Myrta Bonillas

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Myrta Bonillas
Born(1890-11-03)November 3, 1890
DiedNovember 13, 1959(1959-11-13) (aged 69)

Myrta Bonillas (November 3, 1890 – November 13, 1959) was an American actress of the silent film era known for her roles in films such as Shackles of Gold (1922), The Custard Cup (1923), The Claw (1927) and Lummox (1930).

Career[edit]

Bonillas reportedly worked as an extra for Fox Film Corporation for only one day in 1922 before her beauty inspired director Herbert Brenon to offer her the role of Countess Koefield in his film A Stage Romance, which starred William Farnum.[1][2] Some sources also report that she was discovered by actor Christy Cabanne.[3] The same year, Bonillas in another film by Brenon, Shackles of Gold (1922), this time as Farnum's love interest.[4] Bonillas collaborated with Brenon on several other films during her career, including The Custard Cup (1923) and Lummox (1930).[5]

Bonillas married in 1924, and stopped acting until 1927. After 1930, she appeared primarily in uncredited roles, with the exception of 1939's Así es la vida (Such is Life), an Argentinian film directed by Francisco Múgica.[5]

Filmography
Title Role Year
Así es la vida (Such is Life) Margarita 1939
A Damsel in Distress uncredited 1937
Charlie Chan at the Opera Villager in Opera (uncredited) 1936
Ramona uncredited 1936
One Night of Love uncredited 1934
Running with Charles Paddock (short film) 1932
Lummox Veronica Neidringhouse 1930 [6]
American Beauty 1927 [7]
The Claw Saba Rockwood 1927 [8]
The Gingham Girl Sonia Mason 1927
The Custard Cup Gussie Bosley 1923
Shackles of Gold Marie Van Dusen 1922 [4]
A Stage Romance Countess Koefield 1922

Private life[edit]

Bonillas married army captain John S. Peters on December 13, 1924. In the fall of 1928, Bonillas filed for divorce from Peters, citing mental anguish caused by Peters' physical abuse of a friend of hers.[9]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Girls Who Aim at Fame on the Screen Need Not Lose Hope". The Daily Star-Mirror. June 24, 1922. p. 2.
  2. ^ "William Farnum". The Richmond Item. April 8, 1923. p. 16.
  3. ^ "Mayrta Bonillas, Rose Rapidly". Evening World-Herald. January 17, 1922. p. 16.
  4. ^ a b "Last Day for 'Shackles of Gold' at the Colonial Theatre". Atlantic City Daily Press. June 27, 1922. p. 12.
  5. ^ a b "Myrta Bonillas | Actress". IMDb. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  6. ^ "'Lummox' Film Given Brilliant Production". The Kingsport Times. August 31, 1930.
  7. ^ "Billie Dove As The Typical American Girl Stars With Lloyd Hughes in 'American Beauty' Academy Friday". The Selma Times-Journal. November 6, 1927. p. 9.
  8. ^ "'The Claw' at Hippodrome is Perfect Film". Bakersfield Morning Echo. August 12, 1927. p. 6.
  9. ^ "Actress Amends Divorce Plaint". The Los Angeles Times. November 25, 1928. p. 27.