Basic Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Margaret Larter (née Margaret Walker) |
| Date of birth | May 10, 1947 |
| Occupation | Realtor |
| Primary location | Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania (Allentown/Bethlehem area) |
| Known for | Mother of actress Ali Larter; long-term real estate professional |
| Spouse | Danforth Cowperthwait Larter |
| Children | Alison Elizabeth “Ali” Larter (born February 28, 1976) |
| Grandchildren | Theodore Hayes MacArthur (born December 2010); Vivienne Margaret MacArthur (born January 15, 2015) |
| Notable employer | RE/MAX Real Estate, Bethlehem/Hanover Township, PA |
| Public profile | Low profile; occasional appearances alongside daughter |
A Low-Profile Matriarch with a Steady Hand
Some thrive in the limelight. Others control the lighting behind the scenes. The latter includes Margaret Larter. Born May 10, 1947, she lived a practical, grounded, family-focused existence. The mother of actress and former model Ali Larter, she is well known. Margaret’s narrative includes a decades-long marriage, a regional real estate business, and a home life that supported her daughter’s success.
Public records and interviews paint a portrait of a woman who chose consistency over attention. Her profile is modest, her pace measured, her family ties close. In a family touched by fame, she has been the quiet metronome.
Early Adulthood and Family Focus
Margaret’s childhood is only known by her birth name, Walker, and her 1947 birth date. Her early emphasis on family is evident. She married Danforth Cowperthwait Larter before 1976 and had children. Margaret focused on home and work, even though her daughter would become famous in theater and television.
Marriage to Danforth C. Larter
Married to Margaret, Danforth is a retired trucking executive and Dart Transit Co. vice president of sales and marketing.United States draftee. Sergeant in the Army, he fought in Vietnam. Ali later discussed the aftermath and how her folks supported her. The Larters’ marriage has lasted decades in numerous states, and it has been private.
Motherhood and the Making of a Career
The Larters lived in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, where Ali was born on February 28, 1976. Margaret traveled across continents with Ali in the early 1990s for modeling chances. Milan. Tokyo. Australia. She supported and guided her daughter on projects till Ali reached 18. She advised Ali to get a GED, which grounded her fast-paced existence.
As Ali’s career expanded from modeling into acting, Margaret’s presence remained a constant. Interviews describe her as practical and family oriented, the parent who kept routines, calendars, and expectations anchored. If fame was a rising tide, Margaret built the seawalls.
A Home Base in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley
Margaret and Danforth moved from New Jersey to Allentown and Upper Macungie Township in the Lehigh Valley in 1998–1999. Ali’s home became a refuge fast. Ali wrote in 2008–2009 of the satisfaction of returning to her parents’ house for rest, family dinners, and quiet normalcy. For an actor with city and continent shoots, the Lehigh Valley was a base.
Professional Life in Real Estate
While her daughter worked in public, Margaret maintained a steady real estate profession. She was well-known in Bethlehem and Hanover Township residential sales in the late 2000s and early 2010s with RE/MAX. Local news in 2008–2009 showed her continually traveling for customers while spending time with family. No famous records or accolades define this period. She has a stable, local, and unglamorous career. This labor makes communities function: keys exchanged, contracts signed, lives rearranged and restarted in new houses.
Grandmotherhood and a Namesake
In December 2010, her first grandchild, Theodore Hayes MacArthur, was born. Her granddaughter, Vivienne Margaret MacArthur, arrived on January 15, 2015. As a gentle memorial to Margaret, the middle name speaks volumes about the family’s core relationships. These accomplishments represent a secret joy beyond cameras and red carpets.
Family Snapshot
| Name | Relationship to Margaret | Key details |
|---|---|---|
| Danforth Cowperthwait Larter | Spouse | Retired trucking executive; U.S. Army veteran; later years associated with Palm Desert, California |
| Alison Elizabeth “Ali” Larter | Daughter | Born 1976; actress and former model; credits parents with providing stability and support |
| Hayes MacArthur | Son-in-law | Actor and comedian; married to Ali Larter since August 1, 2009 |
| Theodore Hayes MacArthur | Grandson | Born December 2010; eldest grandchild |
| Vivienne Margaret MacArthur | Granddaughter | Born January 15, 2015; middle name honors Margaret |
Recent Years and a Deliberate Private Life
Margaret was mostly hidden in the 2010s and 2020s. Family occasions and Ali photos at social events affected public mentions. No interviews or personal essays have appeared on social media. She looks to be focused on home, family, and Lehigh Valley clients as usual. Margaret played it quieter than celebrities.
Timeline of Key Dates
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Born on May 10 as Margaret Walker |
| Pre-1976 | Marries Danforth Cowperthwait Larter |
| 1976 | Daughter Alison Elizabeth “Ali” Larter born in Cherry Hill, New Jersey |
| 1993-1994 | Travels with teenage Ali for modeling assignments in Milan, Tokyo, and Australia |
| 1998-1999 | Relocates with Danforth to the Allentown/Upper Macungie Township area in Pennsylvania |
| 2000s | Works as a realtor with RE/MAX in the Bethlehem/Hanover Township region |
| 2008-2009 | Local articles highlight Margaret’s busy real estate schedule and supportive role |
| 2010 | Becomes a grandmother with the birth of Theodore Hayes MacArthur |
| 2015 | Second grandchild born: Vivienne Margaret MacArthur, named in her honor |
| 2010s-2020s | Maintains a low public profile; continues family-centered life in Pennsylvania |
Work and Home: A Balanced Ledger
Balance characterizes Margaret’s public image. Margaret focused on real estate and family while her husband led corporations and her daughter rose to global fame. She mixed contracts with carpools, client calls with family visits, weekend showings with Sunday dinners. Her supporting and practical qualities are subtle yet resonant.
A longtime partnership with Danforth, a move to the Lehigh Valley that became the family’s heart, and a grandmother’s involvement that expanded the circle in 2010 and 2015 are the backdrop. Not a headline story. The story creates headlines.
FAQ
When was Margaret Larter born?
She was born on May 10, 1947.
What is Margaret Larter known for?
She is known as the mother of actress Ali Larter and for her career as a realtor in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley.
Where has Margaret Larter lived most of her life?
She has spent most of her adult life in the Allentown/Bethlehem area of Pennsylvania, after earlier years in New Jersey.
What does she do professionally?
She works in residential real estate and has been associated with RE/MAX in Bethlehem and Hanover Township.
Who is Margaret Larter’s spouse?
She is married to Danforth Cowperthwait Larter, a retired trucking industry executive and U.S. Army veteran.
How many children does she have?
She has one child, Alison Elizabeth “Ali” Larter, born in 1976.
How many grandchildren does she have?
She has two grandchildren: Theodore Hayes MacArthur and Vivienne Margaret MacArthur.
Is there much public information about her early life or education?
No, details about her own parents, siblings, or education are not publicly documented.
Does she have a social media presence?
Her public social media presence is minimal and low activity, with little personal content.
