Marguerite De La Motte
Known For
Acting
Born
1902-06-22 in Duluth, Minnesota, USA
Died
1950-03-10
Biography
Marguerite De La Motte (June 22, 1902 – March 10, 1950) was an American film actress, most notably of the silent film era. Born in Duluth, Minnesota, De La Motte was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph De La Motte. She was a 1917 graduate of the Egan School of drama, music, and dancing. De La Motte began her entertainment career studying ballet under Anna Pavlova. In 1919, she became the dance star of Sid Grauman on the stage of his theater. In 1918, at the age of 16, she made her screen debut in the Douglas Fairbanks-directed romantic comedy film Arizona. In 1920, both of her parents died, her mother in January in an automobile accident and her father in August from heart disease. Film producer J.L. Frothingham assumed guardianship of her and her younger brother. De La Motte spent the 1920s appearing in numerous films, often cast by Douglas Fairbanks to play opposite him in swashbuckling adventure films such as 1920's The Mark of Zorro and The Three Musketeers. She developed a close friendship with Fairbanks and his wife, actress Mary Pickford. Her career as an actress slowed dramatically at the end of the silent film era of the 1920s. She did continue acting in bit parts through the sound era and made her final appearance in the 1942 film Overland Mail opposite both Noah Beery Sr. and Noah Beery Jr., as well as Lon Chaney Jr. After her film career ended, De La Motte worked as an inspector in a southern California war plant during World War II. Later she came to San Francisco, California, where she worked in the Red Cross office. On February 8, 1960, De La Motte was awarded a star in the Motion Pictures section of the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6902 Hollywood Blvd., in Hollywood, California.
Most Known For
Shadows
as Sympathy Gibbs
In Wrong
as Millie Fields
The Nut
as Estrell Wynn
Shattered Idols
as Sarasvati
Trumpet Island
as Eve de Merincourt
The Mark of Zorro
as Lolita Pulido
Red Dice
as Beverly Vane
Overland Mail
as Rose - the Waitress [Chs. 1, 8]
Wandering Daughters
as Bessie Bowden
The Three Musketeers
as Constance
Desire
as Ruth Cassell
The Iron Mask
as Constance Bonacieux
Reg'lar Fellers
as Mrs. Dugan
The Man Who Returned to Life
as Mrs. Hibbard
Shadow Ranch
as Ruth Cameron
A Woman's Man
as Gloria Jordan - Star
Fifth Avenue
as Barbara Pelham
The U.P. Trail
as Allie Lee
Gerald Cranston's Lady
as Angela
The People vs. Nancy Preston
as Nancy Preston