Biography
From Wikipedia Gertrude Olmstead (November 13, 1897 – January 18, 1975) was an American actress of the silent era. She appeared in 56 films between 1920 and 1929. Olmstead was born in Chicago, Illinois, and appeared in her first credited film role in the 1921 film The Fox. 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. With the advent of sound film her career stalled, and she retired from acting in 1929. In 1926 she met MGM director Robert Z. Leonard and they were married June 8 of that year. Leonard and Olmstead remained married until his death in 1968. After Leonard's death, Olmstead remained in the Los Angeles area, and died in Beverly Hills on January 18, 1975.
Acted in 39
1920s
- 1929
The Show of Shows
Performer in 'Bicycle Built for Two' Number (uncredited)
The Time, the Place and the Girl
Mae Ellis
Sonny Boy
Mary
The Lone Wolf's Daughter
Helen Fairchild
- 1928
Midnight Life
Betty Brown
Hit of the Show
Kathlyn Carson
Bringing Up Father
Ellen
Sporting Goods
Alice Elliott
The Cheer Leader
Jean Howard
- 1927
Buttons
Ruth Stratton
Becky
Nan Estabrook
The Callahans and the Murphys
Monica Murphy
Mr. Wu
Hilda Gregory
- 1926
The Cheerful Fraud
Ann Kent
Monte Carlo
Sally Roxford
Sweet Adeline
Adeline
- 1925
Time, the Comedian
Ruth Dakon
California Straight Ahead
Betty Browne
The Monster
Betty Watson
Cobra
Mary Drake
- 1924
Life's Greatest Game
Nora Malone
Empty Hands
Typsy
Lovers' Lane
Mary Larkin
Babbitt
Eunice Littlefield
A Girl of the Limberlost
Edith Cart
Ladies to Board
Edith Oliver
George Washington, Jr.
Dolly Johnson
- 1923
Cameo Kirby
Adele Randall
Trilby
Miss Bagot
The Wandering Two
Movie
- 1922
The Loaded Door
Molly Grainger
The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe
Movie
The Scrapper
Eileen McCarthy
- 1921
The Fox
Stella Fraser
The Fighting Lover
Jean Forsdale
The Big Adventure
Sally
The Cactus Kid
Movie
Appearances2
1920s
- 1927
Life in Hollywood No. 7
Herself
- 1925
1925 Studio Tour
Self