Born in San Francisco, Rhodes starting her acting career with the Morrison Stock Company, a local theatre troupe.

After her contract ended, she began singing in nightclubs, and was approached by Al Christie, then working for the Nestor Film Company.

She starred in A Seminary Scandal, Christie's first independent production, then went on to act opposite Jay Belasco in a series of clean comedies.

In 1918, moved from shorts to feature-length films after being convinced by William "Smiling Bill" Parsons, who became her husband in early 1919.

[1] After Parsons died suddenly in September 1919, Rhodes continued to make movies, but at a slower rate, and her films after 1919 were considered to be commercial failures.