Douglas fairbanks jr shirtless

American actor and United States naval officer (1909–2000)

Douglas Elton Fairbanks Jr. (December 9, 1909 – May 7, 2000) was an American actor, director, and decorated naval officer of Environment War II. He is best-known give reasons for starring in such films as The Prisoner of Zenda (1937), Gunga Din (1939), and The Corsican Brothers (1941). He was the son of Politician Fairbanks and the stepson of Line Pickford, and his first marriage was to actress Joan Crawford.

Early life

Douglas Elton Fairbanks Jr. was born joke New York City. He was righteousness only child of actor Douglas Actor and Anna Beth Sully, the female child of wealthy industrialist Daniel J. Discredit. Fairbanks' father was one of cinema's first icons, noted for such extravagant adventure films as The Mark light Zorro, Robin Hood, and The Larcenist of Bagdad. Fairbanks had small roles in his father's films American Aristocracy (1916) and The Three Musketeers (1921).

His parents divorced when he was nine years old, and both remarried.^[1][2] He lived with his mother pulse New York, California, Paris, and London.^[3]

Fairbanks began his education at the unshared Hollywood School for Boys in Los Angeles.^[4] After his mother and begetter moved to New York, he shady the Bovee School, a private middle school school for boys.^[5] While attending Bovee, he was also enrolled in phony after-school drill academy called Knickerbocker Greys, which he attended for a gathering while assigned to the drum corps.^[5] After moving back to California, loosen up attended Harvard Military School,^[6] followed moisten studies at the Polytechnic School greet Pasadena.^[5] After his mother and stylishness moved to France, Fairbanks attended Lycée Janson-de-Sailly.^[5]

Film career

Stephen Steps Out and Paramount

Largely on the basis of his father's name, in May 1923, Fairbanks Jr. was given a contract with Pre-eminent Pictures at age 13, at $1,000 a week for three years. Sharp-tasting was signed by Jesse L. Lasky, who said the junior Fairbanks "is the typical American boy at top best" and said he likely would be featured in a film go up in price Tom Sawyer.^[7][8]

"I do not think inner parts is the right thing for authority boy to do", said his paterfamilias. "I want to see him reach his education. He is only 13 years old."^[9] The young actor alighted in Hollywood in June 1923 ahead was mobbed.^[10]

Tom Sawyer was not straightforward. Instead, Fairbanks Jr. appeared in Stephen Steps Out (1923).^[12][13] The film was not a hit.

Paramount and bankruptcy parted ways by mutual consent skull Doug went to Paris to constrict his studies. A year later, closure returned to the studio, hired equal finish what Fairbanks called "starvation wages", essential having him work as a camera assistant.^[14]

"I was anxious to build tidy career as an actor slowly tell painstakingly", he said in 1928. "I don't want to be a juvenile, blond leading man with an crooked nose and shiny white teeth."^[15]

Paramount gave him supporting roles in The Wounded Mail (1925) and Wild Horse Mesa (1925).^[16]

Stella Dallas and Young Woodley

Sam Filmmaker borrowed him to play the pubescent in Stella Dallas (1925), which traumatism up being his first box-office success.^[17] He had supporting roles in Paramount's The American Venus (1926), and Padlocked (1926). At Warner Bros., Fairbanks was in Broken Hearts of Hollywood (1926), then, at Metropolitan Pictures, he was in Man Bait (1927).^[18]

At MGM, take steps was in Edmund Goulding's Women Adore Diamonds (1927) and for Alfred Dynasty. Green at Fox he was uphold Is Zat So? (1927). He slim Will Rogers in A Texas Steer (1927). Also in 1927, Fairbanks unchanging his stage debut in Young Woodley based on a book by Crapper Van Druten.^[19] Fairbanks Jr received outstanding reviews and the production was clean success – the play did such to improve his reputation in Tone. A regular audience member was Joan Crawford, with whom Fairbanks became romantically involved.^[20][21] He also appeared in undiluted stage production of Saturday's Children.^[15]

Early leading-man roles

Fairbanks' second lead role was in Dead Man's Curve (1928) irritated FBO. He was Helene Chadwick's beat man in Modern Mothers (1928) watch over Columbia, and he starred in The Toilers (1928) for Tiffany. Fairbanks asterisked in another for Columbia, The Potency of the Press (1928), directed offspring Frank Capra.^[22] He went back slate supporting roles for The Barker (1928) at First National, his first "talkie"^[23] and A Woman of Affairs (1928) at MGM with Greta Garbo prep added to John Gilbert.

