Who Is Margaret Larter? Ali Larter’s Family and Biography

Margaret Larter is probably best known as the mother of American actress Ali Larter, star of Varsity Blues, Heroes, and Landman. She is a private person, not a celebrity. Most of what we know about her comes from interviews with her daughter and published biographies. However, the available sources paint a picture of a mother who raised her family in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and supported Ali during her teenage modeling career.

This biography explores what can be confirmed about Margaret Larter through publicly available sources. It also highlights what remains unknown, helping readers distinguish verified information from unsupported claims.

Who Is Margaret Larter?

Margaret Larter is the mother of actress Alison Elizabeth “Ali” Larter, who was born on February 28, 1976, in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Ali turned 50 in 2026.

Her name appears in two forms online. Most celebrity biographies and IMDb list her as Margaret Larter, while Wikipedia identifies her as Margaret Walker. Walker could be her maiden name, but reliable sources have not confirmed this possibility.

She is married to trucking executive Danforth “Dan” Larter. Her date of birth, age, and birthplace have not been established by reliable public sources.

Don’t Confuse Her With Margaret “Mimi” Larter

Search results for Margaret Larter sometimes refer to another woman: Margaret “Mimi” Olney Larter of Dunstable, Massachusetts. She was a longtime resident who owned a dairy farm, co-founded a textile company in Lowell, and donated 300 acres of open space to her town.

She died in January 2004 at the age of 99. There are no known connections between her and Ali Larter’s family.

Family Background and Relationships of Margaret Larter

Margaret’s family life centers on her husband, two daughters, and grandchildren. Although she maintains a private profile, information shared by Ali and published biographies provides some insight into the family.

Husband: Danforth “Dan” Larter

Danforth Larter worked as a trucking executive. He also served in the U.S. Army and was deployed to Vietnam during the war.

In November 2025, Ali discussed her father’s military service while talking about her work with a veterans’ nonprofit in Idaho on Live with Kelly and Mark.

Children: Ali Larter and Her Older Sister

Margaret has two daughters. TV Insider identifies Ali as the younger daughter and the baby of the family. Ali has also spoken about having an older sister.

However, reprints of a 2025 interview give the sister different names. Because her name cannot be confidently established from the available information, it is omitted here.

Some websites claim Ali has no siblings, but her own accounts of her childhood indicate otherwise.

Grandchildren and Son-in-Law

Ali married actor and comedian Hayes MacArthur on August 1, 2009. Their wedding took place at his parents’ estate in Kennebunkport, Maine.

Through their marriage, Margaret became Hayes MacArthur’s mother-in-law and later a grandmother to two children:

• Theodore “Teddy” Hayes MacArthur: Born in 2010.
• Vivienne Margaret MacArthur: Born in 2015.

Vivienne’s middle name is the same as Margaret’s first name. However, the family has not publicly confirmed whether it was chosen to honor her grandmother.

Where the Larter Family Lived

Margaret and Danforth raised their daughters in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. The family later moved to the Allentown, Pennsylvania, area.

In a 2009 interview with The Morning Call, Ali described the Allentown area as a refuge. Her comments offer a glimpse into the family’s connection to the region.

The Career and Identity of Margaret Larter

Biographies commonly describe Margaret Larter as a real estate agent. That occupation appears in Wikipedia and several older celebrity biographies. TV Insider, however, describes her as a homemaker.

Both descriptions could reflect different periods of her life, but the available information does not establish a complete employment history. No specific real estate company can be reliably identified.

Her most clearly documented role was supporting her daughter’s early modeling career. Margaret helped manage the practical demands of teenage modeling, including travel and supervision. Although such responsibilities rarely receive public attention, they were an important part of Ali’s early professional experience.

Important Public Mentions and Notable Moments

Margaret appears in several important stories about her daughter’s early life and career. These accounts provide some of the clearest publicly available information about her.

The Bookbinder’s Discovery

Ali’s modeling career began after a family outing when she was around 13 years old. She was eating snapper soup at Bookbinder’s, a restaurant in Philadelphia’s Old City, when a talent agent approached her about appearing in a television commercial for the Philadelphia Phillies.

In November 2025, Ali recounted the experience in a column for The Wall Street Journal. Reprints of the article state that her mother was sitting at the table with her.

Earlier biographies describe the discovery differently. Wikipedia says Ali was spotted on the street by a scout at age 14. The details about her age and the location vary across accounts, but the Phillies commercial is part of the commonly reported story.

