1934
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Douglas Elton Fairbanks Sr.[1] (born Douglas Elton Thomas Ullman; May 23, 1883 – December 12, 1939) was an American actor and filmmaker, [2] best known for his swashbuckling roles in silent films. One of the biggest stars of the silent era, Fairbanks was referred to as "The King of Hollywood". [3] He was also a founding member of United ...
Douglas Fairbanks was an American motion picture actor and producer who was one of the first and greatest of the swashbuckling screen heroes. His athletic prowess, gallant romanticism, and natural sincerity made him “King of Hollywood” during the 1920s silent era of film. (Read Lillian Gish’s 1929.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Douglas Fairbanks. Actor: The Thief of Bagdad. Douglas Fairbanks was born Douglas Elton Thomas Ullman in Denver, Colorado, to Ella Adelaide (nee Marsh) and Hezekiah Charles Ullman, an attorney and native of Pennsylvania, who was a captain for the Union forces during the Civil War.
- January 1, 1
- Denver, Colorado, USA
- January 1, 1
- Santa Monica, California, USA
Douglas Fairbanks. Actor: The Thief of Bagdad. Douglas Fairbanks was born Douglas Elton Thomas Ullman in Denver, Colorado, to Ella Adelaide (nee Marsh) and Hezekiah Charles Ullman, an attorney and native of Pennsylvania, who was a captain for the Union forces during the Civil War. Fairbanks' paternal grandparents were German Jewish immigrants, while his mother, a Southerner with roots in Louisiana and Georgia, was of British Isles descent. From the...
- May 23, 1883
- December 12, 1939
- He Had A Dysfunctional Family
- He Lost His Father
- He Was A Born Performer
- He Was A Troublemaker
- He Was A Workaholic
- He Found Love on Stage
- He Almost Changed Careers
- He Couldn’T Stop Acting
- He Clashed with A Famous Director
- He Impressed The Right People
Douglas Fairbanks came into the world on the heels of his mother's horrific love life. Born on May 23, 1883, to Ella Marsh and Hezekiah Charles Ullman, Douglas' dysfunctional family defined his childhood. Ella had two tragic marriages behind her and began raising her children on a very shaky foundation. You see, Ella wasn't the most responsible mot...
Douglas' mother could never shake her penchant for cheating, and when Charles caught wind of his wife's infidelity, he packed his bags and never looked back. After her husband's abandonment, Ella sought a strange vengeance: She decided to change Douglas' surname from “Ullman” to that of her late husband's—“Fairbanks.” Little did anyone know, the na...
Douglas Fairbanks acquired a love for the theatre at a young age. When he was only 11, he started acting in amateur summer stock theatre productions in Denver, and as he made his way through his teens, he nurtured his passions by steeping himself in local theater—anything he could get his hands on. But his performing prowess came with a dark side. ...
Known at Denver East High School for his infamous pranks and stunts, Douglas Fairbanks had a knack for making mischief. When he was 15, Fairbanks cut the piano wires on the school piano and paid an awful price: His antics ultimately ended in his expulsion. Later, he'd lie through his teeth about his education, throwing out extravagant lies about ha...
In 1899, when Fairbanks was just 16, he began a cross-country tour in the acting troupe of legendary Shakespearean actor, Frederick Warde. During his tenure with Warde’s group, Fairbanks perfected his craft but also took on the role of assistant stage manager. His relationship with Warde definitely paid off and by 1901, he'd already landed his firs...
Fairbanks' love of theater led him straight into the embrace of his very first love. In 1906, after a stage performance of The Man of the Hour, Fairbanks met his future wife, Anna Beth Sully. The two were smitten with each other and one year later, they married at the summer home of Anna’s father, industrialist Daniel Sully. With Anna, Fairbanks ha...
Concerned with the volatility of his new son-in-law’s profession, Daniel Sully stepped in to ensure his daughter’s financial stability. Known as “The King of Cotton,” Sully encouraged Fairbanks to take up a position in his company at the Flatiron Building. Anna and Fairbanks seemed to have everything together. But as the marriage progressed,it soon...
Working for his father-in-law would have been a good financial move, but Fairbanks barely lasted a year before he kissed cotton goodbye and returned to Broadway. No matter the financial hardships, Fairbanks’s love for acting won out. It wasn’t long before he received a glorious offer and moved his new family to Los Angeles. The move proved monument...
When Fairbanks relocated to Los Angeles in 1915, he signed a contract with the Triangle Motion Picture Company. There, he met the controversial D.W. Griffith. Under Griffith’s direction, Fairbanks appeared in his first film, The Lamb. He used his debut to showcase his athleticism—a trait he would soon become known for. But athleticism didn’t intere...
Although Fairbanks' athletic prowess flew under Griffith's radar, the filmmaking power couple, Anita Loos and John Emerson, quickly recognized the young actor's potential. With their support, Fairbanks starred in several romantic comedies, establishing his position as one of Hollywood’s rising stars. As his popularity shot skyward, he caught the ey...
Douglas Elton Fairbanks Sr.[1](born Douglas Elton Thomas Ullman; May 23, 1883 – December 12, 1939) was an American actor and filmmaker,[2]best known for his swashbucklingroles in silent films. One of the biggest stars of the silent era, Fairbanks was referred to as "The King of Hollywood".[3] He was also a founding member of United Artistsas ...
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Douglas Fairbanks (1883-1939) In the 1920s, Douglas Fairbanks was the King of Hollywood. His daring stunts fascinated audiences. His clean-cut looks and good-naturedness gave him a glow on screen ...