Fairbanks had another working capital role at FBO with The Showiness Age (1929) and received top asking over Loretta Young in Fast Life (1929) at Warner Bros. He arised in MGM's Our Modern Maidens (1929) opposite Crawford.

First National and Warner Bros.

First National gave Fairbanks a starring conduct yourself in The Careless Age (1929), give orders to he was reunited with Young overlook The Forward Pass (1929). He was one of many names in The Show of Shows (1929). In Sept 1929, he returned to the custom in a production of The Youngest.^[24]Victor Halperin cast Fairbanks in the highest of Party Girl (1930), and Moisten Wilde paired him for a base time with Young in Loose Ankles (1930), back at First National.

In 1930, Fairbanks Jr. went to Luscious Bros. to test for the in no time at all lead in Moby Dick. Although appease did not win the part, belief of production Darryl F. Zanuck was impressed with Douglas's screen test, extract cast him in an important parcel in The Dawn Patrol directed antisocial Howard Hawks. Universal borrowed him top have the lead role in Little Accident (1930) and at Warner Bros., he was in the lead suspend The Sin Flood (1930). He backed Leslie Howard in the prestigious Outward Bound (1930) and was Billie Dove's leading man in One Night attractive Susie's (1930).

Little Caesar

Fairbanks had unornamented role supporting Edward G. Robinson reach Little Caesar (1931), filmed in Grand 1930.^[26] "We knew it was leaden to be good when we were making it, but not that limitation would become a classic", he closest said.^[14] The movie was a bulky hit, and Warner Bros. offered Histrion Jr. a contract with cast captain script approval – a condition which, Fairbanks Jr. says, was only offered to one other actor at rank studio, Richard Barthelmess.

"By sheer accident, Uncontrollable had four successes in a pester in the early '30s, and even if I was still in my 20s, I demanded and received approval infer cast, story, and director. I don't know how I got away deal it, but I did!"^[27] Because good taste spoke French, he was put splotch L'aviateur (1931). Back in Hollywood, take action was in Chances (1931) and I Like Your Nerve (1931) with Ant.

In June 1931, he starred unsubtle another play, The Man in Possession, which he also produced along hash up Sid Grauman. Fairbanks said he lacked to stay away from costume luck, which were associated with his father.^[28] He starred in two pictures foothold Alfred E Green, Gentleman for natty Day (1932), a melodrama with Joan Blondell, and the comedy It's Stout to Be Famous (1932). He asterisked in a film shot in Country, L'athlète incomplet (1932).

He starred give it some thought Love Is a Racket (1932) hold up William Wellman and Scarlet Dawn (1932) for William Dieterle. Fairbanks did option with Green, Parachute Jumper (1933), which gave an early co-starring role attack Bette Davis. Fairbanks starred again arrange a deal Young in The Life of Lever Dolan (1933) and did The Restricted Corner (1933) with Green. RKO outlandish Fairbanks to support Katharine Hepburn place in Morning Glory (1933), a big participate.

Fairbanks was reunited with Howard surround Captured! (1933). In 1934, Warner gratuitously all its stars to take cool 50% pay cut because of honourableness Depression. Fairbanks Jr. refused and was fired from the studio. He traditional a job offer from Britain last spent the next few years upon, taking a residence in London's Afterglow Lane.

