Acting · New York City, New York, USA · Born December 9, 1909
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.
MovieThe Real Charlie Chaplin
2021
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Movie1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year
2009
as Self (archive footage)
MovieMary Pickford: The Muse of the Movies
2008
as Self (archive footage)
MovieLittle Caesar: End of Rico, Beginning of the Antihero
2005
as Self (archive footage)
On Location with Gunga Din
2004
as Self / Thomas Anthony Ballantine (archive footage)
Checking Out: Grand Hotel
2004
as Self (archive footage)
MovieJoan Crawford: The Ultimate Movie Star
2002
as Self (archive footage)
MovieGoldwyn: The Man and His Movies
2001
as Self (archive footage)
MovieMary Pickford: A Life on Film
2000
as Self
MovieStar Power: The Creation Of United Artists
1998
as Self
MovieJoan Crawford: Always the Star
1996
as Self (archive footage)
MovieThe Battle Over Citizen Kane
1996
as Self
Stars and Stripes: Hollywood and World War II
1991
as Self
MovieVivien Leigh: Scarlett and Beyond
1990
as Self
MovieYou're the Top: The Cole Porter Story
1990
as Self
MovieNight of 100 Stars III
1990
as Self
TVB.L. Stryker
1989
as White
TVAmerican Experience
1988
as Self
MovieCary Grant: A Celebration of a Leading Man
1988
as Self
MovieHollywood Uncensored
1987
as Self - Host
TVThe Dame Edna Experience
1987
as Self
TVStrong Medicine
1986
as Eli Camperdown
MovieStrong Medicine
1986
as Eli Camperdown
MovieGeorge Stevens: A Filmmaker's Journey
1985
as Self
The Compleat Gilbert & Sullivan
1984
as Self - Host
MovieThe Mikado
1983
as Self
MovieHollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
1983
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
MovieLa Belle Epoque
1983
as Self / Narrator
MovieLaurence Olivier: a life
1982
as Self
TVYesteryear
1982
as Self
MovieCox and Box
1982
as Self - Host
MovieTrial by Jury
1982
as Self - Host
MovieH.M.S. Pinafore
1982
as Self - Host
MovieThe Pirates of Penzance
1982
as Self - Host
MovieThe Gondoliers
1982
as Self - Host
MovieIolanthe
1982
as Self - Host
MovieNight of 100 Stars
1982
as Self
MovieGhost Story
1981
as Edward Charles Wanderley
MovieFrom Raquel with Love
1980
as The Almighty
MovieThe Hostage Tower
1980
as Malcolm Philpott
TVHollywood
1980
as Self
The Art of Film: The Many Roles of Alec Guinness
1978
as Narrator
MovieThe Art of Film: Vintage Hitchcock
1978
as Narrator
Kingdom Of Gifts
1978
as The Proud King
TVThe Love Boat
1977
as Elliott Norman
TVDinah!
1974
as Self
TVThe American Film Institute Salute to ...
1973
as Self
MovieThe Crooked Hearts
1972
as Rex Willoughby
Film '72
1971
as Self
TVThe Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
1971
as Self
TVGreat Performances
1971
as Self
The Pearl Bailey Show
1971
as Self
MovieRed and Blue
1968
as Millionaire
TVThe Dick Cavett Show
1968
as Self - Guest
MovieThe Legend of Robin Hood
1968
as King Richard
MovieRed, White, and Zero
1968
as Millionaire
TVRowan & Martin's Laugh-In
1968
as Self (uncredited)
The Funniest Man in the World
1967
as Narrator
TVOmnibus
1967
as Self - Narrator
The Canterville Ghost
1966
as Mr. Otis
TVABC Stage 67
1966
as Mr. Otis
TVThe Merv Griffin Show
1962
as Self
TVThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
as Self
TVThe Mike Douglas Show
1961
as Self - Co-Host
TVDr. Kildare
1961
as Dr. Robert Devlin
TVRoute 66
1960
as Charles Clayton
The Big Party
1959
as Self – Host
MovieChase a Crooked Shadow
1958
as Self - Epilogue (uncredited)
TVThe Dinah Shore Chevy Show
1956
as Self
The Ford Show
1956
as Self
The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show
1956
as Self
TVThe Steve Allen Show
1956
as Self
TVCinépanorama
1956
as Self
MovieThe Awakening
1954
as Self - Host
Three's Company
1953
as Narrator / Anthony
The Genie
1953
as The Genie
TVDouglas Fairbanks, Jr., Presents
1953
as Self - Host
MovieMr. Drake's Duck
1951
as Donald 'Don' Drake
MovieState Secret
1950
as Dr. John Marlowe
MovieThe Costume Designer
1950
as Self (archive footage)
TVThe Bob Hope Show
1950
as Self
TVYour Show of Shows
1950
as Self
TVWhat's My Line?
