
Person
Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
Acting · 1909–2000 · New York City, New York, USA
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
Self

The Love Boat
Elliott Norman

The Mike Douglas Show
Self - Co-Host

Great Performances
Self

The Merv Griffin Show
Self

Omnibus
Self - Narrator

American Experience
Self

What's My Line?
Self

The Dick Cavett Show
Self - Guest

Dr. Kildare
Dr. Robert Devlin
Filmography
- 2021The Real Charlie ChaplinSelf (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 20091939: Hollywood's Greatest YearSelf (archive footage)
- 2008Mary Pickford: The Muse of the MoviesSelf (archive footage)
- 2007Anna May Wong - Frosted Yellow Willows: Her Life, Times and LegendIn Memory Of
- 2005Little Caesar: End of Rico, Beginning of the AntiheroSelf (archive footage)
- 2004On Location with Gunga DinSelf / Thomas Anthony Ballantine (archive footage)
- 2004Checking Out: Grand HotelSelf (archive footage)
- 2002Joan Crawford: The Ultimate Movie StarSelf (archive footage)
- 2001Goldwyn: The Man and His MoviesSelf (archive footage)
- 2000Mary Pickford: A Life on FilmSelf
- 1998Star Power: The Creation Of United ArtistsSelf
- 1996Joan Crawford: Always the StarSelf (archive footage)
- 1996The Battle Over Citizen KaneSelf
- 1991Stars and Stripes: Hollywood and World War IISelf
- 1990Vivien Leigh: Scarlett and BeyondSelf
- 1990You're the Top: The Cole Porter StorySelf
- 1990Night of 100 Stars IIISelf
- 1989B.L. StrykerWhite
- 1988American ExperienceSelf
- 1988Cary Grant: A Celebration of a Leading ManSelf
- 1987Hollywood UncensoredSelf - Host
- 1987The Dame Edna ExperienceSelf
- 1986Strong MedicineEli Camperdown
- 1986Strong MedicineEli Camperdown
- 1985George Stevens: A Filmmaker's JourneySelf
- 1984The Compleat Gilbert & SullivanSelf - Host
- 1983The MikadoSelf
- 1983Hollywood Out-takes and Rare FootageSelf (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 1983La Belle EpoqueSelf / Narrator
- 1982Laurence Olivier: A LifeSelf
- 1982YesteryearSelf
- 1982The Pirates of PenzanceSelf - Host
- 1982Trial by JurySelf - Host
- 1982Cox and BoxSelf - Host
- 1982H.M.S. PinaforeSelf - Host
- 1982The GondoliersSelf - Host
- 1982IolantheSelf - Host
- 1982Night of 100 StarsSelf
- 1981Ghost StoryEdward Wanderley
- 1980From Raquel with LoveThe Almighty
- 1980The Hostage TowerMalcolm Philpott
- 1980HollywoodSelf
- 1978The Art of Film: The Many Roles of Alec GuinnessNarrator
- 1978The Art of Film: Vintage HitchcockNarrator
- 1978Kingdom Of GiftsThe Proud King
- 1977The Love BoatElliott Norman
- 1975Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?Thanks
- 1974Dinah!Self
- 1973The American Film Institute Salute to ...Self
- 1972The Crooked HeartsRex Willoughby
- 1971Film '72Self
- 1971The Sonny & Cher Comedy HourSelf
- 1971Great PerformancesSelf
- 1971The Pearl Bailey ShowSelf
- 1968Red and BlueMillionaire
- 1968The Dick Cavett ShowSelf - Guest
- 1968The Legend of Robin HoodKing Richard
- 1968Red, White, and ZeroMillionaire
- 1968Rowan & Martin's Laugh-InSelf (uncredited)
- 1967The Funniest Man in the WorldNarrator
- 1967OmnibusSelf - Narrator
- 1966The Canterville GhostMr. Otis
- 1966ABC Stage 67Mr. Otis
- 1962The Merv Griffin ShowSelf
- 1962The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonSelf
- 1961The Mike Douglas ShowSelf - Co-Host
- 1961Dr. KildareDr. Robert Devlin
- 1960Route 66Charles Clayton
- 1959The Big PartySelf – Host
- 1958Chase a Crooked ShadowSelf - Epilogue (uncredited)
- 1956The Dinah Shore Chevy ShowSelf
- 1956The Ford ShowSelf
- 1956The Tennessee Ernie Ford ShowSelf
- 1956The Silken AffairExecutive Producer
