# Lilian Fontaine

Lilian Augusta Fontaine (née Ruse, formerly de Havilland; 11 June 1886 – 20 February 1975) was an English actress and mother of 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) in 1914. Their first daughter, Olivia, was born in 1916, followed by their second daughter, Joan, the following year. Both children were born in Tokyo where their father was a law professor and a patent attorney. After several years of marital strain, in part due to her husband's obsession with the ancient Chinese game Go, Lilian Fontaine decided to end the marriage. However, the divorce was not finalised until February 1925.
In 1922, the family moved to Saratoga, California, hoping that the climate there would improve the health of her daughters, who suffered from "recurring ailments". They lived there until 1933.
In April 1925, she married the department store manager George M. Fontaine. They remained married until his death in 1956. She lived with her two daughters in California, and encouraged them to pursue acting careers.
de Havilland family tree :
| | | | | Alice Jeannette (née Saunders) 1854–1911 | Alice Jeannette (née Saunders) 1854–1911 | Alice Jeannette (née Saunders) 1854–1911 | Alice Jeannette (née Saunders) 1854–1911 | Alice Jeannette (née Saunders) 1854–1911 | Alice Jeannette (née Saunders) 1854–1911 | | | Rev. Charles de Havilland 1854-1920 | Rev. Charles de Havilland 1854-1920 | Rev. Charles de Havilland 1854-1920 | Rev. Charles de Havilland 1854-1920 | Rev. Charles de Havilland 1854-1920 | Rev. Charles de Havilland 1854-1920 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Walter de Havilland 1872-1968 | Walter de Havilland 1872-1968 | Walter de Havilland 1872-1968 | Walter de Havilland 1872-1968 | Walter de Havilland 1872-1968 | Walter de Havilland 1872-1968 | | | Lilian Fontaine (Ruse) 1886-1975 | Lilian Fontaine (Ruse) 1886-1975 | Lilian Fontaine (Ruse) 1886-1975 | Lilian Fontaine (Ruse) 1886-1975 | Lilian Fontaine (Ruse) 1886-1975 | Lilian Fontaine (Ruse) 1886-1975 |
| Ivon Molesworth Charles Jordan de Havilland 1879-1905 | Ivon Molesworth Charles Jordan de Havilland 1879-1905 | Ivon Molesworth Charles Jordan de Havilland 1879-1905 | Ivon Molesworth Charles Jordan de Havilland 1879-1905 | Ivon Molesworth Charles Jordan de Havilland 1879-1905 | Ivon Molesworth Charles Jordan de Havilland 1879-1905 | | | Louise Thomas -1949 | Louise Thomas -1949 | Louise Thomas -1949 | Louise Thomas -1949 | Louise Thomas -1949 | Louise Thomas -1949 | | | Captain Sir Geoffrey de Havilland 1882-1965 | Captain Sir Geoffrey de Havilland 1882-1965 | Captain Sir Geoffrey de Havilland 1882-1965 | Captain Sir Geoffrey de Havilland 1882-1965 | Captain Sir Geoffrey de Havilland 1882-1965 | Captain Sir Geoffrey de Havilland 1882-1965 | | | Joan Mary Frith 1900-1974 | Joan Mary Frith 1900-1974 | Joan Mary Frith 1900-1974 | Joan Mary Frith 1900-1974 | Joan Mary Frith 1900-1974 | Joan Mary Frith 1900-1974 | Hereward de Havilland 1894-1976 | Hereward de Havilland 1894-1976 | Hereward de Havilland 1894-1976 | Hereward de Havilland 1894-1976 | Hereward de Havilland 1894-1976 | Hereward de Havilland 1894-1976 | Marcus Goodrich 1897-1991 | Marcus Goodrich 1897-1991 | Marcus Goodrich 1897-1991 | Marcus Goodrich 1897-1991 | Marcus Goodrich 1897-1991 | Marcus Goodrich 1897-1991 | | | Olivia Mary de Havilland 1916-2020 | Olivia Mary de Havilland 1916-2020 | Olivia Mary de Havilland 1916-2020 | Olivia Mary de Havilland 1916-2020 | Olivia Mary de Havilland 1916-2020 | Olivia Mary de Havilland 1916-2020 | | | Pierre Galante 1909-1998 | Pierre Galante 1909-1998 | Pierre Galante 1909-1998 | Pierre Galante 1909-1998 | Pierre Galante 1909-1998 | Pierre Galante 1909-1998 | Joan de Beauvoir de Havilland 1917-2013 | Joan de Beauvoir de Havilland 1917-2013 | Joan de Beauvoir de Havilland 1917-2013 | Joan de Beauvoir de Havilland 1917-2013 | Joan de Beauvoir de Havilland 1917-2013 | Joan de Beauvoir de Havilland 1917-2013 | | | William McElroy Dozier 1908-1991 | William McElroy Dozier 1908-1991 | William McElroy Dozier 1908-1991 | William McElroy Dozier 1908-1991 | William McElroy Dozier 1908-1991 | William McElroy Dozier 1908-1991 |
| | | | | Peter Jason de Havilland 1913-1977 | Peter Jason de Havilland 1913-1977 | Peter Jason de Havilland 1913-1977 | Peter Jason de Havilland 1913-1977 | Peter Jason de Havilland 1913-1977 | Peter Jason de Havilland 1913-1977 | | | Geoffrey de Havilland Jr. 1910-1946 | Geoffrey de Havilland Jr. 1910-1946 | Geoffrey de Havilland Jr. 1910-1946 | Geoffrey de Havilland Jr. 1910-1946 | Geoffrey de Havilland Jr. 1910-1946 | Geoffrey de Havilland Jr. 1910-1946 | | | John de Havilland 1918-1943 | John de Havilland 1918-1943 | John de Havilland 1918-1943 | John de Havilland 1918-1943 | John de Havilland 1918-1943 | John de Havilland 1918-1943 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Benjamin Goodrich 1949-1991 | Benjamin Goodrich 1949-1991 | Benjamin Goodrich 1949-1991 | Benjamin Goodrich 1949-1991 | Benjamin Goodrich 1949-1991 | Benjamin Goodrich 1949-1991 | | | Gisèle Galante 1956- | Gisèle Galante 1956- | Gisèle Galante 1956- | Gisèle Galante 1956- | Gisèle Galante 1956- | Gisèle Galante 1956- | | | | | | | | | Deborah Leslie 1949- | Deborah Leslie 1949- | Deborah Leslie 1949- | Deborah Leslie 1949- | Deborah Leslie 1949- | Deborah Leslie 1949- |

## 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 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, as was that city's Fontaine Drive.

## 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 |