Lilian Fontaine

Lilian Fontaine
File:Lilian Fontaine with her daughters, Joan and Olivia, c. 1922.png Lilian Fontaine with her daughters, Joan and Olivia, c. 1922
Born	Lilian Augusta Ruse (1886-06-11)11 June 1886 Reading, Berkshire, UK
Died	Santa Barbara, California, U.S.
Alma mater	Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Occupation	Actress
Spouse(s)	Walter de Havilland (m. 1914; div. 1925) George Milan-Fontaine (m. 1925; d. 1956)
Children	Olivia de Havilland Joan Fontaine

Lilian Augusta Fontaine (née Ruse, formerly de Havilland; 11 June 1886 – 20 February 1975) was an English actress and mother of Academy Award-winning actresses Dame Olivia de Havilland and Joan Fontaine.

Early years

Fontaine was born in Reading, Berkshire. She received a scholarship from Reading College at age 13 for her musical talent and studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.

Personal life

After a stage career Fontaine married the British patent attorney Walter de Havilland (1872–1968). Her first daughter, Olivia, was born in 1916, followed by her second daughter, Joan, in 1917. Fontaine decided to end the marriage in 1919 after several years of marital strain and eventual separation; the divorce was not finalised, however, until February 1925.

In 1922, the family moved to California, hoping that the climate there would improve the health of the daughters, who suffered "recurring ailments". De Havilland soon returned to Japan, while his wife and daughters stayed in Saratoga, California, until 1933.

In April 1925, she married the department store manager George M. Fontaine. They were married until his death in 1956. She lived with her two daughters in Saratoga, California, and encouraged them to pursue acting careers.

de Havilland family tree

Career

Fontaine coached drama students when she lived in Saratoga, California, and she produced plays in a garden theatre that later was named for her.

After both of her daughters reached film stardom, Fontaine returned to acting with a notable role in Billy Wilder's drama The Lost Weekend (1945) as the mother of Jane Wyman's character. She also played supporting roles in two films with her daughter Joan, Ivy (1947) and The Bigamist (1953) and made a few television appearances during the 1950s.

From 1948 to 1958, Fontaine taught an acting class that developed into the Los Gatos Theatre workshop.

Death

Fontaine died on 20 February 1975 of cancer aged 88.

Legacy

The Lilian Fontaine Garden Theatre in Saratoga, California, was named in honour of the actress, and that city's Fontaine Drive was also named in her honour.

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1945	The Lost Weekend	Mrs. St. James
1946	The Locket	Lady Wyndham
1947	Suddenly, It's Spring	Mary's Mother
1947	Time Out of Mind	Aunt Melinda
1947	The Imperfect Lady	Mrs. Gunner
1947	Ivy	Lady Flora
1953	The Bigamist	Miss Higgins, Landlady
1954	Waterfront	Helen Martin	TV Series, 1 episode
1955	Studio 57	Anita Wilcox	TV Series, 1 episode
1955	Schlitz Playhouse of Stars		TV Series, 1 episode
1956	Passport to Danger		TV Series, 1 episode
1957	Hawkeye and the Last of the Mohicans	Marian	TV Series, 1 episode

External links

• Lilian Fontaine at the Internet Movie Database