Douglas Fairbanks Jr.

Born: 1909-12-09 in New York City, New York, USA

Died: 2000-05-07

Known For: Acting

Biography

Douglas Elton Fairbanks Jr. (December 9, 1909 – May 7, 2000) was an American actor, producer, and decorated naval officer of World War II. The son of silent film star Douglas Fairbanks and stepson of Mary Pickford, he established his own successful career in Hollywood during the 1930s and 1940s, becoming known for his charm, sophistication, and versatility in both romantic comedies and adventure films. Among his most notable films are The Prisoner of Zenda (1937), Gunga Din (1939), Little Caesar (1931), and The Corsican Brothers (1941). He also appeared opposite many of the era’s leading actresses, including Katharine Hepburn, Joan Crawford, Loretta Young, Rita Hayworth, and Paulette Goddard. During World War II, Fairbanks served with distinction in the United States Navy, helping develop military deception and special operations techniques. For his wartime service, he received numerous decorations from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and several other nations. After the war, he continued acting in films and television while also becoming a respected producer and public figure. Fairbanks remains remembered as one of Hollywood’s most elegant leading men and among the few major stars to achieve distinction both on screen and in military service. In 1969, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the International Best Dressed List.

Filmography

2021

The Real Charlie Chaplin as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

2004

Checking Out: Grand Hotel as Self (archive footage)
On Location with Gunga Din as Self / Thomas Anthony Ballantine (archive footage)

2002

Joan Crawford: The Ultimate Movie Star as Self (archive footage)

2001

Goldwyn: The Man and His Movies as Self (archive footage)

2000

Mary Pickford: A Life on Film as Self

1998

Star Power: The Creation Of United Artists as Self

1996

Joan Crawford: Always the Star as Self (archive footage)
The Battle Over Citizen Kane as Self

1991

Stars and Stripes: Hollywood and World War II as Self

1990

Night of 100 Stars III as Self
Vivien Leigh: Scarlett and Beyond as Self
You're the Top: The Cole Porter Story as Self

1989

B.L. Stryker as White

1988

American Experience as Self
Cary Grant: A Celebration of a Leading Man as Self

1987

The Dame Edna Experience as Self
Hollywood Uncensored as Self - Host

1986

Strong Medicine as Eli Camperdown
Strong Medicine as Eli Camperdown

1985

George Stevens: A Filmmaker's Journey as Self

1984

The Compleat Gilbert & Sullivan as Self - Host

1983

The Mikado as Self
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
La Belle Epoque as Self / Narrator

1982

Night of 100 Stars as Self
The Gondoliers as Self - Host
Laurence Olivier: a life as Self
Iolanthe as Self - Host
Yesteryear as Self
Cox and Box as Self - Host
H.M.S. Pinafore as Self - Host
The Pirates of Penzance as Self - Host
Trial by Jury as Self - Host

1981

Ghost Story as Edward Charles Wanderley

1980

Hollywood as Self
The Hostage Tower as Malcolm Philpott
From Raquel with Love as The Almighty

1978

Kingdom Of Gifts as The Proud King
The Art of Film: Vintage Hitchcock as Narrator
The Art of Film: The Many Roles of Alec Guinness as Narrator

1977

The Love Boat as Elliott Norman

1975

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? ... (Thanks)

1974

Dinah! as Self

1973

The American Film Institute Salute to ... as Self

1972

The Crooked Hearts as Rex Willoughby

1971

1968

The Dick Cavett Show as Self - Guest
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In as Self (uncredited)
The Legend of Robin Hood as King Richard
Red and Blue as Millionaire
Red, White, and Zero as Millionaire

1967

Omnibus as Self - Narrator
The Funniest Man in the World as Narrator

1966

ABC Stage 67 as Mr. Otis
The Canterville Ghost as Mr. Otis

1962

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson as Self
The Merv Griffin Show as Self

1961

The Mike Douglas Show as Self - Co-Host
Dr. Kildare as Dr. Robert Devlin

1960

Route 66 as Charles Clayton

1959

The Big Party as Self – Host

1958

Chase a Crooked Shadow as Self - Epilogue (uncredited)

1956

The Steve Allen Show as Self
Cinépanorama as Self
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show as Self
The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show as Self
The Ford Show as Self
The Silken Affair ... (Executive Producer)

