Douglas Elton Fairbanks Jr American actor Date of Birth: 09.09.1909 Country: USA

1. Biography of Douglas Elton Fairbanks Jr.
2. Early Career
3. Commercial Success
4. Personal Life
5. Later Life
6. Death and Legacy

Biography of Douglas Elton Fairbanks Jr.

Douglas Elton Fairbanks Jr. was born in New York to actor Douglas Fairbanks and Anna Beth Sully. His parents divorced when he was nine years old, and he lived with his mother in various locations such as New York, California, Paris, and London.

Early Career

At the age of 14, Fairbanks Jr. signed a contract with Paramount Pictures, mainly due to his father's name. He started his career during the silent film era, initially playing supporting roles alongside leading actresses of the time. He appeared in films such as "Stella Dallas" (1925) with Belle Bennett, "An American Venus" (1926) with Esther Ralston, and "Women Love Diamonds" (1927) with Pauline Starke.

Commercial Success

Fairbanks Jr.'s films, including "The Dawn Patrol" (1930), "Little Caesar" (1931), and "Gunga Din" (1939), achieved significant commercial success. He established himself as a talented actor and gained recognition in the industry.

Personal Life

Fairbanks Jr.'s first serious relationship was with actress Joan Crawford, which began during the filming of "Our Modern Maidens." They married on June 3, 1929, when Fairbanks Jr. was only 19 years old. However, their marriage ended in divorce in 1933. He later married Mary Lee Hartford on April 22, 1939, and they remained together until her death in 1988. They had three daughters named Daphne, Victoria, and Melissa.

Later Life

In 1991, Fairbanks Jr. married Vera Lee Shelton. During World War II, he received a commission as a reserve officer in the United States Navy and served as an aide to Commander Louis Mountbatten in England. He later transferred to Virginia Beach, where he served in Admiral H. Kent Hewitt's unit, preparing the US Navy for the invasion of North Africa.

After the war, Fairbanks Jr. remained in the naval reserve and retired as a captain in 1954. From 1954 to 1956, he hosted a series of anthology programs called "Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Presents." He received the honorary title of Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 1949.

Death and Legacy

Fairbanks Jr. passed away from a heart attack at the age of 90 in New York. He was buried in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in California, in the same mausoleum as his father. He has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one for his contributions to the film industry and another for his contribution to television.