Marguerite De La Motte

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

Early years 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 's Frank Egan School of Drama.

Entertainment career 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.

Later career 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.

Personal life 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. Her cousin, 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.

Death On March 10, 1950, De La Motte died of cerebral thrombosis in San Francisco at the age of 47, and interred at Olivet Gardens of Cypress Lawn Memorial Park.

Recognition 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.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes1918ArizonaLena Lost film1919Josselyn's WifeLizzieLost filmA Sage Brush HamletDora Lawrence Incomplete filmThe Pagan GodBeryl Addison For a Woman's HonorHelen RutherfordLost filmDangerous WatersCora Button In WrongMillie FieldsA copy is held at the Library of Congress1920The HopeLady Brenda Carylon A copy is held at the George Eastman MuseumTrumpet IslandEve de Merincourt The U.P. TrailAllie Lee The SagebrusherMary Warren The Mark of ZorroLolita Pulido The Broken GateAnne Oglesby Lost film1921The NutEstrell Wynn The Ten Dollar RaiseDorothy Lost filmThe Three MusketeersConstance Bonacieux 1922 Shadows Sympathy MaldenShattered Idols Sarasvati The JiltRose TrentonLost filmFools of FortuneMarion DePuyster A copy is held at the George Eastman Museum1923The Famous Mrs. FairSylvia Fair What a Wife LearnedSheila Dorne A copy is held at the GosfilmofondScars of JealousyHelen Meanix Copies are held at the Cinémathèque royale de Belgique, UCLA Film & Television Archive, and George Eastman MuseumJust Like a WomanPeggy Dean Copies are held at the Library of Congress and the George Eastman MuseumA Man of ActionHelen Sumner A copy is held at the EYE Film Institute NetherlandsWandering DaughtersBessie BowdenDesireRuth Cassell Lost film Richard the Lion-Hearted Lady Edith Plantagenet A copy is held at the Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée1924The Beloved BruteJacinta A copy is held at the EYE Film Institute NetherlandsBehold This WomanSophie Incomplete filmThe Clean HeartEssie Bickers Lost filmEast of BroadwayJudy McNulty When a Man's a ManHelen Wakefield An incomplete copy is held at the UCLA Film & Television ArchiveGerald Cranston's LadyAngela Lost filmThose Who DareMarjorie A copy is held at the Cineteca ItalianaIn Love with LoveAnn Jordan A copy is held at the Library of Congress1925Cheaper to MarryDoris Lost filmDaughters Who PaySonia Borisoff/Margaret Smith A copy is held at the George Eastman MuseumFlatteryBetty BiddleLost filmChildren of the WhirlwindMaggie Off the Highway Ella Tarrant Lost film The People vs. Nancy Preston Nancy PrestonA copy is held at the Library of Congress The Girl Who Wouldn't Work Mary Hale A copy is held at the Library of Congress1926 Red Dice Beverly Vane Lost film Meet the Prince Annabelle Ford Lost filmFifth 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 & Television Archive Pals in Paradise Geraldine "Jerry" Howard Lost film1927 The Final Extra Ruth Collins Held by the Law Mary TravisLost filmThe Kid SisterHelen Hall Lost filmRagtimeBeth Barton Lost filmBroadway MadnessMaida Vincent Lost film1929The Iron MaskConstanceMontmartre Rose Jeanne 1930Shadow RanchRuth Cameron A copy is held at the Library of Congress1934A Woman's ManGloria Jordan 1941Reg'lar FellersMrs. Dugan 1942The Man Who Returned to LifeMrs. Hibbard Overland MailRose, the Waitress

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