Douglas fairbanks, american motion picture actor and producer who was one of the first and greatest of the swashbuckling screen heroes. On the morning of may 7, 2000, fairbanks died at the age of 90 of a heart. He is the son of the movies first swashbuckling superhero. Fairbanks films are still shown on the big screen at film festivals and revivals, with. The two first met in 1927, but it wasnt love at first sight. Excellently written autobiography by douglas fairbanks, jr.
He was best known for his swashbuckling roles in silent films including the thief of bagdad, robin hood, and the mark of zorro, but spent the early part of his career making comedies fairbanks was a founding member of united artists. Jul 30, 2015 joan crawford marriages and relationships marriages. Never lacking in ambition and enthusiasm, he also became one of hollywoods founding fathers. It was just six weeks before pearl harbor, and the star of gunga din and the prisoner of zenda, now a newly commissioned lieutenant. Here, fairbanks profiles his wife three years before their divorce. With his marriage to actress and film producer mary pickford in 1920, the. Douglas elton fairbanks was an american actor, screenwriter, director, and producer. He was the son of legendary silent movie actor douglas fairbanks fairbanks was born on december 9. He is best known for starring in such films as the prisoner of zenda 1937, gunga din 1939 and the corsican brothers 1941. His parents were divorced when he was 9, and he lived with his. Dec 19, 2016 critics praised young douglas fairbanks jr.
Overview for douglas fairbanks turner classic movies. Now, were stretching it a bit here, for hezekiah abandoned his family when douglas was five, and its unlikely that his catholic mother would say kiddush. In the 1920s and early 30s, joan crawford and douglas fairbanks jr. The name fairbanks came from his mothers first husband not his father, who. Nov 02, 2015 hunky, gregarious and with a dazzling smile, douglas fairbanks was apparently born to be a movie star. In 1939 fairbanks died of a heart attack at age 56. Enthusiast of classic movie, hollywood star, history, antique, art and the ancient world. Janis joplin, douglas fairbanks jr and raquel welch discuss their childhoods the dick cavett show duration. Ellenberger douglas fairbanks died at his santa monica beach house on december 12, 1939.
No stuntman required may 16, 20 by wcftr in featured collections. Ben hecht, who codirected with cinematographer lee garmes, coproduced and wrote the screenplay, was nominated for an oscar for best original screenplay. Dec 31, 2016 movie legends douglas fairbanks jr reprise duration. Yet he made his imprint on some 100 motion pictures, became a reallife war hero and found success as an actor, producer, author, artist and businessman. The joan crawford that ive heard about in mommie dearest is not the joan crawford i knew back when, he. Douglas fairbanks was born douglas elton thomas ullman in denver, colorado, to ella adelaide nee. Douglas fairbanks jr, the american actor, socialite and businessman, who has died in new york aged 90, had. He was highly decorated naval officer of world war ii. A life more thrilling than any film he was not only one of the most famous hollywood stars of the golden era but a war hero who received the highest awards for bravery and a.
What has always been at the heart of film making was the value of a script, contends the actor. Strange spiritual obsessions begin to unearth ageold secrets in a small northwest town, leading a pastor to suspect that all might not be as idyllic as he first imagined and personal threats await anyone who dares confront them. The followup to fairbankss first volume of memoirs salad days, 1988 finds him as charming and debonair as ever and abrim with tales of his naval service during ww ii. The name fairbanks came from his mothers first husband not his father, who abandoned the family when douglas was 5.
His movie career began to slow down during the 1950s but doug jr. Douglas fairbanks last will and testament hollywoodland. The douglas fairbanks museum preserving film history. He was reconciled with his actor son douglas fairbanks jr, but divorced from pickford and. Douglas fairbanks, original name douglas elton ulman, born may 23, 1883, denver, colo. A downonhisluck fellow saves a pretty woman from drowning herself and the two fall in love. Like mary pickford, he began acting early, appearing in a theater troupe in his teens. Decades past the silent film eras heyday, the legacy of one of the genres most beloved stars is still alive in hollywood. Secrecy electrified the affair of mary pickford and douglas. Douglas fairbanks jr, debonair actor, producer, administrator, bon. We will try to find the right answer to this particular crossword clue. Douglas fairbanks jr radio star old time radio downloads. Even as a youth, fairbanks restlessness would not be satisfied by mere film work.
After the world war ii, his star waned and, despite a moving part in ghost story 1981, he did not appear in a major movie. His marriage to actress mary pickford in 1920 made them hollywoods first celebrity couple. Highly recommend reading about an actor that it is unlikely that many people appreciate for his work outside of the acting world. In the 1920s, douglas fairbanks was the king of hollywood. Presents 195357, and of his remaining rare screen performances, almost all were for tv, notably the crooked hearts abc, 1972, with rosalind russell, arthur. His athletic prowess, gallant romanticism, and natural sincerity made him king of hollywood during the 1920s. Born in 1909, fairbanks is, of course, the son of movie swashbuckler douglas fairbanks. When fairbanks published the second of his three autobiographies, the salad days in 1988, times film critic kenneth turan chided the actor. Dadwasacad memoirs written by the disgruntled offspring of yesterdays movie. Douglas was the son of silent screen legend douglas fairbanks sr. Sep 01, 2017 a downonhisluck fellow saves a pretty woman from drowning herself and the two fall in love. He had many interests, including painting, sculpting and business. He could easily have spent the war years starring in lighthearted entertainments.
