O'Neil was born in Oakland, California, as Gertrude Lamson to George Lamson and Arre Findley. When she decided to become an actress, her religious father, an auctioneer, denounced his daughter in church for going on the stage and asked the congregation to pray for her.
In 1904, O'Neil met Lizzie Borden in Boston. The two had a close friendship, which incited considerable gossip-mongering.
O'Neil was a character in the musical Lizzie Borden: A Musical Tragedy in Two Axe, where she was played by Suellen Vance. The women's friendship was explored in the 2010 play Nance O'Neil by David Foley.
O'Neil was also a character in a play by William Norfolk, The Lights are Warm and Colored. Set in 1905, it uses Lizzie's friendship with O'Neil and other theatrical players as a vehicle for a play within a play. The actors recreate scenes from the murder trial in an improv-like setting, coached or criticized by Lizzie and Emma. The playwright seems to think that Lizzie was innocent, and the real perpetrator was the maid, who makes a surprise visit at the end.
Borden Murders and Trial Borden, Lizzie Lizzie and Emma Borden - After the Murders Borden, Andrew Borden Folk Rhyme Borden, Abby Sullivan, Bridget Morse, John Churchill, Adelaide Borden, Emma Lizzie Borden Alibi Bowen, Seabury Russell, Alice Fourteen Reasons to Believe Lizzie Murdered Her Parents Lizzie Borden - Net Worth Hauntings at the Borden House Hauntings at the Borden House - 2 Murder in the Well Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast Spirits at the Lizzie Borden House
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