James Nutcombe Gould was born in Stoke-in-Teignhead, Devon on 24 February 1849, the son of John Nutcombe Gould (1805-1878), a wealthy rector, and Katherine Emma née Grant (1821-1903), a daughter of Major-General James Grant (1780-1852).

He worked as a bank clerk until he inherited sufficient wealth to marry well and to change career onto the stage, mostly in London.

[1] Notably, Gould originated the role of Lord Darlington in Lady Windermere's Fan by Oscar Wilde when it premiered in 1892.

Nutcombe Gould married Edith Mitchell (1859-1900) in 1878 at St George's, Hanover Square, with 5 children: He died at the early age of 50, in Paddington on 10 October 1899.

[7] His brother Edward Blencowe Gould is held to be responsible for the first import of Siamese cats into the UK.