Douglas Fairbanks Jr.

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.

Known For

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Love Boat

The Love Boat

The Mike Douglas Show

The Mike Douglas Show

American Experience

Great Performances

The Merv Griffin Show

All Movies (127)

• The Real Charlie Chaplin2021 · as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
• 1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year2009 · as Self (archive footage)
• Mary Pickford: The Muse of the Movies2008 · as Self (archive footage)
• Little Caesar: End of Rico, Beginning of the Antihero2005 · as Self (archive footage)
• On Location with Gunga Din2004 · as Self / Thomas Anthony Ballantine (archive footage)
• Checking Out: Grand Hotel2004 · as Self (archive footage)
• Joan Crawford: The Ultimate Movie Star2002 · as Self (archive footage)
• Goldwyn: The Man and His Movies2001 · as Self (archive footage)
• Mary Pickford: A Life on Film2000 · as Self
• Star Power: The Creation Of United Artists1998 · as Self
• Joan Crawford: Always the Star1996 · as Self (archive footage)
• The Battle Over Citizen Kane1996 · as Self
• Stars and Stripes: Hollywood and World War II1991 · as Self
• Vivien Leigh: Scarlett and Beyond1990 · as Self
• You're the Top: The Cole Porter Story1990 · as Self
• Night of 100 Stars III1990 · as Self
• Cary Grant: A Celebration of a Leading Man1988 · as Self
• Hollywood Uncensored1987 · as Self - Host
• Strong Medicine1986 · as Eli Camperdown
• George Stevens: A Filmmaker's Journey1985 · as Self
• The Mikado1983 · as Self
• Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage1983 · as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
• La Belle Epoque1983 · as Self / Narrator
• Laurence Olivier: a life1982 · as Self
• Cox and Box1982 · as Self - Host
• Trial by Jury1982 · as Self - Host
• H.M.S. Pinafore1982 · as Self - Host
• The Pirates of Penzance1982 · as Self - Host
• The Gondoliers1982 · as Self - Host
• Iolanthe1982 · as Self - Host
• Night of 100 Stars1982 · as Self
• Ghost Story1981 · as Edward Charles Wanderley
• From Raquel with Love1980 · as The Almighty
• The Hostage Tower1980 · as Malcolm Philpott
• The Art of Film: The Many Roles of Alec Guinness1978 · as Narrator
• The Art of Film: Vintage Hitchcock1978 · as Narrator
• Kingdom Of Gifts1978 · as The Proud King
• The Crooked Hearts1972 · as Rex Willoughby
• Red and Blue1968 · as Millionaire
• The Legend of Robin Hood1968 · as King Richard
• Red, White, and Zero1968 · as Millionaire
• The Funniest Man in the World1967 · as Narrator
• The Canterville Ghost1966 · as Mr. Otis
• Chase a Crooked Shadow1958 · as Self - Epilogue (uncredited)
• The Awakening1954 · as Self - Host
• Three's Company1953 · as Narrator / Anthony
• The Genie1953 · as The Genie
• Mr. Drake's Duck1951 · as Donald 'Don' Drake
• State Secret1950 · as Dr. John Marlowe
• The Costume Designer1950 · as Self (archive footage)
• The Fighting O'Flynn1949 · as The O'Flynn
• That Lady in Ermine1948 · as Colonel Ladislas Karolyi Teglas / The Duke
• The Exile1947 · as Charles II
• Sinbad the Sailor1947 · as Sinbad
• The Corsican Brothers1941 · as Lucien Franchi / Mario Franchi
• Angels Over Broadway1940 · as Bill O'Brien
• Cavalcade of the Academy Awards1940 · as Self
• Safari1940 · as Jim Logan
• Green Hell1940 · as Keith Brandon
• Rulers of the Sea1939 · as David 'Davie' Gillespie
• The Sun Never Sets1939 · as John Randolph
• Gunga Din1939 · as Thomas Anthony Ballantine
• Hollywood Goes to Town1938 · as Self
• The Young in Heart1938 · as Richard Carleton
• Having Wonderful Time1938 · as Chick Kirkland
• The Rage of Paris1938 · as Jim Trevor
• Joy of Living1938 · as Daniel 'Dan' Brewster
• The Prisoner of Zenda1937 · as Rupert of Hentzau
• Jump for Glory1937 · as Ricky Morgan
• Accused1936 · as Tony Seymour
• The Amateur Gentleman1936 · as John Beverley aka Barnabas Barty
• Man of the Moment1935 · as Tony Woodward
• Mimi1935 · as Rodolphe
• Success at Any Price1934 · as Joe Martin
• The Rise of Catherine the Great1934 · as Grand Duke Peter
• Captured!1933 · as Lieutenant Fred Digby
• Morning Glory1933 · as Joseph Sheridan
• The Narrow Corner1933 · as Fred Blake
• The Life of Jimmy Dolan1933 · as Jimmy
• Parachute Jumper1933 · as Bill Keller
• Scarlet Dawn1932 · as Baron Nikita 'Nikki' Krasnoff
• Hollywood on Parade No. A-31932 · as Self
• Hollywood on Parade No. A-11932 · as Self
• Love is a Racket1932 · as James 'Jimmy' Russell
• It's Tough to Be Famous1932 · as Scott 'Scotty' McClenahan
• Union Depot1932 · as Charles 'Chick' Miller
• How I Play Golf, by Bobby Jones No. 10: 'Trouble Shots'1931 · as Self - Golfer (uncredited)
• I Like Your Nerve1931 · as Larry O'Brien
• Chances1931 · as Jack Ingleside
• The Stolen Jools1931 · as Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
• The Aviator1931 · as Alain
• Little Caesar1931 · as Joe Massara
• One Night at Susie's1930 · as Dick Rollins
• Outward Bound1930 · as Henry
• The Way of All Men1930 · as Billy Bear
• Screen Snapshots Series 10, No. 11930 · as Self
• Little Accident1930 · as Norman Overbeck
• An Intimate Dinner in Celebration of Warner Bros. Silver Jubilee1930 · as Self
• The Dawn Patrol1930 · as Douglas 'Doug' Scott
• Loose Ankles1930 · as Gil
• Party Girl1930 · as Jay Rountree
• The Show of Shows1929 · as Ambrose in 'Bicycle Built for Two' Number (uncredited)
• The Forward Pass1929 · as Marty Reid
• The Careless Age1929 · as Wyn
• Our Modern Maidens1929 · as Gil Jordan
• Fast Life1929 · as Douglas Stratton
• The Jazz Age1929 · as Steve Maxwell
• A Woman of Affairs1928 · as Jeffry Merrick
• The Power of the Press1928 · as Clem Rogers
• The Barker1928 · as Chris Miller
• The Toilers1928 · as Steve
• Modern Mothers1928 · as David Starke
• The Garden of Eden1928 · as Busboy (uncredited)
• Dead Man's Curve1928 · as Vernon Keith
• A Texas Steer1927 · as Farleigh Bright
• Is Zat So?1927 · as G. Clifton Blackburn
• Women Love Diamonds1927 · as Jerry Croker-Kelley
• Man Bait1927 · as Jeff Sanford
• Broken Hearts of Hollywood1926 · as Hal Terwilliger
• Padlocked1926 · as Sonny Galloway
• The American Venus1926 · as Triton
• Stella Dallas1925 · as Richard Grosvenor
• Wild Horse Mesa1925 · as Chess Weymer
• The Air Mail1925 · as Sandy
• Stephen Steps Out1923 · as Stephen Harlow Jr.
• The Three Musketeers1921 · as (uncredited)
• American Aristocracy1916 · as Newsboy (uncredited)

