Biography
Coaxed into movies by Jesse Lasky, anxious to have the pull of the Fairbanks name, he alienated his father by debuting as a juvenile lead at the age of 13 in "Stephen Steps Out" (1923), causing Senior to remain hostile to his career for many years. On his way to full-fledged stardom, Fairbanks took his turn on the boards in a 1927 production of John Van Druten's "Young Woodley" before practically upstaging the great Greta Garbo with his …
Latest Tv Credits
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Career Milestones
| Made frequent appearances as an interview subject on TV documentaries spotlighting such talents as Cole Porter, Loretta Young and Vivian Leigh, and others about WWII | ||
1995 | Appeared as an interview subject in the Oscar-nominated documentary "The Battle Over Citizen Kane" (later aired on PBS in 1996) | |
1989 | Had final acting role in "Auntie Sue", an episode of "B.L. Stryker" (ABC) | |
1988 | Was interviewee for the feature documentary "Going Hollywood: The War Years" | |
1986 | Played Eli Camperdown in syndicated miniseries, "Arthur Hailey's 'Strong Medicine'" | |
1985 | Began hosting "The Compleat Gilbert & Sullivan" (PBS) | |
1985 | Was one of the interviewees for "George Stevens: A Filmmaker's Journey", a feature documentary directed by George Stevens Jr | |
1981 | Hosted and narrated the syndicated series "The Amazing Years of Cinema" | |
1981 | Made one-shot return to feature acting alongside Fred Astaire, John Houseman and Melvyn Douglas in "Ghost Story"; last film appearance as a fictional character | |
1972 | TV-movie debut as a wealthy bachelor targeted by a con woman (Rosalind Russell in her final screen role) in "The Crooked Hearts" (ABC) | |
1971 | Served as Naval member of the US military delegation to SEATO conference in London | |
| Starred as Henry Higgins in national tour of "My Fair Lady" | ||
1967 | Made rare big screen appearance in Tony Richardson's drama fantasy short "Red and Blue", acting with the director's then-wife Vanessa Redgrave; last film for 14 years | |
1966 | Played Ambassador Otis in a musical version of Oscar Wilde's "The Canterville Ghost" (adapted by Sheldon Harnick and Jerry Bock); aired on "ABC Stage '67" | |
1958 | Produced the feature "Chase a Crooked Shadow", directed by Michael Anderson | |
| Hosted and produced British-filmed TV anthology series, "Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Presents"; also acted in some of the episodes (aired in syndication in the USA under the title "Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Presents The Rheingold Theater") | ||
1951 | Formed The Dougfair Corporation | |
1951 | Retired temporarily from acting after "Mr. Drake's Duck" | |
1949 | Produced, starred and co-wrote screenplay for "The Fighting O'Flynn" | |
1947 | Perhaps showed his athletic prowess to best advantage in Max Ophuls' "The Exile"; also produced and scripted from Cosmo Hamilton's novel "His Majesty the King" | |
| Served as National Chairman of CARE and Share-through CARE committees | ||
| Served in WWII as Lieutenant Commander in US Navy; saw active duty aboard destroyer and mine sweeper (1941-1942); served as operations officer for Special Operations, US Amphibious Forces, Atlantic Fleet (1942-1944) | ||
1941 | Dashingly swashbuckled his way through dual role as "The Corsican Brothers" | |
| Appointed Presidential Envoy for Special Mission to South America by Franklin D Roosevelt | ||
1940 | Had starring role in the uneven jungle adventure "Green Hell", helmed by James Whale | |
1939 | Headed and was personally reponsible for Douglas Voluntary Hopitals in Great Britain | |
1939 | Helped organize British War Relief and was national chairman of CARE | |
1939 | Played one of the three soldier-comrades (along with Cary Grant and Victor McLaglen) in George Stevens' "Gunga Din" | |
1938 | Starred opposite Irene Dunne in delighful screwball musical comedy "Joy of Living" | |
1937 | Gave thrilling performance as attractive blackguard Rupert von Hentzau in "The Prisoner of Zenda"; first US movie since 1934; film reteamed him with Ronald Colman | |
1935 | Debut as film producer, "The Amateur Gentleman"; also starred | |
1935 | Formed own production company | |
1934 | London stage debut, "Moonlight Is Silver" | |
1934 | Went to Britain to play the Tsar opposite Elizabeth Bergner in "Catherine the Great"; remained in England for close to three years, making five more movies before returning to Hollywood | |
1933 | Portrayed Joseph Sheridan in "Morning Glory", a picture dominated by Katherine Hepburn in her first Oscar-winning role | |
1930 | Acted in Howard Hawks' "Dawn Patrol" | |
1929 | Appeared in "Our Modern Maidens" with then-wife Joan Crawford | |
1928 | Debut in talking pictures, "The Barker" | |
1928 | Practically upstaged the great Greta Garbo in "A Woman of Affairs" with his off-beat riveting performance as her alcoholic brother; most felt he did upstage leading man John Gilbert | |
1928 | Wrote titles for "The Gaucho", starring his father | |
1927 | Made stage debut in John Van Druten's "Young Woodley" in Los Angeles and on tour in San Francisco | |
1925 | Portrayed the suitor to Lois Moran's Laurel in the silent version of "Stella Dallas", starring Belle Bennett and Ronald Colman | |
1923 | Film acting debut in the silent "Stephen Steps Out" | |
| Lived in Paris with mother after her divorce from Douglas Fairbanks | ||