Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
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
Credits
- 2021 · The Real Charlie Chaplin as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 2009 · 1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year as Self (archive footage)
- 2001 · Goldwyn: The Man and His Movies as Self (archive footage)
- 1990 · Vivien Leigh: Scarlett and Beyond as Self
- 1990 · You're the Top: The Cole Porter Story as Self
- 1990 · Night of 100 Stars III as Self
- 1989 · B.L. Stryker as White
- 1988 · American Experience as Self
- 1988 · Cary Grant: A Celebration of a Leading Man as Self
- 1987 · Hollywood Uncensored as Self - Host
- 1987 · The Dame Edna Experience as Self
- 1986 · Strong Medicine as Eli Camperdown
- 1983 · The Mikado as Self
- 1983 · Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 1982 · Laurence Olivier: A Life as Self
- 1982 · Yesteryear as Self
- 1982 · The Gondoliers as Self - Host
- 1982 · Iolanthe as Self - Host
- 1982 · Night of 100 Stars as Self
- 1981 · Ghost Story as Edward Wanderley
- 1980 · Hollywood as Self
- 1977 · The Love Boat as Elliott Norman
- 1977 · The Love Boat as Elliott Banning
- 1974 · Dinah! as Self
- 1973 · The American Film Institute Salute to ... as Self
- 1972 · The Crooked Hearts as Rex Willoughby
- 1971 · Film '72 as Self
- 1971 · The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour as Self
- 1971 · Great Performances as Self
- 1971 · The Pearl Bailey Show as Self
- 1968 · The Dick Cavett Show as Self - Guest
- 1968 · The Legend of Robin Hood as King Richard
- 1968 · Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In as Self (uncredited)
- 1968 · Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In as Self
- 1967 · Omnibus as Self - Narrator
- 1966 · ABC Stage 67 as Mr. Otis
- 1962 · The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson as Self
- 1962 · The Merv Griffin Show as Self
- 1961 · The Mike Douglas Show as Self - Co-Host
- 1961 · The Mike Douglas Show as Self
- 1961 · 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 Dinah Shore Chevy Show as Self
- 1956 · The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show as Self
- 1956 · The Ford Show as Self
- 1956 · The Steve Allen Show as Self
- 1956 · Cinépanorama as Self
- 1953 · The Genie as The Genie
- 1953 · Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Presents as Self - Host
- 1950 · State Secret as Dr. John Marlowe
- 1950 · The Costume Designer as Self (archive footage)
- 1950 · The Bob Hope Show as Self
- 1950 · Your Show of Shows as Self
- 1950 · What's My Line? as Self
- 1948 · That Lady in Ermine as Colonel Ladislas Karolyi Teglas / The Duke
- 1948 · The Ed Sullivan Show as Self
- 1947 · Sinbad the Sailor as Sinbad
- 1941 · The Corsican Brothers as Lucien Franchi / Mario Franchi
- 1940 · Cavalcade of the Academy Awards as Self
- 1940 · Green Hell as Keith Brandon
- 1939 · Rulers of the Sea as David 'Davie' Gillespie
- 1939 · Gunga Din as Thomas Anthony Ballantine
- 1938 · The Young in Heart as Richard Carleton
- 1937 · The Prisoner of Zenda as Rupert of Hentzau
- 1937 · Jump for Glory as Ricky Morgan
- 1934 · The Rise of Catherine the Great as Grand Duke Peter
- 1933 · Morning Glory as Joseph Sheridan
- 1933 · Parachute Jumper as Bill Keller
- 1932 · Hollywood on Parade No. A-1 as Self
- 1932 · Love is a Racket as James 'Jimmy' Russell
- 1931 · The Stolen Jools as Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
- 1931 · The Aviator as Alain
- 1931 · Little Caesar as Joe Massara
- 1930 · The Dawn Patrol as Douglas 'Doug' Scott
- 1930 · Party Girl as Jay Rountree
- 1929 · The Show of Shows as Ambrose in 'Bicycle Built for Two' Number (uncredited)
- 1929 · Our Modern Maidens as Gil Jordan
- 1928 · A Woman of Affairs as Jeffry Merrick
