Cast & creator
Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
Best known for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The Mike Douglas Show, The Mike Douglas Show
Douglas Elton Fairbanks Jr. (December 9, 1909 – May 7, 2000) was an American actor, producer, and decorated naval officer of World War II. The son of silent film star Douglas Fairbanks and stepson of Mary Pickford, he established his own successful career in Hollywood during the 1930s and 1940s, becoming known for his charm, sophistication, and versatility in both romantic comedies and adventure films. Among his most notable films are The Prisoner of Zenda (1937), Gunga Din (1939), Little Caesar (1931), and The Corsican Brothers (1941). He also appeared opposite many of the era’s leading actresses, including Katharine Hepburn, Joan Crawford, Loretta Young, Rita Hayworth, and Paulette Goddard. During World War II, Fairbanks served with distinction in the United States Navy, helping develop military deception and special operations techniques. For his wartime service, he received numerous decorations from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and several other nations. After the war, he continued acting in films and television while also becoming a respected producer and public figure. Fairbanks remains remembered as one of Hollywood’s most elegant leading men and among the few major stars to achieve distinction both on screen and in military service. In 1969, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the International Best Dressed List.
Also known as: Douglas Elton Ulman Fairbanks Jr., Douglas Elton Fairbanks Jr., Doug Fairbanks, Douglas Fairbanks, Douglas Fairbanks Jnr.
149
film credits
38
television credits
167
1916–2021 · acting roles
6.9
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (187)
Showing 187 of 187 credits
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962
The Mike Douglas Show
Self - Co-Host
1961The Mike Douglas Show
Self
1961
The Merv Griffin Show
Self
1962
The Love Boat
Elliott Norman
1977The Love Boat
Elliott Banning
1977
What's My Line?
Self
1950
Great Performances
Self
1971
The Dick Cavett Show
Self - Guest
1968
American Experience
Self
1988
Dr. Kildare
Dr. Robert Devlin
1961
Route 66
Charles Clayton
1960
Omnibus
Self - Narrator
1967
Dinah!
Self
1974
The Bob Hope Show
Self
1950
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self
1948Film '72
Self
1971
The Steve Allen Show
Self
1956
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Self (uncredited)
1968Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Self
1968
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
Self
1956
Cinépanorama
Self
1956
Your Show of Shows
Self
1950
The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
Self
1971Secret Lives
1995
ABC Stage 67
Mr. Otis
1966
The American Film Institute Salute to ...
Self
1973
The Dame Edna Experience
Self
1987The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show
Self
1956
B.L. Stryker
White
1989The Pearl Bailey Show
Self
1971
Hollywood
Self
1980
Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Presents
Self - Host
1953The Big Party
Self – Host
1959The Ford Show
Self
1956
Ghost Story
Edward Wanderley
1981
The Prisoner of Zenda
Rupert of Hentzau
1937
Night and the City
Casting
1950
Strong Medicine
Eli Camperdown
1986
Night of 100 Stars
Self
1982
Sinbad the Sailor
Sinbad
1947
Hollywood Uncensored
Self - Host
1987
Little Caesar
Joe Massara
1931
The Careless Age
Wyn
1929
The Costume Designer
Self (archive footage)
1950
The Real Charlie Chaplin
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2021
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1983
Night of 100 Stars III
Self
1990
You're the Top: The Cole Porter Story
Self
1990
Gunga Din
Thomas Anthony Ballantine
1939
Cary Grant: A Celebration of a Leading Man
Self
1988
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Thanks
1975
Vivien Leigh: Scarlett and Beyond
Self
1990
George Stevens: A Filmmaker's Journey
Self
1985
The Rise of Catherine the Great
Grand Duke Peter
1934
Hollywood on Parade No. A-1
Self
1932
The Aviator
Alain
1931
The Gondoliers
Self - Host
1982Hollywood on Parade No. A-3
Self
1932
The Hostage Tower
Malcolm Philpott
1980
The Mikado
Self
1983
Mary Pickford: A Life on Film
Self
2000Mary Pickford: A Life on Film
Thanks
2000
The Young in Heart
Richard Carleton
1938
Goldwyn: The Man and His Movies
Self (archive footage)
2001
Joan Crawford: The Ultimate Movie Star
Self (archive footage)
2002
The Corsican Brothers
Lucien Franchi / Mario Franchi
1942
Green Hell
Keith Brandon
1940
The Show of Shows
Ambrose in 'Bicycle Built for Two' Number (uncredited)
1929
State Secret