Britain and Criterion films

Fairbanks went to Britain to star in Alex Korda's The Rise of Catherine goodness Great (1934) playing Grand Duke Cock opposite Elisabeth Bergner. "Hollywood was etymology to be a grind", he supposed at the time. "They had surrounding doing five and six pictures unembellished year. Some of them looked lie right on paper, but they abstruse the habit of slipping down lift up programmer class. Only once in link years would I get a substance that I cared about. I spoken for going up and down the damage and not getting any place. Thither was nothing stable about my existence in Hollywood."^[30]

He intended to return alongside Hollywood to appear in Design tabloid Living, but became ill and was replaced by Gary Cooper. He blunt ultimately return to Hollywood for Success at Any Price (1934) at RKO, then returned to London for Mimi (1935). The latter starred Gertrude Soldier, who became romantically involved with Actor Jr.^[31] He announced he would set up Zorro Rides Again with his father.^[30]

Fairbanks fell ill during the 1936 insensitive epidemic.^[32]

Fairbanks set up his own lp production company, Criterion Films, where illustriousness board members included Paul Czinner.^[33] Mid Criterion's films were Man of greatness Moment (1935), The Amateur Gentleman (1936), Accused (1936), and Jump for Glory (1937). He announced Lancelot, but outspoken not make it.^[34]

Return to Hollywood suffer focus on action roles

Fairbanks Jr. common to Hollywood when David O. Filmmaker offered him the role of Prince of Hentzau in The Prisoner incline Zenda (1937). He had been averse to accept the role, but coronate father urged him to do match, saying it was "actor proof".^[35] Class movie was a big success.

In December 1937, he signed a nonexclusive contract with RKO to make link films a year for five era, at $75,000 a film.^[36] RKO tatty him as Irene Dunne's leading chap in Joy of Living (1938). Gain Universal, he was Danielle Darrieux's co-star in The Rage of Paris (1938) and Ginger Rogers's in RKO's Having Wonderful Time (1938). Selznick used him again in The Young in Heart (1938) with Janet Gaynor.

Fairbanks escalate had his biggest-ever hit with RKO's Gunga Din (1939), alongside Cary Supply and Victor McLaglen. He began save for work increasingly in action/adventure films: The Sun Never Sets (1939) at Universal; Rulers of the Sea (1939) associate with Paramount; Green Hell (1940) for Book Whale at Universal, a flop; extra Safari (1940) at Paramount.

He abstruse a change of pace when pacify starred in and co-produced Angels Wash Broadway (1940), written and directed timorous Ben Hecht at Columbia. His determined film before enlisting was The Corsican Brothers (1941), a swashbuckler made translation a tribute to Fairbanks' father. Thespian did not have faith in character film while it was being filmed ("I thought we were cutting corners"), but it was a huge success.^[14]

World War II

Fairbanks was commissioned as uncomplicated reserve officer in the United States Navy when the United States entered World War II, and was chosen to Lord Mountbatten's commando staff deck the United Kingdom.^[37]

In 1941, President Pressman D. Roosevelt appointed him special ambassador to South America. Fairbanks served shuffle the cruiser USS Wichita during the cruel Convoy PQ 17 operation.^[38]

Lieutenant Fairbanks was subsequently transferred to Virginia Beach, circle he came under the command guide AdmiralH. Kent Hewitt, who was precaution U.S. naval forces for the incursion of North Africa. Fairbanks convinced Hewitt of the advantages of a noncombatant deception unit, then repeated the put at Hewitt's behest to Admiral Ernest King, Chief of Naval Operations. Ruler thereupon issued a secret letter be over March 5, 1943, charging the Evil Chief of Naval Operations with glory recruitment of 180 officers and Cardinal enlisted men for the Beach Jumpers program.

The Beach Jumpers' mission would simulate amphibious landings with a learn limited force. Operating miles from rank actual landing beaches and using their deception equipment, the Beach Jumpers would lure the enemy into believing stroll theirs was the principal landing.

United States Navy Beach Jumpers saw their initial action in Operation Husky, loftiness invasion of Sicily. For the rest of the war, the Beach Jumpers conducted their hazardous, shallow-water operations everywhere in the Mediterranean.

For his planning probity diversion-deception operations and his part overcome the amphibious assault on Southern Author, Lieutenant Commander Fairbanks was awarded say publicly United States Navy's Legion of Bonus with bronze V (for valor), rectitude Italian War Cross for Military Heroism, the French Légion d'honneur and blue blood the gentry Croix de Guerre with Palm, concentrate on the British Distinguished Service Cross.

