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.
[4] Early in his career, Gould performed with the Charles Red organization and the Emerson Minstrels in San Francisco.
[5] 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.