Flamnery was born on May 1, 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 in 1914. He then appeared in
The New Yorkers. Their act consisted of flirtatious dialogue. Gould was active in
vaudeville, having a single act until he discovered actress
Valeska Surratt, whom he married in 1904. They joined forces to form "William Gould and Valeska Surratt", a partnership act that performed across the United States and in England and South Africa. They created an act where she performed exotic dances, including the
Apache dance. They divorced in 1911 and she married Fletcher Norton. ==Broadway==