Introduction
Myrtle Gonzalez, born on September 28, 1891, and passing away on October 22, 1918, was an American actress. She played lead roles in at least 78 silent movies during the years 1913 to 1917. Out of these, 66 were shorter films, lasting one or two reels. She is widely recognized as a prominent movie star.
One of Gonzalez’s notable performances was as Enid Maitland in Vitagraph’s six-reel feature-length drama, “The Chalice of Courage” (1915), where she starred alongside William Duncan. A magazine writer once referred to her as “The Virgin White Lily of the Screen,” highlighting her significant presence and popularity in the film industry during that era.
Early life
Myrtle Gonzalez was born in Los Angeles, California, on September 28, 1891, to parents Manuel George Gonzalez (1868–1919) and Lillian L. Cook (1874–1932). Her family included siblings Stella M. Gonzalez (1892–1965) and Manuel G. Gonzalez Jr.
Her father’s roots traced back to a Hispanic Californio family of Mexico, which had a long history in the region before the United States acquired it. On the other hand, her mother, with Irish immigrant roots, was a former opera and popular singer, while her father worked as a retail grocer.
Even from her early years, Myrtle exhibited remarkable dramatic talent and possessed a good soprano voice. She actively participated in local concerts, benefits, and church choirs. Myrtle later ventured into the stage, playing juvenile roles alongside renowned actresses like Fanny Davenport and Florence Stone.
Myrtle Gonzalez tied the knot with James Parks Jones around 1910, and they welcomed a son named James Parks Jones Jr. (c. 1911–1970) into their family. Unfortunately, the marriage eventually ended in divorce.
Movie career
Growing up in Los Angeles turned out to be a significant advantage for Myrtle Gonzalez, especially with the movie production scene shifting to her hometown. She found employment with well-known studios such as Vitagraph and Universal.
Throughout her career, which spanned 80 movies, Gonzalez had the opportunity to work in five films alongside William Desmond Taylor at Vitagraph. These included the comedy/drama “Her Husband’s Friend” (1913), the drama “Tainted Money” (1914), the comedy “Millions for Defence” (1914), the drama “The Kiss” (1914), and the drama “Captain Alvarez” (1914).
In many of her roles, Gonzalez portrayed a robust, outdoorsy type of heroine. In the final six years of her career, a significant number of the movies she starred in were centered around stories set in the snowy countryside and dense forests. This showcased her versatility as an actress, embracing a variety of roles in different settings.
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Personal life and death
On December 1, 1917, Myrtle Gonzalez and actor/director Allen Watt (1885–1944) exchanged vows in Los Angeles. Following their marriage, she made the decision to step away from her screen career and retire. The two had initially met while Watt was working as an assistant director at Universal. At the time of their marriage, the United States had entered World War I, and Watt held the position of an officer in the US Army, stationed at Camp Lewis near Tacoma, Washington.
Due to Gonzalez’s delicate health, Captain Watt was placed on the retirement list, enabling their return to Southern California. He resumed his work at Universal, transitioning into a directing role.
Tragically, at the age of 27, Myrtle Gonzalez succumbed to the global Spanish flu pandemic in 1918. At the time of her passing, she was at her parents’ residence in Los Angeles, located at 908 West Thirtieth Street.
In remembrance of her contributions, Google featured Myrtle Gonzalez in a Google Doodle on November 23, 2022, in the United States. This date marked the anniversary of the release of the short film “The Level” (1914), in which she had a starring role.
