Born in Chicago, Illinois, George Periolat began his career as a Broadway actor.

The story of Norma Desmond, though fictitious, is not far removed from the plight of many silent film stars, and the advent of the sound film brought about a swift end to Periolat's career.

While starting his acting career in Chicago he also worked in his family's fur business as a sales clerk.

Periolat was found dead in his Hollywood mansion on February 20, 1940, having ingested arsenic.

Police Detective F. G. Kull said Periolat had been struggle with health issues for three years at the time of his death, and that there was "no evidence of foul play or that he had taken his own life".