Douglas Fairbanks facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Douglas Fairbanks
Fairbanks, late 1910s
Born	Douglas Elton Thomas Ullman (1883-05-23)May 23, 1883 Denver, Colorado, U.S.
Died	December 12, 1939(1939-12-12) (aged 56) Santa Monica, California, U.S.
Resting place	Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Occupation	Actor filmmaker
Years active	1899–1934
Spouse(s)	Anna Beth Sully ​ ​ (m. 1907; div. 1919)​ Mary Pickford ​ ​ (m. 1920; div. 1936)​ Sylvia Ashley ​ (m. 1936)​
Children	Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
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Douglas Fairbanks Sr. (born Douglas Elton Thomas Ullman; May 23, 1883 – December 12, 1939) was a famous American actor and filmmaker. He was best known for his exciting roles in silent movies, where he often played heroes who were great at sword fighting and daring stunts. Some of his most famous films include The Thief of Bagdad, Robin Hood, and The Mark of Zorro. Before these action-packed roles, he started his career making comedies.

Fairbanks was a very important person in early Hollywood. He helped create United Artists, a film studio that gave actors and directors more control over their movies. He also helped start The Motion Picture Academy, which gives out the Academy Awards. He even hosted the very first Academy Awards ceremony in 1929. When he married actress and producer Mary Pickford in 1920, they became known as 'Hollywood royalty'. People called Fairbanks "The King of Hollywood" for a while.

Even though he was a huge star in the 1910s and 1920s, Fairbanks's career changed when "talkies" (movies with sound) became popular. His last film was The Private Life of Don Juan in 1934.

Early Life and Acting Beginnings

Douglas Elton Thomas Ullman was born in Denver, Colorado. His parents were Hezekiah Charles Ullman and Ella Adelaide (née Marsh). Douglas and his older brother Robert were raised by their mother, who gave them the family name Fairbanks. This was the name of her first husband.

Douglas Fairbanks started acting when he was young. He performed in local plays in Denver, including at the Elitch Theatre. He even attended an acting school for young people. He left school at age 15 in 1899 and joined a traveling acting group led by Frederick Warde. He toured with them for two seasons, acting and helping backstage.

After touring, he moved to New York City. He got his first role on Broadway in a play called Her Lord and Master in 1902. He worked other jobs, like in a hardware store, between acting roles. On July 11, 1907, Fairbanks married Anna Beth Sully. They had one son, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., who also became a famous actor. The family moved to Los Angeles in 1915.

Hollywood Stardom

D. W. Griffith, Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin (seated) and Fairbanks signing the contract to create United Artists in 1919.

After moving to Los Angeles, Fairbanks signed a contract with Triangle Pictures in 1915. He worked with director D. W. Griffith. His first film was The Lamb. In this movie, he showed off his amazing athletic skills, which audiences loved.

In 1916, Fairbanks started his own film company, the Douglas Fairbanks Film Corporation. He also began working with Paramount.

Fairbanks met actress Mary Pickford in 1916, and they became a couple. In 1917, they joined their friend Charlie Chaplin to help sell war bonds across the United States. They gave speeches to encourage people to support the war effort. Pickford and Chaplin were the highest-paid film stars at that time.

To avoid being controlled by big studios, Fairbanks, Pickford, Chaplin, and D. W. Griffith decided to form their own company. In 1919, they created United Artists. This company allowed them to distribute their own films and have full artistic control over their work and profits.

Fairbanks in The Mark of Zorro

Fairbanks and Anna Beth Sully divorced in 1919. Fairbanks then married Mary Pickford on March 28, 1920. Their marriage was a huge event in Hollywood. People loved the idea of "Everybody's Hero" marrying "America's Sweetheart." They were seen as "Hollywood Royalty" and were famous for entertaining guests at their Beverly Hills home, "Pickfair".

By 1920, Fairbanks had made many films that showed his energetic personality and athletic talent. He then decided to try a new type of adventure movie. In The Mark of Zorro, Fairbanks combined his charm with exciting costume adventure. It was a huge success and made him a superstar.

For the rest of his silent film career, he continued to make impressive costume films. These included The Three Musketeers (1921), Douglas Fairbanks in Robin Hood (1922), The Thief of Bagdad (1924), and The Black Pirate (1926). Fairbanks spent a lot of money and effort on these films. They set the standard for all future swashbuckling (action-adventure) movies.

In 1921, Fairbanks, Pickford, Chaplin, and others helped create the Motion Picture & Television Fund. This fund helps people in the film industry who are unable to work or pay their bills.

On April 30, 1927, Fairbanks and Pickford placed their hand and footprints in wet cement at the new Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. That same year, Fairbanks was chosen as the first President of the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences. He presented the first Academy Awards at the Roosevelt Hotel. Today, Fairbanks also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7020 Hollywood Boulevard.

Career Changes and Later Years

Fairbanks in The Private Life of Don Juan, 1934

Fairbanks was very successful in silent films. However, the new "talkies" (movies with sound) were harder for him. His athletic abilities and health also began to decline. This was partly due to his years of chain-smoking.

Fairbanks's last silent film was The Iron Mask (1929). He and Mary Pickford made their first talkie together, The Taming of the Shrew (1929). This film and his later sound films were not as popular with audiences. His last film as an actor was the British movie The Private Life of Don Juan (1934). After this, he retired from acting.

Fairbanks and Pickford separated in 1933 and divorced in 1936. Fairbanks then married Sylvia, Lady Ashley in Paris in March 1936.

He remained somewhat involved in the film industry and United Artists. However, his later years were less focused on filmmaking. His health continued to get worse. He spent much of his final years traveling with his third wife.

Death and Legacy

Fairbanks' tomb at Hollywood Forever Cemetery

Douglas Fairbanks died on December 12, 1939, from a heart attack. He was 56 years old. His funeral was held in Glendale, California.

Two years after his death, his widow, Sylvia, moved his remains to Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles. She had an elaborate marble monument built for him. His close friend Charlie Chaplin read a remembrance at the dedication ceremony in October 1941. His son, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., was also buried there after his death in 2000.

Fairbanks's legacy continues today.

• In 1992, actor Kevin Kline played Fairbanks in the film Chaplin.
• In 2002, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences opened the "Fairbanks Center for Motion Picture Study."
• In 2008 and 2009, the Academy held exhibitions and screenings celebrating Fairbanks's life and films.
• A bronze statue of Fairbanks was placed at the School of Cinematic Arts building at the University of Southern California. Fairbanks was important in founding the film school in 1929.
• The 2011 film The Artist was partly inspired by Fairbanks. The main character played Zorro in a silent film, similar to Fairbanks's famous role.

The sports teams of the University of California-Santa Barbara are called 'The Gauchos'. This is in honor of Fairbanks's acting in his film The Gaucho.

Filmography

Fairbanks in 1916

See also

In Spanish: Douglas Fairbanks para niños