John Gilbert

Stars

Born John Pringle on July 10, 1897 in Logan, UT

Died Jan. 9, 1936 of heart attack in Beverly Hills, Calif.

When he died in 1936, John Gilbert was considered one of the last of the great romancers of the silent film era.

Gilbert ranked with the best of those whose acting made feminine hearts palpitate in the days of silent cinema.

Gilbert began his career as an itinerant stock company actor and looked toward Hollywood to overcome his poverty. He first became a film cowboy and an extra player and not until 1922 did he gain recognition when he played in "The Count of Monte Cristo."

He reached the top rung of success' ladder in 1924 when "The Merry Widow" was released. This was the picture in which he appeared with Mae Murray and was made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

The pendulum kept swinging for Gilbert. The release of "The Big Parade" added more fame and brought into the limelight Renee Adoree.

In the interims between his frequent marriages, there were four, rumors of Gilbert's loves — and engagement — were rampant. In the winter of 1927 Hollywood was thrown into a frenzy by reports that he and the elusive Greta Garbo had eloped and married in Yuma.

Lupe Velez, later the wife of Johnny Weissmuller, was another of his rumored fiancees.

Talking pictures were his Waterloo. Even his appearance with his one-time leading lady, Garbo, in "Queen Christina" failed to bring him his former glory.

His last appearance on the screen was in "The Captain Hates the Sea," based on Wallace Smith's book.

— Los Angeles Times Jan. 10, 1936

Related stars

Ina Claire
Ex-wife
Greta Garbo
Costar
Lewis Milestone
Director
Erich Von Stroheim
Director
Leatrice Joy
Ex-wife
Renee Adoree
Costar

Points of interest

One thought about John Gilbert

“

I live in Utah, not far from Logan, where John Gilbert was born. About a decade ago, I read the biography "Dark Star" by his daughter, Leatrice Gilbert Fountain (from his marriage to film star Leatrice Joy) . I was very pleased to hear back from her soon after. Only months later, I was informed that she was bringing her family to Utah, to see where her father's side of the family had lived. She had never been here before. I had the privilege not only of meeting her, but also her children, some of her grandchildren, and even two of her great-grandchildren. I told her that I knew her father was looking down on them all and was very pleased with the beautiful family she had raised.

I have some comments about what happened to Jack Gilbert when talkies came in. It has been widely believed that he had a high, feminine, voice, although those who knew him said it wasn't true and films like Queen Christina are proof of it. I think what started it was a scene from Romeo and Juliette that he did for the film Broadway Melody (1929). In the first part of it, I think he was trying to sound young, as the character of Romeo was. Norma Shearer, as Juliette, speaks with a high pitch to her voice, also. Later, they do a spoof on the same scene as if it had been written in the 1920s. His voice is not high in that part of it, nor in any of the sound films he did. There was some really bad dialog in some of them (I love you, I love you, I love you...) but that was not his doing!

Another urban legend says that John Gilbert willed himself to die and/or was the inspiration for the story of "A Star Is Born". He was prone to bouts with severe depression, but he did not want to die. A day or so before, he'd had plans to spend the day with his daughter Leatrice. She still has the note he sent to her, saying that he was sorry that he was not feeling well enough that day, but that they would do it just as soon as he felt better which, sadly, didn't happen. According to Leatrice, he died of congestive heart failure, complicated by some medication that was given to him to help him sleep.

He certainly does deserve his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame! He was a physically beautiful, very talented, actor and a pioneer in the film industry!

” — Darillyn, December 15, 2012 at 1:16 p.m.

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