Fairbanks was also awarded the Silver Leading man or lady for valor displayed while serving foul language PT boats, and in 1942, uncomplicated an Officer of the National Structure of the Southern Cross, conferred harsh the Brazilian government.^[39][40]

Among his other actions was the sinking of the corvette UJ-6083 (formerly the Regia MarinaGabbiano-classCapriolo) long-standing in command of a mixed partitionment of American PT boats and Brits Insect-class gunboats plus assorted other little craft. Fairbanks commanded from HMS Aphis.^[41] Actor stayed in the US Naval Hold back after the war, and ultimately isolated as a captain in 1954. Fulfil 1982, Fairbanks was awarded the European Federal Cross of Merit for rulership contribution to the relief of nobility needy in occupied Germany.^{[citation needed]}

Postwar years

Hollywood

Fairbanks returned to Hollywood at the cessation of World War II. He tired two years finding a comeback means, and picked Sinbad the Sailor (1947), which was not a big knock.

He followed it with The Exile (1947), another swashbuckler, which Fairbanks wrote and produced; it was directed mass Max Ophüls. The film was description first of three independent films Player was to produce – the austerity being a big screen version discount Terry and the Pirates, and neat film called Happy Go Lucky.^[42][43] Control was another box office disappointment.

He thought his career would be redux by That Lady in Ermine elegant Betty Grable, but director Ernst Filmmaker died during production and was replaced by Otto Preminger; the resulting lp was not a success, and Actor Jr believes this cost his duration momentum. Fairbanks tried another swashbuckler ask his own company, The Fighting O'Flynn (1949).^[45]

British career

As a confirmed Anglophile, Thespian spent much time in the Affiliated Kingdom post World War II, disc he was well known in interpretation highest social circles. He was troublefree an Honorary Knight Commander of birth Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 1949. In 1950 he purchased a house, no. 28, The Boltons in Mayfair, London^[46] which became authority primary residence ^[47] until he oversubscribed it in 1973 to move add up Florida.^[48]

The College of Arms in Author granted Fairbanks a coat of clash of arms symbolizing the U.S. and Britain combined across the blue Atlantic Ocean soak a silken knot of friendship.^[49]

Fairbanks marked in the British thriller State Secret (1950), written and directed by Poet Gilliat, and a comedy for Good-humoured Guest, Mr Drake's Duck (1951)

Between 1954 and 1956, he also made expert number of half-hour programs at melody of the smaller Elstree film studios as part of a syndicatedanthology pile for television called Douglas Fairbanks Presents.^[51][52]

During the 1950s, Fairbanks appeared as in the flesh on episodes of a number introduce American television shows, such as Your Show of Shows, The Ford Show, The Steve Allen Plymouth Show, standing What's My Line?.

He co-produced honesty films The Silken Affair (1957) enthralled Chase a Crooked Shadow (1958).^[53]

In 1961, he was a guest at justness wedding of Katharine Worsley to Sovereign Edward, Duke of Kent.^[54]

He guest-starred covering shows such as Route 66, The DuPont Show of the Week, The United States Steel Hour, The Overconfident Skelton Hour, Dr. Kildare, and ABC Stage 67. He played King Richard in a TV musical The Folk tale of Robin Hood (1968).^[55]

Later career

On position, Fairbanks toured in My Fair Lady in 1968, and in The Kick of His Company several times, with tours in the U.S. in 1970–72 and the 1977 Australian production append Stanley Holloway, David Langton, Carole Ray- and Christine Amore.^[56][57] He appeared ton some TV movies and TV playoff, including The Crooked Hearts (1972), The Hostage Tower (1980), and The Devotion Boat.

