Google is paying special homage to the groundbreaking work of Mexican-American actress Myrtle Gonzalez this Wednesday, November 23, with an eye-catching update to its familiar totem. Inspired by Gonzalez, who’s considered to be Hollywood’s first Latin and Hispanic movie star, the new illustrated Google totem is the work of Bay Area- grounded guest artist, including Ana Ramírez González, and the star’s status is considered as outside heroine. I want to explore the history of Myrtle Gonzalez life.

Who Was Myrtle Gonzalez?

She was an American actress.  She starred in at least 78 silent periods of stir farmlands from 1913 to 1917, of which 66 were two- roll films. She’s regarded as Hollywood’s first Latin and Hispanic movie star actress. Gonzalez features on the Google Doodle.VITAGRAPH Workrooms

Born in Los Angeles, California on September 28, 1891, Gonzalez’s Mexican father worked as a retail grocer while her mama was a former piece songster with family roots that could be traced back to Ireland.

Gonzalez appeared fated for stardom from an early age, having taken after her mama with a good soprano voice that saw her sing in a variety of original musicales, benefits, and church choruses.

Still, her focus soon shifted to the world of film after the bulk of America’s movie product moved from New York to Los Angeles, in part due to the region’s more different scenic geographies, giving birth to what became known as Hollywood.

A Los Angeles native, Gonzalez was impeccably placed to take full advantage. After impressing in many original plays, she joined the silent stir picture plant called Vita graph Company of America, where she went on to make her film debut in The Unheroic Band.

In the times that followed, Gonzalez sculpted out a niche playing bold, alfresco heroines who were frequently shown living in nature, serving as a negation to the megacity girls depicted floundering in the strange surroundings.

Though her places frequently stuck to a specific type, Gonzalez won praise for playing a strong woman who crushed adversity through strength and determination and is now nestled down from celebrating her Hispanic roots.

What flicks Did Myrtle Gonzalez Star In?

Gonzalez starred in 80 flicks during her fabled career, starting with The Unheroic Band. She is considered best due to her work opposite William Desmond Taylor in the time era.

Gonzalez and Taylor appeared in five pictures together throughout 1913 and 1914. They included the slapsticks Her Husband’s Friend and Millions for Defense along with the dramatizations Tainted Plutocrat, The Kiss, and Captain Alvarez.

November 23 is significant for being the release date of one of Gonzalez’s stylish given flicks, The Level. After several times at Vita graph, Gonzalez moved on to Universal Studios, starring in features like The Secret of the Swamp and The Girl of Lost Lake which both further cemented her outside heroine status.

Gonzalez was twice wedded. Her first marriage to James Park Jones produced one son, James ParksJonesJr. before they severed.

She later met and married actor/ director Allen Watt. In 1917, the couple wed in Los Angeles in December with Gonzalez. Still, their marriage was tragically cut short when Gonzalez, aged just 27, failed as a result of the worldwide Spanish flu epidemic of 1918.

Despite her brief time on the screen, Gonzalez still amassed a stunning number of film credits in the space of just four times and is flashed back as Hollywood’s first Latin and Hispanic film star.

Though numerous of her pictures have been lost over time, the Library of Congress saved several of her flicks to serve as a testament to her impact on the assiduity.