- 1956The Steve Allen ShowSelf
- 1956CinépanoramaSelf
- 1955Police DogProducer
- 1954The AwakeningSelf - Host
- 1953Three's CompanyNarrator / Anthony
- 1953The GenieThe Genie
- 1953Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., PresentsSelf - Host
- 1951Mr. Drake's DuckDonald 'Don' Drake
- 1950State SecretDr. John Marlowe
- 1950The Costume DesignerSelf (archive footage)
- 1950Night and the CityCasting
- 1950The Bob Hope ShowSelf
- 1950Your Show of ShowsSelf
- 1950What's My Line?Self
- 1949The Fighting O'FlynnThe O'Flynn
- 1948That Lady in ErmineColonel Ladislas Karolyi Teglas / The Duke
- 1948The Ed Sullivan ShowSelf
- 1947The ExileCharles II
- 1947Sinbad the SailorSinbad
- 1941The Corsican BrothersLucien Franchi / Mario Franchi
- 1940Angels Over BroadwayBill O'Brien
- 1940Cavalcade of the Academy AwardsSelf
- 1940SafariJim Logan
- 1940Green HellKeith Brandon
- 1939Rulers of the SeaDavid 'Davie' Gillespie
- 1939The Sun Never SetsJohn Randolph
- 1939Gunga DinThomas Anthony Ballantine
- 1938Hollywood Goes to TownSelf
- 1938The Young in HeartRichard Carleton
- 1938Having Wonderful TimeChick Kirkland
- 1938The Rage of ParisJim Trevor
- 1938Joy of LivingDaniel 'Dan' Brewster
- 1937The Prisoner of ZendaRupert of Hentzau
- 1937Jump for GloryRicky Morgan
- 1936AccusedTony Seymour
- 1936The Amateur GentlemanJohn Beverley aka Barnabas Barty
- 1935Man of the MomentTony Woodward
- 1935MimiRodolphe
- 1934Success at Any PriceJoe Martin
- 1934The Rise of Catherine the GreatGrand Duke Peter
- 1933Captured!Lieutenant Fred Digby
- 1933Morning GloryJoseph Sheridan
- 1933The Narrow CornerFred Blake
- 1933The Life of Jimmy DolanJimmy
- 1933Parachute JumperBill Keller
- 1932Scarlet DawnBaron Nikita 'Nikki' Krasnoff
- 1932Hollywood on Parade No. A-3Self
- 1932Hollywood on Parade No. A-1Self
- 1932Love is a RacketJames 'Jimmy' Russell
- 1932It's Tough to Be FamousScott 'Scotty' McClenahan
- 1932Union DepotCharles 'Chick' Miller
- 1931How I Play Golf, by Bobby Jones No. 10: 'Trouble Shots'Self - Golfer (uncredited)
- 1931I Like Your NerveLarry O'Brien
- 1931ChancesJack Ingleside
- 1931The Stolen JoolsDouglas Fairbanks Jr.
- 1931The AviatorAlain
- 1931Little CaesarJoe Massara
- 1930One Night at Susie'sDick Rollins
- 1930Outward BoundHenry
- 1930The Way of All MenBilly Bear
- 1930Screen Snapshots Series 10, No. 1Self
- 1930Little AccidentNorman Overbeck
- 1930An Intimate Dinner in Celebration of Warner Bros. Silver JubileeSelf
- 1930The Dawn PatrolDouglas 'Doug' Scott
- 1930Loose AnklesGil
- 1930Party GirlJay Rountree
- 1929The Show of ShowsAmbrose in 'Bicycle Built for Two' Number (uncredited)
- 1929The Forward PassMarty Reid
- 1929The Careless AgeWyn
- 1929Our Modern MaidensGil Jordan
- 1929Fast LifeDouglas Stratton
- 1929The Jazz AgeSteve Maxwell
- 1928A Woman of AffairsJeffry Merrick
- 1928The Power of the PressClem Rogers
- 1928The BarkerChris Miller
- 1928The ToilersSteve
- 1928Modern MothersDavid Starke
- 1928The Garden of EdenBusboy (uncredited)
- 1928Dead Man's CurveVernon Keith
- 1927A Texas SteerFarleigh Bright
- 1927Is Zat So?G. Clifton Blackburn
- 1927Women Love DiamondsJerry Croker-Kelley
- 1927Man BaitJeff Sanford
- 1926Broken Hearts of HollywoodHal Terwilliger
- 1926PadlockedSonny Galloway
- 1926The American VenusTriton
- 1925Stella DallasRichard Grosvenor
- 1925Wild Horse MesaChess Weymer
- 1925The Air MailSandy
- 1923Stephen Steps OutStephen Harlow Jr.
- 1921The Three Musketeers(uncredited)
- 1916American AristocracyNewsboy (uncredited)
- —Marlene Dietrich: Home MoviesHimself
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