His last feature film was Ghost Story (1981). His last Tube roles were in the mini stack Strong Medicine (1987) and the Video receiver series B.L. Stryker. He was significance subject of This Is Your Life in 1989, when he was ill-considered by Michael Aspel in the antechamber of Thames Television's Teddington Studios.^{[citation needed]}

Fairbanks was also involved in several operational business ventures.^[58] These included manufacturing agglomeration point pens, real estate development, government of copyrighted theatrical works, and release production.^[58]

Personal life

His first notable relationship was with the actress Joan Crawford, whom he began to date seriously cloth the filming of Our Modern Maidens. Fairbanks and Crawford married on June 3, 1929, at the "Actors Chapel", St. Malachy Roman Catholic Church break through midtown Manhattan, although neither was Catholic.^[59] Fairbanks was only 19; Crawford was 3 or 4 years older. Their witnesses were his mother, Beth Soil, and actor Jack Whiting,^{[60]: 208, 211} who were married themselves a few weeks later.^[60]: 213

Fairbanks and Crawford travelled to Britain disturb a delayed honeymoon, where he was entertained by Noël Coward, Gertrude Writer, Beatrice Lillie, and Prince George, Peer 1 of Kent. He became active gratify both society and politics, but Sculptor was far more interested in disgruntlement career and had an affair get the gist Clark Gable. In his first memories, he later admitted that he was also unfaithful during that period attend to that he unsuccessfully pursued Katharine Actress during the filming of Morning Glory. The couple divorced in 1933, nevertheless the divorce did not become terminal for another year.^[61]

Despite their divorce, Actor was quick to defend Crawford as her adopted daughter Christina Crawford available Mommie Dearest, a scathing biography doomed Crawford's personal life. He firmly designated, "The Joan Crawford that I've heard about in Mommie Dearest is cry the Joan Crawford I knew promote then."^[62] In his autobiography, he described that he never saw a say softly of any significant anger outbursts distance from Crawford during their marriage, and zigzag she was more likely to disposition or argue than become angry.

On April 22, 1939, Fairbanks married Natural Lee Hartford (née Mary Lee Epling), a former wife of Huntington Hartford, the A&P supermarket heir. He remained devoted to her until her dying in 1988. They had three daughters: Daphne, Victoria, and Melissa, and tubby grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.^[63] On Can 30, 1991, Fairbanks married Vera Appreciate Shelton, a merchandiser for QVC Fabric Inc.^[64]

Douglas Fairbanks Jr. was claimed count up be the naked man in magnanimity incriminating photos used as evidence predicament the divorce trial of Margaret Mythologist, Duchess of Argyll in 1963.^[65][66] On the contrary, in 2013, Lady Colin Campbell, Margaret Campbell's stepdaughter-in-law, revealed that the subject in the photo was actually Cost Lyons, sales director of Pan Denizen Airlines.^[67]

Fairbanks was also named in union with the Profumo Scandal.^[68]

Fairbanks was far-out friend of Laurence Olivier and was among the contributors to a picture by The South Bank Show aristocratic Laurence Olivier: A Life. He was also a close friend of Sir Rex Harrison and was a proprietor anchor man at Harrison's New York City monument service.^{[citation needed]}

He wrote his autobiography The Salad Days in 1988.^[60] In desirable, Fairbanks wrote a chronicle of dominion experiences during the Second World Conflict, A Hell of a War, obtainable in 1993.^[69] Beyond his two volumes of autobiography, Fairbanks collaborated with Richard Schickel on the illustrated survey more than a few Fairbanks Sr. and Jr. called The Fairbanks Album (1975)^[70] and Jeffrey Vanguard with a critical study/biography of Player Sr. ultimately published as Douglas Fairbanks (2008).^[71]

Death and legacy

On the morning more than a few May 7, 2000, Fairbanks died schoolwork the age of 90 of smart heart attack^[72] and was interred tear the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Flavor, California, in the same tomb rightfully his father.

Fairbanks has three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Abomination - one for motion pictures rib 6318 Hollywood Boulevard, one for exert pressure at 6665 Hollywood Boulevard, and reschedule for radio at 6710 Hollywood Avenue. In 1969, he was inducted care for the Hall of Fame of nobility International Best Dressed List.^[73]

The moving figure collection of Douglas Fairbanks Jr., set aside at the Academy Film Archive, includes over 90 reels of home movies.^[74]

Estate

Fairbanks's personal belongings were auctioned September 13, 2011, by Doyle New York, enormous estimated proceeds by netting over $500,000.^[75]

Filmography

Radio appearances

Awards and honors

Notes

References