Born: December 9, 1909 – Died: May 7, 2000
From the heart of New York City emerged a star named Douglas Elton Fairbanks Jr., born on December 9, 1909. Son to a rising cinematic icon, Douglas Fairbanks Sr., and Anna Beth Sully, the daughter of a cotton tycoon, he was bred amidst the early sparkle of American show business and affluence. Fairbanks Jr. didn't just inherit his father's name; he stepped into a legacy, crafting a path that saw him become a significant figure in Hollywood's Golden Age.
Early Life and Career
The young Fairbanks grew up surrounded by the trappings of wealth and fame. He attended the Military Academy in 1919 where he showcased his athletic prowess. His education was international, studying at the Lycée Janson de Sailly in Paris, reflecting his family's cosmopolitan lifestyle. It was almost a foregone conclusion that Fairbanks would stumble into the limelight, making his acting debut at the tender age of 13 with Paramount Pictures. His first film may have not made waves, but his breakout role in the 1923 production of "Stephen Steps Out" began his ascent in the industry.
The true turning point came with the 1931 film "Little Caesar," where his portrayal of Joe Massara established him as a notable actor. It wasn't just any role that sealed his fate as a star; his turn as Rupert of Hentzau in the 1937 classic "The Prisoner of Zenda" solidified his place in Hollywood. Over his career, he collected accolades, including four wins that recognized his expansive work in cinema.
Beyond the camera, Fairbanks lived a life as vibrant as his screen presence. He was married, fathered children, and his off-screen ventures were as diverse as his roles. From business endeavors to serving in the Navy during World War II, his life was a tapestry of varied experiences. He had his share of controversies too, but his charm never faded in the public eye.
Douglas Fairbanks Jr. wasn't just an actor; he was an embodiment of Hollywood royalty. With over a hundred films to his name, he didn't just live up to his father's legacy, he forged his own. In the annals of Hollywood history, Fairbanks Jr. is remembered not just for his cinematic contributions but as a man who lived a life as captivating as the stories he told on screen. His work and persona etched him into the firmament of entertainment icons, a status earned through a career that transcended the silver screen, making him stand out in the constellation of stars from cinema's classic age.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | B.L. Stryker (TV Series) | White |
| 1986 | Strong Medicine (TV Movie) | Eli Camperdown |
| 1982 | The Pirates of Penzance (TV Movie) | Douglas Fairbanks, jr. |
| 1981 | Ghost Story | Edward Wanderley |
| 1979–1981 | The Love Boat (TV Series) | Elliott Banning | Elliott Norman |
| 1980 | The Hostage Tower (TV Movie) | Malcolm Philpott |
| 1978 | Kingdom of Gifts | The Proud King (voice) |
| 1972 | The Crooked Hearts (TV Movie) | Rex Willoughby |
| 1968 | Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (TV Series) | Guest Performer |
| 1968 | The Legend of Robin Hood (TV Movie) | King Richard |
| 1967 | Red and Blue (Short) | Millionaire |
| 1966 | ABC Stage 67 (TV Series) | Mr. Otis (as Douglas Fairbanks) |
| 1966 | The Bruce Forsyth Show (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1964 | Dr. Kildare (TV Series) | Dr. Robert Devlin |
| 1964 | The Red Skelton Hour (TV Series) | Colonel Nigel Fitztitely |
| 1962–1963 | The United States Steel Hour (TV Series) | Host |
| 1962 | The DuPont Show of the Week (TV Series) | Hans Harben |
| 1962 | Route 66 (TV Series) | Charles Clayton |
| 1953–1956 | Rheingold Theatre (TV Series) | Kurt 'Scarface' Remo | Hank | The Genie ... |
| 1956 | Faccia da mascalzone | Unknown |