All TV Shows (37)

• B.L. Stryker1989 · as White
• American Experience1988 · as Self
• The Dame Edna Experience1987 · as Self
• Strong Medicine1986 · as Eli Camperdown
• The Compleat Gilbert & Sullivan1984 · as Self - Host
• Yesteryear1982 · as Self
• Hollywood1980 · as Self
• The Love Boat1977 · as Elliott Norman
• The Love Boat1977 · as Elliott Banning
• Dinah!1974 · as Self
• The American Film Institute Salute to ...1973 · as Self
• Film '721971 · as Self
• The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour1971 · as Self
• Great Performances1971 · as Self
• The Pearl Bailey Show1971 · as Self
• The Dick Cavett Show1968 · as Self - Guest
• Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In1968 · as Self (uncredited)
• Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In1968 · as Self
• Omnibus1967 · as Self - Narrator
• ABC Stage 671966 · as Mr. Otis
• The Merv Griffin Show1962 · as Self
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1962 · as Self
• The Mike Douglas Show1961 · as Self - Co-Host
• The Mike Douglas Show1961 · as Self
• Dr. Kildare1961 · as Dr. Robert Devlin
• Route 661960 · as Charles Clayton
• The Big Party1959 · as Self – Host
• The Dinah Shore Chevy Show1956 · as Self
• The Ford Show1956 · as Self
• The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show1956 · as Self
• The Steve Allen Show1956 · as Self
• Cinépanorama1956 · as Self
• Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Presents1953 · as Self - Host
• The Bob Hope Show1950 · as Self
• Your Show of Shows1950 · as Self
• What's My Line?1950 · as Self
• The Ed Sullivan Show1948 · as Self