrified to learn of her passing.
Myrtle Gonzalez Parents
Charles Gebhart and Georgia Belle Brown, Myrtle Gonzalez’s parents, were both artistic people who supported their daughter’s passion for the arts.
Georgia was a writer who frequently contributed to neighborhood newspapers and magazines, and Charles was a well-known painter in Los Angeles. Their only child, Myrtle, received lifelong support from them for her cinematic career.
Doodling
Apart from her love of performing, Myrtle Gonzalez also enjoyed drawing a lot. During her free time, she would frequently doodle and sketch on the set, producing elaborate patterns and motifs.
History
Numerous cinema historians and lovers continue to honour Myrtle Gonzalez’s legacy, recognizing her contributions to the nascent days of Hollywood. Her brilliance and charisma continue to inspire artists worldwide, and she cleared the path for upcoming generations of actresses and performers.
Her brilliance and magnetism made her a legendary actress who still inspires artists and filmmakers to this day. Despite her tragic death, her legacy lives on thanks to her enormous contributions to the film business.
Her passion for doodling was another indication of her artistic nature; her doodles and sketches are treasured relics from her past. We can only speculate about further outstanding pieces.
Career
As the film business relocated from New York to California, Myrtle Gonzalez’s career took off, and she became one of the first Latina actors in Hollywood.
She was employed for a few years with the company Vita graph Company of America after making her film debut in The Yellow Streak in 1913.
She was most recognized for her work opposite William Desmond Taylor while she was employed at Vita graph.
Together, Gonzalez and Taylor starred in five motion pictures between 1913 and 1914.
They featured the dramas Tainted Money, The Kiss, and Captain Alvarez, as well as the comedies Her Husband’s Friend and Millions for Defense.
The Level, one of Gonzalez’s most well-known films, opens on November 23, which makes the date noteworthy. Gonzalez left Vitagraph after a few years and joined Universal Studios, where she starred in films such as The Girl of Lost Lake and The Secret of the Swamp, two more films that solidified her reputation as an outdoor heroine.
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Who is the Husband of Myrtle Gonzalez
Before their divorce, she had one son, James Parks Jones Jr., from her first marriage to James Park Jones.
Later on, she was married to director and actor Allen Watt.
After being married in December 1917 in Los Angeles, Gonzalez quickly stopped working on silent films.
What Films Did Myrtle Gonzalez Star In?
During her illustrious career, Gonzalez starred in 80 films, beginning with The Yellow Streak. She was most recognized for her work opposite William Desmond Taylor while she was employed at Vita graph.
Together, Gonzalez and Taylor starred in five motion pictures between 1913 and 1914. They featured the dramas Tainted Money, The Kiss, and Captain Alvarez, as well as the comedies Her Husband’s Friend and Millions for Defense.
The Level, one of Gonzalez’s most well-known films, opens on November 23, which makes the date noteworthy. Gonzalez left Vita graph after a few years and joined Universal Studios, where she starred in films such as The Girl of Lost Lake and The Secret of the Swamp, two more films that solidified her reputation as an outdoor heroine.
Gonzalez wed twice. Before their divorce, she had one son, James Parks Jones Jr., from her first marriage to James Park Jones.
Later on, she was married to director and actor Allen Watt. After being married in December 1917 in Los Angeles, Gonzalez quickly stopped working on silent films. Nevertheless, Gonzalez’s death at the age of 27 from the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic cruelly ended their marriage.
Gonzalez is regarded as Hollywood’s first Latin and Hispanic film star, despite her limited on-screen career. In the course of just four years, she racked up an incredible number of film credits.
Several of her films have been saved by the Library of Congress as a tribute to her influence on the business, even if many of her films have been lost over time.
FAQs
- Who was Myrtle Gonzalez?
- During the silent film period, Myrtle Gonzalez was a trailblazing American actress most remembered for her roles in early Hollywood.
- Which noteworthy films starred Myrtle Gonzalez?
- Gonzalez demonstrated her flexibility as an actor by appearing in a number of films, such as “The Spanish Jade” (1922) and “The Cat’s Paw” (1912).
- What effect did Myrtle Gonzalez have on the motion picture industry?
- Myrtle Gonzalez, a prominent actress who contributed to the growing film business, was instrumental in the development of early cinema.
- What tragically led to Myrtle Gonzalez’s death?
- Myrtle Gonzalez’s life was cut short by mercury poisoning from bismuth chloride, which was then a popular treatment for syphilis. She passed very suddenly in 1918 at the age of 27.
- What memories does Myrtle Gonzalez have today?
- One of the original stars of American film, Myrtle Gonzalez is still recognized today. Film aficionados and historians continue to find her interesting despite her comparatively brief career, as her contributions to film history are still recognized.
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