The wedding was the culmination of an engagement for the last two years, during which time there were many. Secrecy electrified the affair of mary pickford and. Janis joplin, douglas fairbanks jr and raquel welch discuss their childhoods the dick cavett show. Fairbanks was born douglas elton ullman, and his father, hezekiah ullman, was a jew. Hollywood fairbanks worked briefly for his fatherinlaw, but when triangle film corporation offered fairbanks his first film. Celebrity wills douglas fairbanks wills million to his widow by allan r. Douglas fairbanks jnr, the swashbuckling film star and diehard anglophile. Fairbanks was born on december 9, 1909 in new york city, new york. Movie star who picked up his fathers swashbuckling style and later cut a dash in. Todays crossword puzzle clue is a general knowledge one. Dashing, handsome, and connected, douglas fairbanks jr. First of all, we will look for a few extra hints for this entry. A few years later, when doug jr told his father, now married to mary. He was the son of legendary silent movie actor douglas fairbanks.
Douglas fairbanks died relatively young, aged 56, in 1939. Leonard fairbanks mother, beth sully, the first wife of douglas fairbanks, sr. In 1949 he was made an honorary knight commander of the most excellent order of the british empire. He was the silent screen father of his talking pictures son, actor douglas fairbanks jr. Naval history magazine recently showcased a fascinating relic of the u. Douglas fairbanks jr, who has died aged 90, carried his fathers name. Douglas elton fairbanks born douglas elton thomas ullman. Reading this followed with a hell of a war written by fairbanks, jr. Director barbara kopple spent a year filming nearly 200 kentucky coalmining families and their battle to unionize.
May 7, 2000 age 90 in new york city, new york, usa. The vast majority of his movies were made before 1940, at which. He was best known for his swashbuckling roles in silent films including the thief of bagdad, robin hood, and the mark of zorro, but spent the early part of his career making comedies. Douglas fairbanks was called douglas elton thomas ullman when he was born in denver in 1883. Douglas fairbanks jr, who has died aged 90, carried his fathers name proudly, though he had to overcome paternal neglect and the comparison with one of hollywoods legendary stars. December 9, 1909 may 7, 2000 was an american actor and a highly decorated naval officer of world war ii. It was only a few years before he died, in 1939, that we became friends. Jean dujardins lead character in the artist was loosely based on douglas fairbanks, and an homage to the actor is visible with the inclusion of a zorro scene in the 2011 film.
May 23, 1883 december 12, 1939 was an american actor, screenwriter, director, and producer. May 08, 2000 douglas fairbanks jr douglas fairbanks jr, the american actor, socialite and businessman, who has died in new york aged 90, had a struggle to escape from the shade into which he was cast by the. Out of films as an actor by 1951 except for a welcome return in 1981s ghost story, fairbanks concentrated on the production end for the next decade. May 07, 2000 in 1949 he was made an honorary knight commander of the most excellent order of the british empire.
He was the son of actor douglas fairbanks and was once married to joan crawford. Ever surrounded by legendary names, he had mary pickford as a stepmother, marlene dietrich as a lover, was briefly married to joan crawford, and even featured in. His parents divorced when he was nine years old, and both remarried. Apr 22, 2016 for movie fans, it was a match made in heaven, the perfect hollywood romance, the true love story of a prince and a flapper. For movie fans, it was a match made in heaven, the perfect hollywood romance, the true love story of a prince and a flapper. Although he appeared in approximately 100 movies or tv shows, douglas fairbanks, jr. By romancing the girl, he destroys all chances of marrying an heiress. The film was released three months before the enforcement of the production code, which in addition to policing onscreen morals, banned content directly critical of the american business system. Now, were stretching it a bit here, for hezekiah abandoned his family when douglas was five, and its unlikely that his. He was known as the king of hollywood before the title was given to clark gable. Dec 01, 2017 douglas fairbanks was called douglas elton thomas ullman when he was born in denver in 1883.
Douglas fairbanks, jr 19092000 find a grave memorial. Ever surrounded by legendary names, he had mary pickford as a stepmother, marlene dietrich as a lover, was briefly married to joan crawford, and even featured in a british government sex scandal of the 1960s. A life more thrilling than any film he was not only one of the most famous hollywood stars of the golden era but a war hero. However, the environment he was born into and the circumstances naturally led him to be a thespian. On an october night in the fall of 1927, joan crawford laid eyes on the young and dashingly handsome douglas fairbanks, jr. Although he appeared in approximately 100 movies or tv shows, douglas elton ulmanbetter known as douglas fairbanks jr. She doesnt know what her next picture is to be but she hopes it wont start the day dodo finishes his. Nevertheless, he took his chance when paramount offered him a part in a film called stephen steps out 1923. Jul 12, 2012 the douglas fairbanks museum will be closed from nov. Doyle new york will hold a major auction of items from the estate of the late douglas fairbanks, jr. Douglas fairbanks jr douglas fairbanks jr, the american actor, socialite and businessman, who has died in new york aged 90, had a struggle to escape from the shade into which he was cast by the. Though he produced a few features during the 50s, he turned primarily to television, hosting, producing and sometimes acting in the british anthology series douglas fairbanks jr. May 08, 2000 douglas fairbanks jr, who has died aged 90, carried his fathers name proudly, though he had to overcome paternal neglect and the comparison with one of hollywoods legendary stars. Douglas fairbanks 18831939 american experience official site.