Billy Gould (comedian)

William J. Flannery (May 1, 1869 - February 1, 1950) was a vaudeville comedian and minstrel show performer. He also sang in operettas and musical comedies. He was a member of the National Variety Artists. He went by the stage name of Billy Gould.

He was born as William J. Flannery in 1869 in New York City. His parents were migrants from Ireland. He made his stage debut at age 15 in 1884 in Billy Emerson's Minstrels in San Francisco, California. In New York City he played in comedies with Fay Templeton, Kate Castelton, and Verna Jarbeau. He appeared in The Belle of New York in 1897 as Count Patsi Rattatoo. He appeared in Pretty Mrs. Smith (musical) in 1914. He then appeared in The New Yorkers (musical).

He married Nellie Marietta Burt on March 24, 1889 in Hurley, Wisconsin and they formed an act. Their act consisted of flirtatious dialogue.

In 1904 he married Valeska Suratt and they created an act where she performed exotic dances, including the Apache dance. They divorced in 1911 and she married Fletcher Norton.

Gould then teamed up with Ashley to form Gould and Ashley.

He died on February 1, 1950 in New York City.

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