 | The 'brains' and 'action' heavies who had meaty roles and lots of dialog ... and the players who were fathers, ranch owners, lawman, mayors, judges, lawyers, storekeepers, newspaper editors, wardens, etc. |
In search of William Gould Real name MAY be: William Gould Jacobs 1884? - ??? Last update: April, 2024 |  |  (Courtesy of Jack Tillmany) |
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William Gould is one of the more familiar faces in the old B western and serial and my original profile on him went online back in 2009. Every year or so, I search for more about Gould. In early 2024, I did my annual check ... and found a bunch of new info which I've highlighted below with a ❋
During the 1930s, Gould was a frequent villain/brains heavy, and he often worked in sagebrush adventures starring Ken Maynard, Tom Tyler, Hoot Gibson, Jack Perrin, Tim Holt, others. As he got older, his roles changed to that of a ranch owner, lawman, banker, judge, lawyer, detective, newspaper editor, etc. He was a busy freelancer, working everywhere and didn't specialize in westerns and serials - of his 250 or so film appearances from the 1920s through the early 1960, less than half were oaters and cliffhangers. The remainder were bit and character parts in various A and B grade films at major production companies as well as Poverty Row. He also shows up in a few television programs. Examples of his meatier 1930s and 1940s roles in serials and westerns:
In other type films, he often played an authority figure and his part was big (billed) or small (uncredited). Examples include NANCY DREW... REPORTER (Warners, 1939), NANCY DREW AND THE HIDDEN STAIRCASE (Warners, 1939), MR. MOTO TAKES A VACATION (20th Century Fox, 1939), and ABBOTT AND COSTELLO LOST IN ALASKA (Universal, 1952).
The search for William Gould continues. More info follows.
Before his movie days, Gould purportedly did some stage work. The Internet Broadway Database lists about a half-dozen 1899 - 1907 plays for a William Gould. If he was born circa 1885 - 1886 or so, those performances are probably for some other William Gould: https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/william-gould-42713 Chaos and confusion on our search for actor William Gould: |
| Vaudeville comedian and minstrel show performer Billy Gould. | He was born circa 1869 and passed away in New York City in 1950. Some bios on William Gould have him confused with Billy. Internet Movie Database (IMDb) for silent actor Billy Gould (1869-1950): https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0332316/ Billy Gould bio at Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Gould_(comedian) An example of the confusion is the Wikipedia bio on William Gould ... illustrated with an autographed photo of Billy Gould: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Gould_(actor) |
| 45 year old William Gould who died in a home fire circa 1959. Can't be this guy. He's too young. |
Both Jack Tillmany and Billy Doyle did some detective work on a William Gould who died in a fire. An obituary in Variety (11 January 1960) reads: "William A. Gould, 45, entertainer, died in a fire set by a burning cigarette when he dropped off to sleep December 27th (1959) in his home in Long Beach, California. His wife, Vinnie, 34, also died of asphyxiation in the same fire." |
| Our Mystery Man??? Found no census records, draft registrations, and family trees for an actor named Gould who lived in the Los Angeles area, and was born in Canada or England. |
The California Death Index and Social Security Death Index (SSDI) have records on a William Gould who was born May 2, 1886, Mother's maiden name of Seaton, lived in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, and died May 1969 in Los Angeles, California. The California Death Index has a May 8, 1969 death date, while the SSDI shows May 15, 1969: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPKT-2R4 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JGSC-G49 Find A Grave has a massive biography with many mentions of Gould's acting career. But no source info is available and the author of that bio, Lowell Thurgood, has passed away. The bio has Gould born May 2, 1886 in Ontario, Canada, passing on May 15, 1969 in the Los Angeles area, and was cremated and ashes given to family or friend.: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/241329177/william-gould May 18, 1969 Los Angeles Times has an obituary - William Gould died on May 8, 1969 at St. Vincent's Hospital in Los Angeles. He was survived by his wife Daisy Raven Gould of Beverly Hills, a daughter Mrs. R. W. Sword of Edmonton, Canada and two sons George A. of Winnipeg, Canada and Ernest S. of Oakville, Ontario, Canada. His interment was in Winnipeg, Canada.: https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-death-notice-for-w/144786061/ Old Corral contributor Dale Crawford had a death certificate for William H. Gould. He was born May 2, 1886 in England and died at Saint Vincent's Hospital, Los Angeles from a Myocardial infarction. He and wife Daisy Briggs lived at 9323 Olympic Blvd., Beverly Hills, California. Occupation was Photographer for T. Eaton Company (retail store). He was cremated and burial in Elmwood Cemetery, Winnepeg, Manitoba, Canada. Find A Grave has a record on a William Gould interred at Elmwood Cemetery, Winnipeg, Canada. He died in 1969, but there's no biography or photos: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/122692778/william-gould And there's that Boxoffice magazine blurb about Gould working for Lockheed Aircraft Corporation in the 1950s. |
