Myrtle Gonzalez was a Mexican-American actress who starred in over 80 silent films in just five years.
She was one of the first Latina actresses to break into Hollywood and play strong, adventurous heroines.
She was also a talented singer and a devoted mother.
However, her life and promising career were tragically abbreviated at the tender age of 27.
In this article, I will tell you everything you need to know about this remarkable woman and why she deserves more recognition.
Myrtle Gonzalez Parents
Myrtle Gonzalez was born on September 28, 1891, in Los Angeles, California.
Her parents were Manuel George Gonzalez and Lillian L. Cook.
Her father was a native Californio of Mexican descent, and her mother was of Irish ancestry.
Myrtle grew up in a creative and artistic family.
Her father was a painter, and her mother was a writer and a former opera singer.
Myrtle inherited her mother’s soprano voice and sang in church and at local events as a child.
Myrtle Gonzalez’s Net Worth
Her net worth at the time of her death was estimated to be between $1 million and $5 million.
Myrtle Gonzalez joined the American Vitagraph Company in 1913, where she started her acting career.
She soon became a popular and successful actress, earning $200 a week.
Myrtle later moved to Universal Studios, where she made feature films and earned $500 a week.
She also owned a ranch in Hollywood and a bungalow in Los Angeles.
Myrtle Gonzalez Husband
Myrtle Gonzalez was married twice in her life.
Her first husband was James Park Jones, whom she married in 1910.
They had one son, James Parks Jones Jr., born in 1911.
They divorced in 1916.
Her second husband was Allen Watt, an actor and director.
They married in 1917 and moved to Washington, where Watt was an officer in the U.S. Army.
Gonzalez retired from her film work after her second marriage.
Myrtle Gonzalez Height, Weight
Myrtle Gonzalez was a beautiful and graceful woman.
She had dark hair and eyes and a fair complexion.
She was 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighed 110 pounds.
Myrtle was often praised for her natural and expressive acting style.
She was also known for her athletic and adventurous roles, where she performed her stunts and endured harsh weather conditions.
Myrtle Gonzalez Kids
Myrtle Gonzalez had only one child, James Parks Jones Jr.
He was born in 1911 and was the son of her first husband, James Park Jones.
James followed in his mother’s footsteps and became an actor.
He appeared in several films in the 1930s and 1940s, such as The Fighting Marines (1935), The Lone Ranger (1938), and The Phantom (1943).
James died in 1970 at the age of 59.
He had one daughter, Mary Louise Jones Smith, born in 1933
Sadly, Mary died in 2005.
Myrtle Gonzalez Movies
Myrtle Gonzalez appeared in at least 78 silent films from 1913 to 1917, of which 66 were one- and two-reel shorts.
She worked with famous directors and actors, such as William Desmond Taylor, William Duncan, and Edith Storey.
She played a variety of roles, from comedies to dramas to westerns.
Some of her most notable films were:
- The Level (1914): This was one of her most successful films and the reason for today’s Google Doodle. It was released on November 23, 1914, and featured Myrtle as Carolyn Johnson, a wild and rebellious young woman who falls in love with a settler.
- The Little Sheriff (1914): This was a comedy film where Myrtle played Florence, the niece of a sheriff who meets and marries Jim, a young rancher.
- The Chalice of Courage (1915): This was a six-reel feature film where Myrtle played Enid Maitland, a brave and loyal woman who helps her lover escape from a band of outlaws.
How old was Myrtle Gonzalez when she died?
Myrtle died on October 22, 1918, in Los Angeles, California.
She was only 27 years old.
Myrtle was a victim of the Spanish flu pandemic, which killed millions of people around the world.
She passed away at her parents’ home, where she was staying with her husband and son.
Did Myrtle Gonzalez have kids?
Yes, Myrtle Gonzalez had one son, James Parks Jones Jr., from her first marriage.
He was born in 1911 and died in 1970.
He was also an actor and had one daughter, Mary Louise Jones-Smith, who died in 2005.
What did Myrtle Gonzalez die from?
Myrtle Gonzalez died from the Spanish flu, a deadly virus that infected millions of people in 1918.
She contracted the disease while staying with her parents in Los Angeles.
She died on October 22, 1918, at the age of 27.
Conclusion
Myrtle Gonzalez was a pioneer and a legend of silent films.
She was one of the first Latina actresses in Hollywood and played strong and adventurous heroines.
Myrtle Gonzalez was also a talented singer and a devoted mother.
She died young but left behind a legacy of films that showcase her talent and charisma.
She was a star that deserves to be remembered and celebrated.
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