Gertrude Olmstead

Gertrude Olmstead (13 November 1897 – 18 January 1975), was an American actress of the silent era. Olmstead was born in Chicago, Illinois, and appeared in her first credited film role in the 1921 film The Fox, when she was only 17. Good looking and adapting well to the screen, she obtained several more roles that same year, appearing in nine films in 1921, and another five in 1922. She would appear in seventeen more films by the time she received... more

Gertrude Olmstead (13 November 1897 – 18 January 1975), was an American actress of the silent era. Olmstead was born in Chicago, Illinois, and appeared in her first credited film role in the 1921 film The Fox, when she was only 17. Good looking and adapting well to the screen, she obtained several more roles that same year, appearing in nine films in 1921, and another five in 1922. She would appear in seventeen more films by the time she received what is today her best known role, opposite Rudolph Valentino in the 1925 film Cobra. Throughout the silent film era her career thrived. From 1925 through 1929 she appeared in twenty eight films, most often portraying the heroine. In 1926, she met MGM director Robert Z. Leonard, and they were married June 8th of that year. Leonard and Olmstead remained married until his death in 1968. With the advent of "talking films" her career stalled, and she retired. She appeared in 56 films between 1920 and 1929. She remained in the Los Angeles area,... less