{{Short description|American actress (1890-1959)}} {{Infobox actor | name = Myrta Bonillas | image = Myrta Bonillas - Jan 1923 Shadowland.jpg | birth_date = {{Birth date|1890|11|03}} | death_date = {{Death date and age|1959|11|13|1890|11|03}} }}
'''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 == 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.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 24, 1922 |title=Girls Who Aim at Fame on the Screen Need Not Lose Hope |pages=2 |work=The Daily Star-Mirror}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=April 8, 1923 |title=William Farnum |pages=16 |work=The Richmond Item}}</ref> Some sources also report that she was discovered by actor Christy Cabanne.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 17, 1922 |title=Mayrta Bonillas, Rose Rapidly |pages=16 |work=Evening World-Herald}}</ref> The same year, Bonillas in another film by Brenon, ''Shackles of Gold'' (1922), this time as Farnum's love interest.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=June 27, 1922 |title=Last Day for 'Shackles of Gold' at the Colonial Theatre |pages=12 |work=Atlantic City Daily Press}}</ref> Bonillas collaborated with Brenon on several other films during her career, including ''The Custard Cup'' (1923) and ''Lummox'' (1930).<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Myrta Bonillas {{!}} Actress |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0094656/ |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}</ref>
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.<ref name=":1" /> {| class="wikitable" |+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 |<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 31, 1930 |title='Lummox' Film Given Brilliant Production |work=The Kingsport Times}}</ref> |- |''American Beauty'' | |1927 |<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 6, 1927 |title=Billie Dove As The Typical American Girl Stars With Lloyd Hughes in 'American Beauty' Academy Friday |pages=9 |work=The Selma Times-Journal}}</ref> |- |''The Claw'' |Saba Rockwood |1927 |<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 12, 1927 |title='The Claw' at Hippodrome is Perfect Film |pages=6 |work=Bakersfield Morning Echo}}</ref> |- |''The Gingham Girl'' |Sonia Mason |1927 | |- |''The Custard Cup'' |Gussie Bosley |1923 | |- |''Shackles of Gold'' |Marie Van Dusen |1922 |<ref name=":0" /> |- |''A Stage Romance'' |Countess Koefield |1922 | |}
== Private life == 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.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 25, 1928 |title=Actress Amends Divorce Plaint |pages=27 |work=The Los Angeles Times}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bonillas, Myrta}} Category:1890 births Category:1959 deaths Category:American silent film actresses Category:20th-century American actresses