Marguerite Courtot
Encyclopedia
Marguerite Gabrielle Courtot (August 20, 1897 – May 28, 1986) was an American silent film
actress.
Courtot was born in Summit, New Jersey
of French ancestry. She became a child model and in June 1912, while not yet fifteen years old, joined the Kalem Company
, appearing in 1913's "The Riddle of the Tin Soldier" alongside star Alice Joyce
and Harry F. Millarde
who was making his film debut. Between then and 1916 Courtot made thirty-seven films for Kalem including the starring role in "The Ventures of Marguerite," a sixteen episode action/adventure serial
.
Following the Kalem Company's merger with Vitagraph Studios
, Courtot starred in the Gaumont Pictures
production of "The Dead Alive," directed by Henri J. Vernot. After several films with Jesse L. Lasky's
Famous Players Film Company and smaller independents, Marguerite Courtot took most of 1918 off to use her public persona to tour the country to promote America's World War I
effort in Europe. When the war ended, she returned to film, joining Pathé
. Although she had a starring roles, she also worked in prominent secondary parts such as in the 1921 serials The Sky Ranger
, starring June Caprice
and The Yellow Arm starring Juanita Hansen
.
In 1922, while working on "Down to the Sea in Ships
," the film that became her most important feature-length work, Marguerite Courtot began a relationship with co-star Raymond McKee. They married on April 23, 1923, and after she completed two more films, Courtot retired from the film business to birth and raise a family with McKee. Their marriage lasted more than sixty years. Her husband died in 1984 and she died two years later in Long Beach, California
. They are buried together in the Riverside National Cemetery
in Riverside, California
.
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
actress.
Courtot was born in Summit, New Jersey
Summit, New Jersey
Summit is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. At the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 21,457. Summit had the 16th-highest per capita income in the state as of the 2000 Census....
of French ancestry. She became a child model and in June 1912, while not yet fifteen years old, joined the Kalem Company
Kalem Company
The Kalem Company was an American film studio founded in New York City in 1907 by George Kleine, Samuel Long , and Frank J. Marion.The company immediately joined other studios in the Motion Picture Patents Company that held a monopoly on production and distribution...
, appearing in 1913's "The Riddle of the Tin Soldier" alongside star Alice Joyce
Alice Joyce
Alice Joyce was an American actress, who appeared in more than 200 movies during the 1910s and 1920s, perhaps best known for her roles in the 1923 silent and 1930 talking versions of The Green Goddess....
and Harry F. Millarde
Harry F. Millarde
Harry F. Millarde was a pioneer American silent film actor and director.Millarde was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and began his acting in film in 1913 with Kalem Studios in New York City...
who was making his film debut. Between then and 1916 Courtot made thirty-seven films for Kalem including the starring role in "The Ventures of Marguerite," a sixteen episode action/adventure serial
Serial (film)
Serials, more specifically known as Movie serials, Film serials or Chapter plays, were short subjects originally shown in theaters in conjunction with a feature film. They were related to pulp magazine serialized fiction...
.
Following the Kalem Company's merger with Vitagraph Studios
Vitagraph Studios
American Vitagraph was a United States movie studio, founded by J. Stuart Blackton and Albert E. Smith in 1897 in Brooklyn, New York. By 1907 it was the most prolific American film production company, producing many famous silent films. It was bought by Warner Bros...
, Courtot starred in the Gaumont Pictures
Gaumont Film Company
Gaumont Film Company is a French film production company founded in 1895 by the engineer-turned-inventor, Léon Gaumont . Gaumont is the oldest continously operating film company in the world....
production of "The Dead Alive," directed by Henri J. Vernot. After several films with Jesse L. Lasky's
Jesse L. Lasky
Jesse Louis Lasky, Sr. was a pioneer Hollywood film producer. He was a key founder of Paramount Pictures with Adolph Zukor, and father of screenwriter Jesse L...
Famous Players Film Company and smaller independents, Marguerite Courtot took most of 1918 off to use her public persona to tour the country to promote America's World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
effort in Europe. When the war ended, she returned to film, joining Pathé
Pathé
Pathé or Pathé Frères is the name of various French businesses founded and originally run by the Pathé Brothers of France.-History:...
. Although she had a starring roles, she also worked in prominent secondary parts such as in the 1921 serials The Sky Ranger
The Sky Ranger
The Sky Ranger is a 1921 comedy film serial directed by George B. Seitz. The film is considered to be lost.-Cast:* George B. Seitz - George Oliver Rockwell* June Caprice - June Elliott* Harry Semels - Dr...
, starring June Caprice
June Caprice
-Early life and career:Born Helen Elizabeth Lawson in Arlington, Massachusetts, she began her acting career in live theatre and in 1916 signed with the Fox Film Corporation....
and The Yellow Arm starring Juanita Hansen
Juanita Hansen
Juanita C. Hansen was an American silent film actress. Beginning as one of the Sennett Bathing Beauties, she appeared in a variety of serials through the late 1910s. She was well known for her troubled personal life and struggle with addiction to cocaine and morphine. In 1934 she became clean and...
.
In 1922, while working on "Down to the Sea in Ships
Down to the Sea in Ships
Down to the Sea in Ships is a 1922 American silent film about a 19th century Massachusetts whaling family. Directed by Elmer Clifton, the film stars William Walcott, Marguerite Courtot, and Clara Bow.-Plot:...
," the film that became her most important feature-length work, Marguerite Courtot began a relationship with co-star Raymond McKee. They married on April 23, 1923, and after she completed two more films, Courtot retired from the film business to birth and raise a family with McKee. Their marriage lasted more than sixty years. Her husband died in 1984 and she died two years later in Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
. They are buried together in the Riverside National Cemetery
Riverside National Cemetery
Riverside National Cemetery is a cemetery located in Riverside, California, dedicated to the interment of United States military personnel. The cemetery covers , making it the third-largest cemetery managed by the National Cemetery Administration...
in Riverside, California
Riverside, California
Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...
.