1955

Police Dog ... (Producer)

1954

The Awakening as Self - Host

1953

Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Presents as Self - Host
Three's Company as Narrator / Anthony
The Genie as The Genie

1951

Mr. Drake's Duck as Donald 'Don' Drake

1950

What's My Line? as Self
The Bob Hope Show as Self
Your Show of Shows as Self
Night and the City ... (Casting)
The Costume Designer as Self (archive footage)
State Secret as Dr. John Marlowe

1949

The Fighting O'Flynn as The O'Flynn

1948

The Ed Sullivan Show as Self
That Lady in Ermine as Colonel Ladislas Karolyi Teglas / The Duke

1947

Sinbad the Sailor as Sinbad
The Exile as Charles II

1941

The Corsican Brothers as Lucien Franchi / Mario Franchi

1940

Green Hell as Keith Brandon
Cavalcade of the Academy Awards as Self
Angels Over Broadway as Bill O'Brien
Safari as Jim Logan

1939

Gunga Din as Thomas Anthony Ballantine
The Sun Never Sets as John Randolph
Rulers of the Sea as David 'Davie' Gillespie

1938

The Young in Heart as Richard Carleton
Joy of Living as Daniel 'Dan' Brewster
The Rage of Paris as Jim Trevor
Hollywood Goes to Town as Self
Having Wonderful Time as Chick Kirkland

1937

The Prisoner of Zenda as Rupert of Hentzau
Jump for Glory as Ricky Morgan

1936

The Amateur Gentleman as John Beverley aka Barnabas Barty
Accused as Tony Seymour

1935

Man of the Moment as Tony Woodward
Mimi as Rodolphe

1934

The Rise of Catherine the Great as Grand Duke Peter
Success at Any Price as Joe Martin

1933

Morning Glory as Joseph Sheridan
Parachute Jumper as Bill Keller
The Narrow Corner as Fred Blake
The Life of Jimmy Dolan as Jimmy
Captured! as Lieutenant Fred Digby

1932

Love is a Racket as James 'Jimmy' Russell
It's Tough to Be Famous as Scott 'Scotty' McClenahan
Scarlet Dawn as Baron Nikita 'Nikki' Krasnoff
Union Depot as Charles 'Chick' Miller
Hollywood on Parade No. A-3 as Self
Hollywood on Parade No. A-1 as Self

1931

Little Caesar as Joe Massara
The Aviator as Alain
The Stolen Jools as Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
I Like Your Nerve as Larry O'Brien
Chances as Jack Ingleside
How I Play Golf, by Bobby Jones No. 10: 'Trouble Shots' as Self - Golfer (uncredited)

1930

Party Girl as Jay Rountree
The Dawn Patrol as Douglas 'Doug' Scott
Little Accident as Norman Overbeck
An Intimate Dinner in Celebration of Warner Bros. Silver Jubilee as Self
Outward Bound as Henry
One Night at Susie's as Dick Rollins
Loose Ankles as Gil
The Way of All Men as Billy Bear
Screen Snapshots Series 10, No. 1 as Self

1929

The Careless Age as Wyn
Our Modern Maidens as Gil Jordan
The Show of Shows as Ambrose in 'Bicycle Built for Two' Number (uncredited)
The Forward Pass as Marty Reid
Fast Life as Douglas Stratton
The Jazz Age as Steve Maxwell

1928

The Power of the Press as Clem Rogers
A Woman of Affairs as Jeffry Merrick
The Garden of Eden as Busboy (uncredited)
Dead Man's Curve as Vernon Keith
The Barker as Chris Miller
The Toilers as Steve
Modern Mothers as David Starke

1927

Man Bait as Jeff Sanford
Women Love Diamonds as Jerry Croker-Kelley
Is Zat So? as G. Clifton Blackburn
A Texas Steer as Farleigh Bright

1926

The American Venus as Triton
Padlocked as Sonny Galloway
Broken Hearts of Hollywood as Hal Terwilliger

1925

Wild Horse Mesa as Chess Weymer
Stella Dallas as Richard Grosvenor
The Air Mail as Sandy

1923

Stephen Steps Out as Stephen Harlow Jr.

1921

The Three Musketeers as (uncredited)

1916

American Aristocracy as Newsboy (uncredited)