1950
as Self
MovieThe Fighting O'Flynn
1949
as The O'Flynn
MovieThat Lady in Ermine
1948
as Colonel Ladislas Karolyi Teglas / The Duke
TVThe Ed Sullivan Show
1948
as Self
MovieThe Exile
1947
as Charles II
MovieSinbad the Sailor
1947
as Sinbad
MovieThe Corsican Brothers
1941
as Lucien Franchi / Mario Franchi
MovieAngels Over Broadway
1940
as Bill O'Brien
MovieCavalcade of the Academy Awards
1940
as Self
MovieSafari
1940
as Jim Logan
MovieGreen Hell
1940
as Keith Brandon
MovieRulers of the Sea
1939
as David 'Davie' Gillespie
MovieThe Sun Never Sets
1939
as John Randolph
MovieGunga Din
1939
as Thomas Anthony Ballantine
MovieHollywood Goes to Town
1938
as Self
MovieThe Young in Heart
1938
as Richard Carleton
MovieHaving Wonderful Time
1938
as Chick Kirkland
MovieThe Rage of Paris
1938
as Jim Trevor
MovieJoy of Living
1938
as Daniel 'Dan' Brewster
MovieThe Prisoner of Zenda
1937
as Rupert of Hentzau
MovieJump for Glory
1937
as Ricky Morgan
MovieAccused
1936
as Tony Seymour
MovieThe Amateur Gentleman
1936
as John Beverley aka Barnabas Barty
MovieMan of the Moment
1935
as Tony Woodward
MovieMimi
1935
as Rodolphe
MovieSuccess at Any Price
1934
as Joe Martin
MovieThe Rise of Catherine the Great
1934
as Grand Duke Peter
MovieCaptured!
1933
as Lieutenant Fred Digby
MovieMorning Glory
1933
as Joseph Sheridan
MovieThe Narrow Corner
1933
as Fred Blake
MovieThe Life of Jimmy Dolan
1933
as Jimmy
MovieParachute Jumper
1933
as Bill Keller
MovieScarlet Dawn
1932
as Baron Nikita 'Nikki' Krasnoff
MovieHollywood on Parade No. A-3
1932
as Self
MovieHollywood on Parade No. A-1
1932
as Self
MovieLove is a Racket
1932
as James 'Jimmy' Russell
MovieIt's Tough to Be Famous
1932
as Scott 'Scotty' McClenahan
MovieUnion Depot
1932
as Charles 'Chick' Miller
MovieHow I Play Golf, by Bobby Jones No. 10: 'Trouble Shots'
1931
as Self - Golfer (uncredited)
MovieI Like Your Nerve
1931
as Larry O'Brien
MovieChances
1931
as Jack Ingleside
MovieThe Stolen Jools
1931
as Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
MovieThe Aviator
1931
as Alain
MovieLittle Caesar
1931
as Joe Massara
MovieOne Night at Susie's
1930
as Dick Rollins
MovieOutward Bound
1930
as Henry
MovieThe Way of All Men
1930
as Billy Bear
MovieScreen Snapshots Series 10, No. 1
1930
as Self
MovieLittle Accident
1930
as Norman Overbeck
MovieAn Intimate Dinner in Celebration of Warner Bros. Silver Jubilee
1930
as Self
MovieThe Dawn Patrol
1930
as Douglas 'Doug' Scott
MovieLoose Ankles
1930
as Gil
MovieParty Girl
1930
as Jay Rountree
MovieThe Show of Shows
1929
as Ambrose in 'Bicycle Built for Two' Number (uncredited)
MovieThe Forward Pass
1929
as Marty Reid
MovieThe Careless Age
1929
as Wyn
MovieOur Modern Maidens
1929
as Gil Jordan
MovieFast Life
1929
as Douglas Stratton
MovieThe Jazz Age
1929
as Steve Maxwell
MovieA Woman of Affairs
1928
as Jeffry Merrick
MovieThe Power of the Press
1928
as Clem Rogers
MovieThe Barker
1928
as Chris Miller
MovieThe Toilers
1928
as Steve
MovieModern Mothers
1928
as David Starke
MovieThe Garden of Eden
1928
as Busboy (uncredited)
MovieDead Man's Curve
1928
as Vernon Keith
MovieA Texas Steer
1927
as Farleigh Bright
MovieIs Zat So?
1927
as G. Clifton Blackburn
MovieWomen Love Diamonds
1927
as Jerry Croker-Kelley
MovieMan Bait
1927
as Jeff Sanford
MovieBroken Hearts of Hollywood
1926
as Hal Terwilliger
MoviePadlocked
1926
as Sonny Galloway
MovieThe American Venus
1926
as Triton
MovieStella Dallas
1925
as Richard Grosvenor
MovieWild Horse Mesa
1925
as Chess Weymer
MovieThe Air Mail
1925
as Sandy
MovieStephen Steps Out
1923
as Stephen Harlow Jr.
MovieThe Three Musketeers
1921
as (uncredited)
MovieAmerican Aristocracy
1916
as Newsboy (uncredited)
