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Marguerite De La Motte

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Marguerite De La Motte
De La Motte, c. 1924
Born(1902-06-22)June 22, 1902
Duluth, Minnesota, U.S.
DiedMarch 10, 1950(1950-03-10) (aged 47)
San Francisco, California, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1918–1942
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1924; died 1936)​
Parent(s)Mr. and Mrs. Joseph De La Motte
Marguerite De La Motte in The Three Musketeers (1921)

Marguerite De La Motte (June 22, 1902 – March 10, 1950) was an American film actress, most notably of the silent film era.

Early years

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Marguerite De La Motte from the movie The Nut in 1921

Born in Duluth, Minnesota,[1] De La Motte was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph De La Motte.[2] She was a 1917 graduate of the Egan School of drama, music, and dancing.[3]

De La Motte began her entertainment career studying ballet under Anna Pavlova.[4] 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[5] and her father in August from heart disease. Film producer J.L. Frothingham assumed guardianship of her[6] and her younger brother.

Career

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De La Motte in 1921.
Still from the American western film The Sagebrusher (1920) with Noah Beery and Marguerite De La Motte

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.

Personal life

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De La Motte was married twice. She first wed silent film actor John Bowers in 1924, who was then a matinee idol of the silver screen. That marriage ended with Bowers's suicide in 1936. De La Motte later married attorney Sidney H. Rivkin whom she divorced after four years of marriage.[7] Her cousin,[citation needed] Clete Roberts, was an American war correspondent and journalist, who appeared in two episodes of the television series M*A*S*H* in the 1970s.[8]

Later years

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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.[7]

Death

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On March 10, 1950, De La Motte died of cerebral thrombosis in San Francisco at the age of 47.[9]

Recognition

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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.[10]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1918 Arizona Lena Lost film
1919 Josselyn's Wife Lizzie Lost film
A Sagebrush Hamlet Dora Lawrence
The Pagan God Beryl Addison
For a Woman's Honor Helen Rutherford Lost film
Dangerous Waters Cora Button
In Wrong Millie Fields A copy is held at the Library of Congress
1920 The Hope Lady Brenda Carylon A copy is held at the George Eastman Museum
Trumpet Island Eve de Merincourt
The U.P. Trail Allie Lee
The Sagebrusher Mary Warren
The Mark of Zorro Lolita Pulido
The Broken Gate Anne Oglesby Lost film
1921 The Nut Estrell Wynn
The Ten Dollar Raise Dorothy
The Three Musketeers Constance Bonacieux
1922 Shadows Sympathy Malden
Shattered Idols Sarasvati
The Jilt Rose Trenton Lost film
Fools of Fortune Marion DePuyster A copy is held at the George Eastman Museum
1923 The Famous Mrs. Fair Sylvia Fair
What a Wife Learned Sheila Dorne
Scars of Jealousy Helen Meanix Copies are held at the Cinémathèque royale de Belgique, UCLA Film and Television Archive, and George Eastman Museum
Just Like a Woman Peggy Dean Copies are held at the Library of Congress and the George Eastman Museum
A Man of Action Helen Sumner A copy is held at the EYE Film Institute Netherlands
Wandering Daughters Bessie Bowden
Desire Ruth Cassell Lost film
Richard the Lion-Hearted Lady Edith Plantagenet A copy is held at the Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée
1924 The Beloved Brute Jacinta A copy is held at the EYE Film Institute Netherlands
Behold This Woman Sophie Incomplete film
The Clean Heart Essie Bickers Lost film
East of Broadway Judy McNulty
When a Man's a Man Helen Wakefield An incomplete copy is held at the UCLA Film and Television Archive
Gerald Cranston's Lady Angela Lost film
Those Who Dare Marjorie A copy is held at the Cineteca Italiana
In Love with Love Ann Jordan A copy is held at the Library of Congress
1925 Cheaper to Marry Doris Lost film
Daughters Who Pay Sonia Borisoff/Margaret Smith A copy is held at the George Eastman Museum
Flattery Betty Biddle Lost film
Children of the Whirlwind Maggie
Off the Highway Ella Tarrant Lost film
The People vs. Nancy Preston Nancy Preston A copy is held at the Library of Congress
The Girl Who Wouldn't Work Mary Hale A copy is held at the Library of Congress
1926 Red Dice Beverly Vane Lost film
Meet the Prince Annabelle Ford Lost film
Fifth Avenue Barbara Pelham Lost film
Hearts and Fists Alexia Newton
The Last Frontier Beth A copy is held at the Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée
The Unknown Soldier Mary Phillips Copies are held at the Library of Congress and the UCLA Film and Television Archive
Pals in Paradise Geraldine "Jerry" Howard Lost film
1927 The Final Extra Ruth Collins
Held by the Law Mary Travis Lost film
The Kid Sister Helen Hall Lost film
Ragtime Beth Barton Lost film
Broadway Madness Maida Vincent Lost film
1929 The Iron Mask Constance
Montmartre Rose Jeanne
1930 Shadow Ranch Ruth Cameron A copy is held at the Library of Congress
1934 A Woman's Man Gloria Jordan
1941 Reg'lar Fellers Mrs. Dugan
1942 The Man Who Returned to Life Mrs. Hibbard
Overland Mail Rose, the Waitress

References

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Notes
  1. ^ Katchmer, George A. (2009). A Biographical Dictionary of Silent Film Western Actors and Actresses. McFarland. p. 92. ISBN 9781476609058. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  2. ^ "(photo caption)". The New York Times. New York, New York City. January 28, 1917. p. 42. Retrieved September 27, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ "(Egan School advertisement)". The Los Angeles Times. California, Los Angeles. September 9, 1919. p. 56. Retrieved September 27, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  4. ^ "Miss de la Motte, Once Dancer, Now Shines as Dramatic Screen Star". Star Tribune. Minnesota, Minneapolis. April 25, 1920. p. 54. Retrieved September 27, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  5. ^ "Here and There With the Stars". Vancouver Daily World. Canada, Vancouver, British Columbia. January 17, 1920. p. 19. Retrieved September 27, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  6. ^ "Movie Star Can's Spend Her Pay Check Unless Guardian Says So". Oakland Tribune. California, Oakland. September 6, 1920. p. 18. Retrieved September 27, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  7. ^ a b Brettell, Andrew; King, Noel; Kennedy, Damien; Imwold, Denise (2005). Cut!: Hollywood Murders, Accidents, and Other Tragedies. Leonard, Warren Hsu; von Rohr, Heather. Barrons Educational Series. p. 71. ISBN 0-7641-5858-9.
  8. ^ "Clete Roberts". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2022-05-01.
  9. ^ "Miss De La Motte, 47, Star of Silent Films". The New York Times. 1950-03-11. p. 15.
  10. ^ "Marguerite De La Motte". Hollywood Walk of Fame. Archived from the original on 28 September 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
Bibliography
  • "Marguerite De La Motte III". New York Times. February 28, 1950. p. 21.
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