❋ Got lucky finding a death notice on his wife Myrtle ... and then discovered more. |
February 26, 1941 Los Angeles Citizen News had a death notice for 61 year old Myrtle Gould who was a performer in silents and stage. Her birth name was Myrtle Pepin. Quote from the notice: "She was the wife of William Gould Jacobs. He is the character actor known professionally as William Gould.": https://www.newspapers.com/article/los-angeles-evening-citizen-news-death-n/144981249/
California Death Index for Myrtle L. Jacobs. She was born October 28, 1878, died February 25, 1941 in the Los Angeles area, and Father's last name was Pepin: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPD3-2HD Then we find: November 9, 1917 Utah marriage license of 33 year old William Gould Jacobs of San Francisco and Myrtle Pepin of Los Angeles. His birth year would be circa 1884: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XLSP-LY4 Found a few mentions of Gould and Myrtle in trade publications. The February 12, 1927 Billboard had a report on the couple leaving Honolulu: "William Gould leaves the Wilbur company this week. He will return to the movie lots in Southern California. He will be accompanied by Mrs. Gould, professionally known as Myrtle Pepin." Ancestry.com had the 1930 Glendale, California City Directory - Wm L. Jacobs (occupation "Theatricals") and wife Myrtle L. lived at 1334 Linden Avenue. 1930 census - renting at 1334 North Avenue, Glendale Township, Los Angeles California were 45 year old William L. Jacobs (born Illinois; ocupation "Actor - Stage"), his 50 year old wife Myrtle L. (born Nevada), 84 year old mother-in-law Laura S. Pepin, and 51 year old brother-in-law Standard D. Pepin: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XCFL-MSM Ancestry.com had the 1938 Los Angeles City Directory - William L. Gould (occupation "Actor") and wife Myrtle lived at 421 Westminster Avenue. THE LONE RANGER RIDES AGAIN Republic, 1939) pressbook article below mentions Gould residing in San Francisco during the 1906 earthquake. At that time, he was twenty years old which would be a birth year of circa 1886. 1940 census - 56 year old Wm G. Jacobs (born Illinois; occupation "Actor - Films") and his 61 year old wife Myrtle own their home at 1009 Carol Drive, Beverly Hills, California. In 1939, he worked 52 weeks and earned $3901.00: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K97D-368 No luck finding any death and funeral information in the newspapers - there's too many William Goulds and William Jacobs dying in California in 1959 and later (after GUNS OF THE TIMBERLAND (Warner Bros., 1960)). |
 Let's add more confusion on William Gould. Above is from the pressbook for the serial THE LONE RANGER RIDES AGAIN Republic, 1939). Mentions Gould being about twenty years old when the San Francisco earthquake and fire occurred. That implies a circa 1886 birth year.
 (Courtesy of Jay Wilsey's granddaughter and daughter, Tamera Mankini and Frances Eldene Wolski) Wearing the vest and drawing his six-shooter is William Gould playing a sheriff in Buck Jones' THE DESERT OUTLAW (Fox Film Corp., 1924). Other players are unidentified.  (From Old Corral collection) In TERROR OF THE PLAINS (Reliable, 1934), Tom Tyler has his right arm around Charles "Slim" Whitaker and his left arm is restraining William Gould. In the background: Herman Hack is on the left with arms raised; Silver Tip Baker has the handlebar moustache; Robert Walker (as the sheriff) is on horseback in the far right background; in the far right foreground, tallish Frank Rice (portraying Tyler's sidekick "Banty") has a hold on an unidentified player. Blowup below of Tyler, Whitaker and Gould.   (From Old Corral collection) L-R are 'Slim' Whitaker, William Gould (peeking out tthe door), and hero Tom Tyler in a lobby card from TERROR OF THE PLAINS (Reliable, 1934).  (Courtesy of Ed Phillips) L-to-R are William Gould, Wally Wales/Hal Taliaferro (back to camera), Bob Kortman (on horse), Hoot Gibson on Jack Perrin's white horse "Starlight", George Hayes, and Lafe McKee in a still from Hoot's SWIFTY (Diversion, 1935).  (Courtesy of Les Adams) L-to-R are Sonny Chorre, William Gould, Jack Perrin, Charles 'Slim' Whitaker, and Earl Dwire (as 'Red Wolf') in Perrin's WOLF RIDERS (Reliable, 1935).  (Courtesy of Jerry Kristman) William Gould in a credited role as the main villain facing Bonita Granville and Frankie Thomas in NANCY DREW AND THE HIDDEN STAIRCASE (Warners, 1939).  (From Old Corral collection) In the above lobby card from WILD HORSE MESA (RKO, 1947), hero Tim Holt gives up his twin six-shooters to William Gould who portrayed "Marshal Bradford". If his circa 1886 birth year is correct, Gould was in his mid sixties when he did this Holt oater. |
Although some of the data is incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on William Gould: