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.
Filmography
The Real Charlie Chaplin
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Real Charlie Chaplin
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Mary Pickford: The Muse of the Movies
as Self (archive footage)
Mary Pickford: The Muse of the Movies
as Self (archive footage)
Little Caesar: End of Rico, Beginning of the Antihero
as Self (archive footage)
Little Caesar: End of Rico, Beginning of the Antihero
as Self (archive footage)
On Location with Gunga Din
as Self / Thomas Anthony Ballantine (archive footage)
On Location with Gunga Din
as Self / Thomas Anthony Ballantine (archive footage)
Checking Out: Grand Hotel
as Self (archive footage)
Checking Out: Grand Hotel
as Self (archive footage)
Joan Crawford: The Ultimate Movie Star
as Self (archive footage)
Joan Crawford: The Ultimate Movie Star
as Self (archive footage)
Goldwyn: The Man and His Movies
as Self (archive footage)
Goldwyn: The Man and His Movies
as Self (archive footage)
Mary Pickford: A Life on Film
as Self
Mary Pickford: A Life on Film
as Self
Star Power: The Creation Of United Artists
as Self
Star Power: The Creation Of United Artists
as Self
Joan Crawford: Always the Star
as Self (archive footage)
Joan Crawford: Always the Star
as Self (archive footage)
The Battle Over Citizen Kane
as Self
The Battle Over Citizen Kane
as Self
Stars and Stripes: Hollywood and World War II
as Self
Stars and Stripes: Hollywood and World War II
as Self
Vivien Leigh: Scarlett and Beyond
as Self
Vivien Leigh: Scarlett and Beyond
as Self
You're the Top: The Cole Porter Story
as Self
You're the Top: The Cole Porter Story
as Self
Night of 100 Stars III
as Self
Night of 100 Stars III
as Self
Cary Grant: A Celebration of a Leading Man
as Self
Cary Grant: A Celebration of a Leading Man
as Self
Hollywood Uncensored
as Self - Host
Hollywood Uncensored
as Self - Host
George Stevens: A Filmmaker's Journey
as Self
George Stevens: A Filmmaker's Journey
as Self
The Mikado
as Self
The Mikado
as Self
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
La Belle Epoque
as Self / Narrator
La Belle Epoque
as Self / Narrator
Laurence Olivier: A Life
as Self
Laurence Olivier: A Life
as Self
The Pirates of Penzance
as Self - Host
The Pirates of Penzance
as Self - Host
Trial by Jury
as Self - Host
Trial by Jury
as Self - Host
Cox and Box
as Self - Host
Cox and Box
as Self - Host
H.M.S. Pinafore
as Self - Host
H.M.S. Pinafore
as Self - Host
The Gondoliers
as Self - Host
The Gondoliers
as Self - Host
Iolanthe
as Self - Host
Iolanthe
as Self - Host
Night of 100 Stars
as Self
Night of 100 Stars
as Self
From Raquel with Love
as The Almighty
From Raquel with Love
as The Almighty
The Art of Film: The Many Roles of Alec Guinness
as Narrator
The Art of Film: The Many Roles of Alec Guinness
as Narrator
The Art of Film: Vintage Hitchcock
as Narrator
The Art of Film: Vintage Hitchcock
as Narrator
The Crooked Hearts
as Rex Willoughby
The Crooked Hearts
as Rex Willoughby
Red and Blue
as Millionaire
Red and Blue
as Millionaire
The Legend of Robin Hood
as King Richard
The Legend of Robin Hood
as King Richard
Red, White, and Zero
as Millionaire
Red, White, and Zero
as Millionaire
The Funniest Man in the World
as Narrator
The Funniest Man in the World
as Narrator
The Canterville Ghost
as Mr. Otis
The Canterville Ghost
as Mr. Otis
State Secret
as Dr. John Marlowe
State Secret
as Dr. John Marlowe
The Fighting O'Flynn
as The O'Flynn
The Fighting O'Flynn
as The O'Flynn
The Exile
as Charles II
The Exile
as Charles II
The Corsican Brothers
as Lucien Franchi / Mario Franchi
The Corsican Brothers
as Lucien Franchi / Mario Franchi
Angels Over Broadway
as Bill O'Brien
Angels Over Broadway
as Bill O'Brien
Green Hell
as Keith Brandon
Green Hell
as Keith Brandon
Rulers of the Sea
as David 'Davie' Gillespie
Rulers of the Sea
as David 'Davie' Gillespie
The Sun Never Sets
as John Randolph
The Sun Never Sets
as John Randolph
Gunga Din
as Thomas Anthony Ballantine
Gunga Din
as Thomas Anthony Ballantine
The Rage of Paris
as Jim Trevor
The Rage of Paris
as Jim Trevor
The Prisoner of Zenda
as Rupert of Hentzau
The Prisoner of Zenda
as Rupert of Hentzau
Jump for Glory
as Ricky Morgan
Jump for Glory
as Ricky Morgan
Accused
as Tony Seymour
Accused
as Tony Seymour
The Amateur Gentleman
as John Beverley aka Barnabas Barty
The Amateur Gentleman
as John Beverley aka Barnabas Barty
Mimi
as Rodolphe
Mimi
as Rodolphe
Morning Glory
as Joseph Sheridan
Morning Glory
as Joseph Sheridan
The Life of Jimmy Dolan
as Jimmy
The Life of Jimmy Dolan
as Jimmy
An Intimate Dinner in Celebration of Warner Bros. Silver Jubilee
as Self
An Intimate Dinner in Celebration of Warner Bros. Silver Jubilee
as Self
The Dawn Patrol
as Douglas 'Doug' Scott
The Dawn Patrol
as Douglas 'Doug' Scott
Loose Ankles
as Gil
Loose Ankles
as Gil
The Careless Age
as Wyn
The Careless Age
as Wyn
Man Bait
as Jeff Sanford
Man Bait
as Jeff Sanford
Stella Dallas
as Richard Grosvenor
Stella Dallas
as Richard Grosvenor