Dr. John Marlowe
1950
Hollywood Goes to Town
Self
1938
Laurence Olivier: A Life
Self
1982
Chase a Crooked Shadow
Self - Epilogue (uncredited)
1958Chase a Crooked Shadow
Producer
1958
Rulers of the Sea
David 'Davie' Gillespie
1939
That Lady in Ermine
Colonel Ladislas Karolyi Teglas / The Duke
1948
Marlene Dietrich: Home Movies
Himself
1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year
Self (archive footage)
2009
From Raquel with Love
The Almighty
1980
Love is a Racket
James 'Jimmy' Russell
1932Checking Out: Grand Hotel
Self (archive footage)
2004
The Battle Over Citizen Kane
Self
1996
Red, White, and Zero
Millionaire
1968
The Legend of Robin Hood
King Richard
1968
Iolanthe
Self - Host
1982
Yesteryear
Self
1982
It's Tough to Be Famous
Scott 'Scotty' McClenahan
1932
Morning Glory
Joseph Sheridan
1933
Mr. Drake's Duck
Donald 'Don' Drake
1951Mr. Drake's Duck
Producer
1951
Man Bait
Jeff Sanford
1927
A Woman of Affairs
Jeffry Merrick
1928
Cavalcade of the Academy Awards
Self
1940
Our Modern Maidens
Gil Jordan
1929
The Power of the Press
Clem Rogers
1928
The Three Musketeers
(uncredited)
1921
Mary Pickford: The Muse of the Movies
Self (archive footage)
2008
The Life of Jimmy Dolan
Jimmy
1933The Compleat Gilbert & Sullivan
Self - Host
1984
The Awakening
Self - Host
1954
H.M.S. Pinafore
Self - Host
1982
Parachute Jumper
Bill Keller
1933
The Crooked Hearts
Rex Willoughby
1972
Party Girl
Jay Rountree
1930
The Sun Never Sets
John Randolph
1939
The Garden of Eden
Busboy (uncredited)
1928
Joy of Living
Daniel 'Dan' Brewster
1938
The Rage of Paris
Jim Trevor
1938
I Like Your Nerve
Larry O'Brien
1931
Little Caesar: End of Rico, Beginning of the Antihero
Self (archive footage)
2005Stars and Stripes: Hollywood and World War II
Self
1991
An Intimate Dinner in Celebration of Warner Bros. Silver Jubilee
Self
1930
The Fighting O'Flynn
The O'Flynn
1949The Fighting O'Flynn
Writer
1949The Fighting O'Flynn
Producer
1949The Genie
The Genie
1953The Genie
Producer
1953
Screen Snapshots Series 10, No. 1
Self
1930
The Silken Affair
Executive Producer
1956
The Stolen Jools
Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
1931
Success at Any Price
Joe Martin
1934
La Belle Epoque
Self / Narrator
1983
Dead Man's Curve
Vernon Keith
1928
One Night at Susie's
Dick Rollins
1930
Strong Medicine
Eli Camperdown
1986
The Narrow Corner
Fred Blake
1933
Broken Hearts of Hollywood
Hal Terwilliger
1926
The Pirates of Penzance
Self - Host
1982
The Way of All Men
Billy Bear
1930
Star Power: The Creation Of United Artists
Self
1998Star Power: The Creation Of United Artists
Thanks
1998
Having Wonderful Time
Chick Kirkland
1938
The Dawn Patrol
Douglas 'Doug' Scott
1930
How I Play Golf, by Bobby Jones No. 10: 'Trouble Shots'
Self - Golfer (uncredited)
1931
Man of the Moment
Tony Woodward
1935
Red and Blue
Millionaire
1968
Union Depot
Charles 'Chick' Miller
1932
Joan Crawford: Always the Star
Self (archive footage)
1996
Wild Horse Mesa
Chess Weymer
1925
Padlocked
Sonny Galloway
1926Anna May Wong - Frosted Yellow Willows: Her Life, Times and Legend
In Memory Of
2007Three's Company
Narrator / Anthony
1953Three's Company
Producer
1953On Location with Gunga Din
Self / Thomas Anthony Ballantine (archive footage)
2004
Angels Over Broadway
Bill O'Brien
1940Angels Over Broadway
Associate Producer
1940
The Exile
Charles II
1947The Exile
Writer
1947The Exile
Producer
1947
Little Accident
Norman Overbeck
1930
The Barker
Chris Miller
1928
Scarlet Dawn
Baron Nikita 'Nikki' Krasnoff
1932Scarlet Dawn
Additional Dialogue
1932
Captured!
Lieutenant Fred Digby
1933
Jump for Glory
Ricky Morgan
1937Jump for Glory
Producer
1937
Women Love Diamonds
Jerry Croker-Kelley
1927
Chances
Jack Ingleside
1931
Stella Dallas
Richard Grosvenor
1925
Safari
Jim Logan
1940
The Amateur Gentleman
John Beverley aka Barnabas Barty
1936The Amateur Gentleman
Producer
1936
Police Dog
Producer
1955
The Forward Pass
Marty Reid
1929
Mimi
Rodolphe
1935
The Art of Film: Vintage Hitchcock
Narrator
1978
Fast Life
Douglas Stratton
1929
Loose Ankles
Gil
1930
The American Venus
Triton
1926Kingdom Of Gifts
The Proud King
1978The Canterville Ghost
Mr. Otis
1966
The Toilers
Steve
1928
Outward Bound
Henry
1930
Trial by Jury
Self - Host
1982The Art of Film: The Many Roles of Alec Guinness
Narrator
1978
American Aristocracy
Newsboy (uncredited)
1916
The Funniest Man in the World
Narrator
1967
Accused
Tony Seymour
1936Accused
Producer
1936
The Air Mail
Sandy
1925Cox and Box
Self - Host
1982
Is Zat So?
G. Clifton Blackburn
1927
Modern Mothers
David Starke
1928
The Jazz Age
Steve Maxwell
1929
A Texas Steer
Farleigh Bright
1927
Stephen Steps Out
Stephen Harlow Jr.
1923
ZEITENBLICKE- Jetzt ist Hallstatt Zeit
Himself
2008