profile image

Fontaine La Rue

Jul 18, 1890 - Sep 13, 1964 (74 years old) in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico

Matilda Fernández, stage name Fontaine La Rue (July 18, 1890 in Hermosillo, Mexico – September 13, 1964) was an American silent film actress appearing in films from 1918 to 1929. Her career ended with the advent of talkies.

She was one of seven children born to Diego and Carlotta Monreal Fernandez. After immigrating to the United States in 1907, Matilda married Victor Garcia Rojas. The couple had three children, Victor Paul, Matilda Garcia, and Victoria Grace.

After the couple divorced, Matilda entered show business. She got her start on stage as a toe dancer and in musical comedy. She toured with the Trimble Musical Comedy Company in 1914 before breaking into films the following year in comedy shorts for Keystone.

She first used the name Dora Rodgers, but reinvented herself with the name Fontaine La Rue, tiring of playing vamps. On occasions she would switch between the names. Notably she appeared in the lost film, A Blind Bargain with Lon Chaney.

After a lengthy love affair with actor Nelson McDowell, Fontaine married real estate broker Wayne Hancock and retired from the screen.

The Keystone Vamp died of Acute Myelogenous Leukemia on September 13, 1964, at UCLA Medical Center.

Known For

poster
Trigger Fingers
Wetona
poster
The Secret Code
poster
Beyond
Mrs. Langley
poster
Who Killed Walton?
Elsa Armytage
poster
An Adventuress
poster
Love on the Rio Grande
poster
The Faith Healer
Mary Beeler
poster
Peanuts and Bullets
The Maid They All Love
poster
The Torrent
Dancing Girl
poster
Unseen Hands
Madame Le Quintrec

Credits

Images

image
image
image