| 1954 | The Last Moment | George Griffin |
| 1954 | Destination Milan | Unknown |
| 1954 | The Red Dress | Narrator |
| 1953 | The Triangle | Francois Villon (segment "A Lodging for the Night") |
| 1953 | Three's Company | Narrator | Anthony (segment "The Scream' story) |
| 1953 | Thought to Kill | Narrator |
| 1953 | The Genie | The Genie (segment "The Genie") |
| 1951 | Sure As Fate (TV Series) | Guest |
| 1951 | Mr Drake's Duck | Donald 'Don' Drake |
| 1950 | Pulitzer Prize Playhouse (TV Series) | John Deacon January |
| 1950 | The Great Manhunt | Dr. John Marlowe |
| 1949 | The Fighting O'Flynn | The O'Flynn |
| 1948 | That Lady in Ermine | Colonel Ladislas Karolyi Teglas | The Duke |
| 1947 | The Exile | Charles Stuart (Charles II) |
| 1947 | Sinbad, the Sailor | Sinbad |
| 1941 | The Corsican Brothers | Mario Franchi | Lucien Franchi |
| 1940 | Angels Over Broadway | Bill O'Brien |
| 1940 | Safari | Jim Logan |
| 1940 | Green Hell | Keith Brandon |
| 1939 | Rulers of the Sea | David Gillespie |
| 1939 | The Sun Never Sets | John Randolph |
| 1939 | Gunga Din | Sergeant Thomas Ballantine |
| 1938 | The Young in Heart | Richard Carleton |
| 1938 | Having Wonderful Time | Chick Kirkland |
| 1938 | The Rage of Paris | Jim Trevor |
| 1938 | Joy of Living | Dan Brewster |
| 1937 | The Prisoner of Zenda | Rupert of Hentzau |
| 1937 | When Thief Meets Thief | Ricky Morgan |
| 1936 | Accused | Tony Seymour |
| 1936 | The Amateur Gentleman | John Beverley aka Barnabas Barty |
| 1935 | Man of the Moment | Tony Woodward (as Douglas Fairbanks Jnr.) |
| 1935 | Mimi | Rodolphe |
| 1934 | Success at Any Price | Joe Martin |
| 1934 | The Rise of Catherine the Great | Grand Duke Peter (as Douglas Fairbanks Jnr.) |
| 1933 | Captured! | Lt. Jack 'Dig' Digby |
| 1933 | Morning Glory | Joseph Sheridan |
| 1933 | The Narrow Corner | Fred Blake |
| 1933 | The Life of Jimmy Dolan | Jimmy Dolan |
| 1933 | Parachute Jumper | Bill Keller |
| 1932 | Scarlet Dawn | Nikita Krasnoff |
| 1932 | Love Is a Racket | Jimmy Russell |
| 1932 | L'athlète incomplet | Fred Miller |
| 1932 | It's Tough to Be Famous | Scott 'Scotty' McClenahan |
| 1932 | Union Depot | Chick Miller |
| 1931 | I Like Your Nerve | Larry O'Brien |
| 1931 | Chances | Jack Ingleside |
| 1931 | The Stolen Jools (Short) | Douglas Fairbanks Jr. |
| 1931 | L'aviateur | Alain |
| 1931 | Little Caesar | Joe Massara |
| 1930 | One Night at Susie's | Dick Rollins |
| 1930 | Outward Bound | Henry |
| 1930 | The Way of All Men | Billy Bear |
| 1930 | Little Accident | Norman Overbeck |
| 1930 | The Dawn Patrol | Douglas Scott |
| 1930 | Loose Ankles | Gil |
| 1930 | Party Girl | Jay Rountree |
| 1929 | Show of Shows | Ambrose in 'Bicycle Built for Two' Number |
| 1929 | The Forward Pass | Marty Reid |
| 1929 | The Careless Age | Wyn Hayward |
| 1929 | Our Modern Maidens | Gil Jordan |
| 1929 | Fast Life | Douglas Stratton |
| 1929 | The Jazz Age | Steve Maxwell |
| 1928 | A Woman of Affairs | Jeffry Merrick |
| 1928 | The Power of the Press | Clem Rogers |
| 1928 | The Barker | Chris Miller |
| 1928 | The Toilers | Steve |
| 1928 | Modern Mothers | David Starke |
| 1928 | Dead Man's Curve | Vernon Keith |
| 1927 | A Texas Steer | Farleigh Bright |
| 1927 | Is Zat So? | G. Clifton Blackburn |
| 1927 | Women Love Diamonds | Jerry Croker-Kelley |
| 1927 | Man Bait | Jeff Sanford |
| 1926 | Broken Hearts of Hollywood | Hal Terwilliger |
| 1926 | Padlocked | Sonny Galloway |
| 1926 | The American Venus | Triton |
| 1925 | Stella Dallas | Richard Grosvenor |
| 1925 | Wild Horse Mesa | Chess Weymer |
| 1925 | The Air Mail | Sandy |
| 1923 | Stephen Steps Out | Stephen Harlow Jr. |
| 1921 | The Three Musketeers | Boy (uncredited) |
| 1916 | American Aristocracy | Newsboy (uncredited) |
