Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Biography

(Actor)

Birthday: December 9, 1909 (Sagittarius)

Born In: New York City, New York, United States

Douglas Fairbanks Jr. was an American actor and a decorated naval officer who served in World War II. A man of several talents, he excelled in sports and academics alike as a youngster. Though he had no intention of getting into films, he began his career in Hollywood at a young age, mainly in supporting roles. Some of his noteworthy films are ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’, ‘Gunga Din’ and ‘The Corsican Brothers’. During World War II, he went on to serve in the United States Navy. His contribution to the nation during World War II was recognized, and he was awarded with the Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire and the Distinguished Service Cross. Post his service in the US Navy, he returned to films and appeared in several guest roles. He also played numerous television roles. He is known to have worked in over 100 movies or television shows.
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Quick Facts

Also Known As: Douglas Elton Fairbanks Jr

Died At Age: 90

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Vera Shelton (m. 1991), Joan Crawford (m. 1929–1933), Mary Lee Eppling (m. 1939–1988)

father: Douglas Fairbanks

mother: Anna Beth Sully

siblings: Robert Payne Ullman

children: Daphne Fairbanks, Melissa Fairbanks, Victoria Fairbanks

Born Country: United States

Actors American Men

Height: 6'1" (185 cm), 6'1" Males

Died on: May 7, 2000

place of death: New York City, New York, USA

Ancestry: German American

Cause of Death: Heart Attack

City: New York City

U.S. State: New Yorkers

More Facts

education: Harvard westlake, Collegiate School

  • 1

    What are some notable films starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr.?

    Douglas Fairbanks Jr. starred in films such as "Gunga Din" (1939), "The Prisoner of Zenda" (1937), "The Dawn Patrol" (1938), "The Corsican Brothers" (1941), and "Sinbad the Sailor" (1947).
  • 2

    Did Douglas Fairbanks Jr. serve in the military?

    Yes, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, where he was highly decorated for his service.
  • 3

    What was Douglas Fairbanks Jr.'s involvement in the entertainment industry beyond acting?

    Douglas Fairbanks Jr. was also a producer and a writer. He co-founded the independent film production company, Criterion Films, and authored several books.
  • 4

    Was Douglas Fairbanks Jr. involved in any charitable work?

    Yes, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. was known for his philanthropy and involvement in various charitable causes, including his support for war veterans and fundraising for medical research.
  • 5

    How did Douglas Fairbanks Jr. contribute to the World War II effort?

    Douglas Fairbanks Jr. used his celebrity status to raise morale among troops during World War II through USO performances and radio broadcasts.
Childhood & Early Life
Douglas Elton Fairbanks Jr. was born to actor Douglas Fairbanks and his first wife, Anna Beth, on 9th December 1909, in New York City.
At the age of nine, he witnessed his parents’ divorce. He continued living with his mother and has lived in New York, California, Paris and London.
As a child he was academically gifted, and he attended the Lycéee Janson de Sailly in Paris. Apart from studies, he showed interest in sports as well, which was showcased during his stay at the Military Academy in 1919. As a child he also had a keen taste in painting and sculpture.
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Career
Douglas Fairbanks Jr. started his career in films at the age of 13 with ‘Stephen Steps Out’ (1923). The movie was not commercially successful. He went on to do supporting roles in the forthcoming years in ‘The Air Mail’ (1925) and ‘Wild Horse Mesa’ (1925).
He then played leading roles in the movies ‘Dead Man’s Curve’ (1928), ‘Modern Mothers’ (1928) and ‘The Toilers’ (1928). The same year, he starred in Frank Capra’s ‘The Power of the Press’.
In 1929, First National offered him a lead role in the drama film ‘Careless Age’. In 1930, he auditioned for a role in Warner Bros’ ‘Moby Dick’. Though it was not successful, he got a crucial part in ‘The Dawn Patrol’. The same year, he did a starring role in Universal’s ‘Little Accident’ as well as Warners’ ‘Sin Flood’. Other movies he was part of that year are ‘Outward Bound’ and ‘One Night at Susie’s’.
In 1931, he performed a supporting role in ‘Little Caesar’, a movie that was not only commercially successfully but also went on to become a classic. Warner Bros offered him a contract with “cast and script approval” – a contract that was offered to only one other actor in the studio at that time.
In 1934, due to the economic depression, Warner Bros asked all the stars associated with them to take a 50% pay cut. Douglas Fairbanks Jr. refused, and as a result, he was fired from the studio.
In the middle of the 1930s, he set up his own production company ‘Criterion Films,’ and a few of the films made were ‘Man of the Moment’ (1935), ‘The Amateur Gentleman’(1936), ‘Accused’ (1936) and ‘ The Jump for Glory’ (1937).
In 1937, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. returned to Hollywood to act in ‘The Prisoner of Zenda,’ which was a huge success. The same year, he signed a five-year contract with RKO. In 1939, he saw the release of his biggest ever hit movie, ‘Gunga Din,’ in which he worked along with Victor McLaglen and Cary Grant.
During World War II, he enlisted with the United States Navy and was assigned to President Franklin D Roosevelt’s special convoy to South America. He later was commissioned as lieutenant in the navy. He stayed in the US Naval Reserve post war as well and retired as captain in 1954.
Post World War II he attempted his comeback into Hollywood with movies like ‘Sinbad the Sailor’ (1947), ‘The Exile’ (1947), and ‘That Lady in Ermine’ (1948) among others. However, the films failed to make an impact at the box office.
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Douglas Fairbanks Jr. spent the majority of this time in the United Kingdom and made guest appearances in several shows and series, a few of them being ‘Route 66’, ‘The Du Pont Show of the Week’, ‘The Red Skelton Hour’, and ‘ABC Stage 67.’
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, he toured with the musicals ‘My Fair Lady’ and ‘The Pleasure of His Company’. His last feature film appearance was in ‘Ghost Story’ (1981), and his final television series appearance was in the miniseries ‘B. L. Stryker’ (1989).
Major Works
Douglas Fairbanks Jr. was an actor whose performances were much appreciated in the movies ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’ (1937) and ‘Gunga Din’ (1939).
Family & Personal Life
Douglas Fairbanks Jr. had his first serious romantic relationship with actress Lucille Le Sueur, who later went on to be known as Joan Crawford. The couple got married on 3rd June 1929, in New York City. He was 19 years old at the time of the wedding.
The marriage did not last long and the couple divorced in 1934. However, he defended Joan Crawford against the allegations on her character and temper made by her adopted daughter in her biography.
In 1939, he married Mary Lee Eppling. The couple had three children: Daphne Nancy-Beth Fairbanks (born April 8, 1940), Victoria Susan Fairbanks (born 1942) and Melissa Louise Fairbanks (born October 25, 1947). Mary died in 1988.
On 30th May 1991, he married Vera Lee Shelton. This marriage lasted until his death in 2000.
He died on 7th May 2000, due to a heart attack. He was aged 90 years at the time of his death.
Facts About Douglas Fairbanks Jr.

Douglas Fairbanks Jr. was known for his impeccable sense of style and was considered a fashion icon of his time, often setting trends with his sophisticated and debonair look.

He had a great sense of humor and was known for his wit and charm, often delighting those around him with his quick wit and playful banter.

See the events in life of Douglas Fairbanks Jr. in Chronological Order

How To Cite

Article Title
- Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Biography
Author
- Editors, TheFamousPeople.com
Website
- TheFamousPeople.com
URL
https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/douglas-fairbanks-jr--45374.php

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