Biografia
Born on May 23, 1883 in Denver, Colorado, Douglas Fairbanks Sr. was a leading star of the silent film era. He was named Douglas Elton Ulman at birth, but he took the last name Fairbanks after his parents' divorce when he was a child. Fairbanks started acting in his early teens, appearing in local productions. A student at the Colorado School of Mines, he also performed in some school shows as well.
Heading east in 1900, Fairbanks made his way to New York City. His first role on Broadway came two years later in Her Lord and Master. More stage work soon followed with Fairbanks tackling both comedic and dramatic parts. In 1907, he began a dalliance with a business career after his marriage to Anna Beth Sully. But Fairbanks soon returned to his life as an actor. He and his wife welcomed a son, Douglas Jr., in 1909.
A successful stage actor, Fairbanks soon attracted the attention of the film industry. He made his movie debut in D.W. Griffith's The Lamb in 1915. Fairbanks made flurry of films over the next few years, including The Americano (1916).
Business Savvy Star
Fairbanks proved to be quite business savvy, signing a groundbreaking deal with Artcraft studios to produce his own films, starting with Reaching for the Moon (1917). This way he had more control of the quality and content of his movies — he even wrote or revised some of his film's scripts under the pseudonym Elton Thomas. Fairbanks quickly became a popular leading man, known for his charm, good nature and athletic prowess and physique.
In 1919, Fairbanks made another smart move. He teamed up with Charlie Chaplin, D.W. Griffith and Mary Pickford to launch the independent studio United Artists. His Majesty, the American was the first release by United Artists and starred Fairbanks.
Hollywood's Golden Couple
Douglas Fairbank's relationship with Mary Pickford should have been the subject of great scandal. The pair took up with each other while they each married to other people. But they divorced their spouses and married in 1920, much to the adoration of their fans. The couple was even greet by hordes of admirers while on their honeymoon abroad.
Fairbanks and Pickford were one of Hollywood's first super couples, attracting extensive media coverage of their relationship. Their Beverly Hills home, Pickfair, became the site of numerous soirees and celebrations attended by many celebrities and leading figures in film.
Popular Movie Hero
Fairbanks often played swashbuckling heroes in his films. He enjoyed great success as Zorro in 1920's The Mark of Zorro.
The following year, Fairbanks played Comte d'Artagnan in 1921's The Three Musketeers. One of his most well-regarded films, The Thief of Bagdad was released in 1924. Two years later, he achieved another wave of success with The Black Pirate.
By the end of the decade, however, Fairbank's career had started to fade. He co-starred with wife Mary Pickford in a film adaptation of William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew (1929). By the time this movie was made, Fairbank's relationship with Pickford had begun to crumble. And their union wasn't helped by the fact that their movie proved to be a commercial disappointment.
Final Years
Hollywood's once beloved couple Fairbanks and Pickford split up in 1933 and officially divorced three years later. His career was also at an end. Fairbanks made his final film appearance in The Private Life of Don Juan (1934). While separated from Pickford, he had become involved with Lady Sylvia Ashley. Fairbanks married Lady Ashley in March 1936.
After marrying for the third time, Fairbanks retired from acting. He died of a heart attack on December 12, 1939, at his California home at the age of 56.
A+E Networks
Ator
Séries | |
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2000 |
Canada: A People's History - i.a. |
1985 |
What Do Those Old Films Mean? |
Curta-metragem | |
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1948 |
Movies Are Adventure |
1927 |
Character Studies |
1918 |
He Comes Up Smiling |
Sic 'Em, Sam |
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Swat the Kaiser |
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1916 |
The Mystery of the Leaping Fish |
Produtor
Curta-metragem | |
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1918 |
He Comes Up Smiling |
Argumentista
Filmes | |
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1929 |
The Iron Mask |
1921 |
The Nut |
1920 |
The Mark of Zorro |
1918 |
Arizona |
Bound in Morocco |
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1916 |
The Good Bad Man |
Realizador
Filmes | |
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1918 |
Arizona |
Documentário | |
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1931 |
Around the World in 80 Minutes with Douglas Fairbanks |