- 1927 · Women Love Diamonds as Jerry Croker-Kelley
- 1927 · Man Bait as Jeff Sanford
- 1925 · Wild Horse Mesa as Chess Weymer
- Future · Marlene Dietrich: Home Movies as Himself
- 2008 · Mary Pickford: The Muse of the Movies as Self (archive footage)
- 2005 · Little Caesar: End of Rico, Beginning of the Antihero as Self (archive footage)
- 2004 · On Location with Gunga Din as Self / Thomas Anthony Ballantine (archive footage)
- 2004 · Checking Out: Grand Hotel as Self (archive footage)
- 2002 · Joan Crawford: The Ultimate Movie Star 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)
- 1996 · The Battle Over Citizen Kane as Self
- 1991 · Stars and Stripes: Hollywood and World War II as Self
- 1986 · Strong Medicine as Eli Camperdown
- 1985 · George Stevens: A Filmmaker's Journey as Self
- 1984 · The Compleat Gilbert & Sullivan as Self - Host
- 1983 · La Belle Epoque as Self / Narrator
- 1982 · H.M.S. Pinafore as Self - Host
- 1982 · Cox and Box as Self - Host
- 1982 · The Pirates of Penzance as Self - Host
- 1982 · Trial by Jury as Self - Host
- 1980 · From Raquel with Love as The Almighty
- 1980 · The Hostage Tower as Malcolm Philpott
- 1978 · The Art of Film: The Many Roles of Alec Guinness as Narrator
- 1978 · The Art of Film: Vintage Hitchcock as Narrator
- 1978 · Kingdom Of Gifts as The Proud King
- 1968 · Red and Blue as Millionaire
- 1968 · Red, White, and Zero as Millionaire
- 1967 · The Funniest Man in the World as Narrator
- 1966 · The Canterville Ghost as Mr. Otis
- 1954 · The Awakening as Self - Host
- 1953 · Three's Company as Narrator / Anthony
- 1951 · Mr. Drake's Duck as Donald 'Don' Drake
- 1949 · The Fighting O'Flynn as The O'Flynn
- 1947 · The Exile as Charles II
- 1940 · Angels Over Broadway as Bill O'Brien
- 1940 · Safari as Jim Logan
- 1939 · The Sun Never Sets as John Randolph
- 1938 · Hollywood Goes to Town as Self
- 1938 · Having Wonderful Time as Chick Kirkland
- 1938 · The Rage of Paris as Jim Trevor
- 1938 · Joy of Living as Daniel 'Dan' Brewster
- 1936 · Accused as Tony Seymour
- 1936 · The Amateur Gentleman as John Beverley aka Barnabas Barty
- 1935 · Man of the Moment as Tony Woodward
- 1935 · Mimi as Rodolphe
- 1934 · Success at Any Price as Joe Martin
- 1933 · Captured! as Lieutenant Fred Digby
- 1933 · The Narrow Corner as Fred Blake
- 1933 · The Life of Jimmy Dolan as Jimmy
- 1932 · Scarlet Dawn as Baron Nikita 'Nikki' Krasnoff
- 1932 · Hollywood on Parade No. A-3 as Self
- 1932 · It's Tough to Be Famous as Scott 'Scotty' McClenahan
- 1932 · Union Depot as Charles 'Chick' Miller
- 1931 · How I Play Golf, by Bobby Jones No. 10: 'Trouble Shots' as Self - Golfer (uncredited)
- 1931 · I Like Your Nerve as Larry O'Brien
- 1931 · Chances as Jack Ingleside
- 1930 · One Night at Susie's as Dick Rollins
- 1930 · Outward Bound as Henry
- 1930 · The Way of All Men as Billy Bear
- 1930 · Screen Snapshots Series 10, No. 1 as Self
- 1930 · Little Accident as Norman Overbeck
- 1930 · An Intimate Dinner in Celebration of Warner Bros. Silver Jubilee as Self
- 1930 · Loose Ankles as Gil
- 1929 · The Forward Pass as Marty Reid
- 1929 · The Careless Age as Wyn
- 1929 · Fast Life as Douglas Stratton
- 1929 · The Jazz Age as Steve Maxwell
- 1928 · The Power of the Press as Clem Rogers
- 1928 · The Barker as Chris Miller
- 1928 · The Toilers as Steve
- 1928 · Modern Mothers as David Starke
- 1928 · The Garden of Eden as Busboy (uncredited)
- 1928 · Dead Man's Curve as Vernon Keith
- 1927 · A Texas Steer as Farleigh Bright
- 1927 · Is Zat So? as G. Clifton Blackburn
- 1926 · Broken Hearts of Hollywood as Hal Terwilliger
- 1926 · Padlocked as Sonny Galloway
- 1926 · The American Venus as Triton
- 1925 · Stella Dallas as Richard Grosvenor
- 1925 · 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)