A Permanent Chaperone Until Age 18

The Phillies commercial helped lead to a contract with Ford Models in New York. Ali subsequently worked in countries including Australia, Italy, and Japan. She even skipped her senior year of high school to continue modeling.

According to a 2003 interview with Canoe, Margaret traveled with her daughter during those years until Ali turned 18.

This detail illustrates Margaret’s involvement in her daughter’s early career. International modeling required a teenager to navigate unfamiliar cities and professional environments, and Margaret’s presence provided parental support and supervision.

Margaret Larter’s Family at a Glance

Family Member	Relationship	Known Information
Margaret Larter / Margaret Walker	Mother	Her name appears in both forms in public biographies; the relationship between the names is unconfirmed.
Danforth “Dan” Larter	Husband	Trucking executive and U.S. Army veteran who served in Vietnam.
Ali Larter	Daughter	Actress and former model, born February 28, 1976.
Ali’s older sister	Daughter	Her name has not been reliably established in the available accounts.
Hayes MacArthur	Son-in-law	Actor and comedian who married Ali in 2009.
Theodore “Teddy” MacArthur	Grandson	Born in 2010.
Vivienne Margaret MacArthur	Granddaughter	Born in 2015.

The Personal Side of Margaret Larter’s Story

Ali rarely discusses her parents in great detail, but when she talks about her childhood, her memories are generally warm. She has described growing up in Cherry Hill as an easy and enjoyable experience.

Ali has also spoken about being a sporty suburban kid and living with her family in a two-story white-and-brown house about 10 minutes from Philadelphia. She has described herself as a tomboy until around age 13.

In 2020, Ali and Hayes moved to Sun Valley, Idaho, with their children, leaving Los Angeles behind. Ali explained that they wanted to focus on their children and take life at a slower pace.

Although this decision might remind readers of the grounded childhood Ali has described, she has not explicitly connected the move to her mother’s parenting style.

Margaret herself has stayed out of the public spotlight. She has not established a widely recognized public profile through interviews or books, and this article respects her privacy by focusing on information available through public sources.

Recent Public Exposure

Margaret Larter remains a private individual. No verified social media accounts, recent interviews, or independent public appearances have been established from the information available for this article.

She is most often mentioned when Ali discusses her family background. In November 2025, Ali spoke about growing up in New Jersey during coverage connected to The Wall Street Journal and Jimmy Kimmel Live while promoting the second season of Landman.

As of October 2026, no further public statements about Margaret have been established in the material reviewed for this article.

Frequently Asked Questions About Margaret Larter

Who Is Margaret Larter?

Margaret Larter is the mother of actress Ali Larter. She raised her family in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and later lived in the Allentown, Pennsylvania, area with her husband, Danforth Larter.

What Is Margaret Larter’s Job?

Some biographies describe Margaret as a real estate agent, while TV Insider identifies her as a homemaker. Her full employment history and any specific employer have not been independently established.

Who Is Margaret Larter’s Husband?

Her husband is Danforth “Dan” Larter, a trucking industry executive and U.S. Army veteran who served in Vietnam.

How Many Children Does Margaret Larter Have?

Margaret has two daughters: actress Ali Larter and an older daughter who maintains a private life.

Are Margaret Walker and Margaret Larter the Same Person?

Some sources identify Ali’s mother as Margaret Walker, while others call her Margaret Larter. Walker could be a maiden name, but this has not been confirmed by reliable public sources.

How Old Is Margaret Larter?

Margaret Larter’s exact age and date of birth have not been verified through reliable public sources. Online claims giving her a specific age should therefore be treated cautiously.

Did Margaret Larter Help Start Ali Larter’s Career?

Yes, according to accounts shared by Ali. Her mother was present when a talent agent approached Ali about a Philadelphia Phillies commercial when she was around 13. Margaret also accompanied her daughter on modeling assignments until Ali turned 18.

Is Margaret Larter Active on Social Media?

No verified social media accounts linked to Margaret Larter have been established in the information reviewed for this article.

Final Thoughts

Margaret Larter may not be a public figure, but her role in Ali Larter’s early life is an important part of the actress’s personal history. From being present during the encounter that led to Ali’s first commercial to accompanying her daughter during her teenage modeling years, Margaret provided support during a formative period.

Many details about Margaret’s personal life, career, and background remain private or unverified. By distinguishing documented accounts from speculation, readers can gain a clearer understanding of her family connections without relying on unsupported online claims.