Trivial Biographies: Douglas Fairbanks

NAME Douglas Elton Thomas Ullman (birth name), later known professionally as Douglas Elton Fairbanks Sr. He was also affectionately called "Doug" by those who knew him.

WHAT FAMOUS FOR Douglas Fairbanks was an iconic American actor, screenwriter, director, and producer. He was best known for his swashbuckling roles in silent films, his athletic prowess, and his infectious, optimistic persona. He was a major star of the silent era and was often referred to as "The King of Hollywood".

BIRTH Douglas Fairbanks was born on May 23, 1883, in Denver, Colorado, USA.

FAMILY BACKGROUND Fairbanks came from a diverse ethnic background. His father, Hezekiah Charles Ullman (1833-1915), was born in Berrysburg, Pennsylvania, to Jewish parents who had immigrated from Baden, Germany in 1830. Hezekiah was a lawyer who served as a captain for the Union forces during the Civil War. His mother, Ella Adelaide (née Marsh; born 1847), was a Southerner with roots in Louisiana and Georgia, of British Isles descent.

Douglas had a half-brother, John Fairbanks, Jr. (born 1873), and a full brother, Robert Payne Ullman (March 13, 1882 – February 22, 1948).

CHILDHOOD Fairbanks' childhood was marked by significant change when his father abandoned the family when Douglas was just five years old. Following this, his mother changed her sons' surnames to Fairbanks (her former husband's surname) and deliberately covered up their paternal Jewish ancestry. Despite these challenges, young Douglas found his calling early, beginning amateur theater at age 12 and performing in summer stock and other local productions in Denver.

EDUCATION His education included attendance at the Colorado School of Mines and Harvard University, though he appears to have prioritized his theatrical pursuits over formal education. At the age of 15, Fairbanks dropped out of school to tour with Frederick Warde's acting troupe, showing early commitment to his craft.

CAREER RECORD 1902 Fairbanks made his Broadway debut in 1902 and established himself as an accomplished stage actor by the late 1900s.

1915 He made his film debut in 1915 and quickly became a popular and highly paid actor.

1919 Co-founded United Artists in 1919, along with Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin, and D.W. Griffith, giving them control over their own productions and distribution.

1927 became the first president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

1929 With the advent of "talkies" in the late 1920s, Fairbanks' career declined. He officially announced his retirement from acting in 1936 but continued as a producer until his death.

APPEARANCE Fairbanks stood at 5' 7" (1.70 m) tall. He was known for his "stupendous physique" when undressed, as seen in films like The Half Breed and The Thief of Bagdad. In clothes, however, he tended to appear stocky and square. His face was also square, and as he aged, he had to hold his head back to prevent the muscular development of his neck from giving the impression of a double chin. His tanned, swarthy appearance became part of his trademark look. (1)

Douglas Fairbanks late 1910s

FASHION Fairbanks was considered a stylish figure both on and off-screen. In his adventure roles, he wore elaborate costumes that emphasized his athleticism. He was known for his elegant and classic style in his personal life.

Fred Astaire’s distinctive habit of wearing a necktie or scarf around his waist instead of a belt was directly inspired by his friendship with Douglas Fairbanks Sr. Multiple sources confirm that he picked it up from Fairbanks, who was known for sporting this look during his athletic days.

CHARACTER Fairbanks was renowned for his bright, cheerful personality and boundless energy. His personality was marked by "unremitting, back-slapping ebullience" and "ridiculous energy". William A. Brady, an early theatrical employer, remarked, "He was an odd young man, brimming over with energy to such an extent that it fatigued me even to look at him sitting down – and he never sat".

Interestingly, according to his niece and biographer, as a child, he was reportedly "taciturn and solemn," suggesting a significant personality transformation in his later years. (1)

SPEAKING VOICE His speaking voice, preserved in his few sound films, was described as pleasant and energetic, fitting his on-screen persona.

His son, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., remembered that his father "did not like 'talkies,' because he thought of his movie acting as a kind of ballet that could not be translated to sound films". (2)

SENSE OF HUMOUR Fairbanks exhibited an infectious, laughing, devil-may-care attitude in his films that audiences found compelling. His performances were characterized by a joyful enthusiasm that made his action and adventure roles particularly appealing to viewers.

RELATIONSHIPS Fairbanks married three times. His first marriage was to Anna Beth Sully the daughter of an industrialist. They wed on July 11, 1907 at Watch Hill, Rhode Island, They had one son, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. (born December 9, 1909), who later became a famous actor in his own right.

Douglas Fairbanks Jr with his mother

His second and most famous marriage was to Mary Pickford. They met in 1916 at a party while both were still married to other people. Their affair remained private for several years until Fairbanks divorced in 1919 and Pickford in 1920.

Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford married in Los Angeles on March 28, 1920. As a wedding gift, Fairbanks purchased a house for Pickford that featured the first swimming pool in Beverly Hills. Designed to evoke a Venetian lagoon, the pool included a miniature island and a bridge. This unique pool area quickly became a favorite gathering place for Hollywood celebrities, who flocked to Pickfair for its legendary parties and social events. (3)

As a couple, they were considered "Hollywood royalty". Their European honeymoon demonstrated their immense popularity, with crowds in England nearly crushing Pickford until Fairbanks carried her on his shoulders.

Shortly after Fairbanks divorced Pickford, he married English model, actress, and socialite Sylvia Ashley on March 7, 1936, Their marriage lasted until his death in 1939.

MONEY AND FAME After his film debut in 1915, Fairbanks quickly became one of the most popular and highest-paid actors in Hollywood. By the time he and Pickford married, they were among the highest-paid actors in the industry. Their wealth allowed them to purchase a 15-acre property with a hunting lodge for $35,000 in 1919, which they transformed into the famous 22-room mansion known as "Pickfair". The estate became known worldwide for its elegant parties, hosting major stars, European royalty, and intellectuals like Albert Einstein.

His business acumen led him to co-found United Artists with Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and D.W. Griffith launched United Artists on February 5, 1919. Each held a 20% stake, with the remaining 20% held by lawyer William Gibbs McAdoo. It revolutionized the industry by giving actors more control over their films and finances.

Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin, and D. W. Griffith in 1919

FOOD AND DRINK Fairbanks developed a lifelong hatred for alcohol after witnessing the effects of his father's heavy drinking, which led to the abandonment of the family when Douglas was five years old.

MOVIE CAREER If you were assembling a shortlist of people who pretty much invented Hollywood as we know it, you would have to put Douglas Fairbanks Sr. somewhere near the top, probably riding a horse, grinning rakishly, and somersaulting over the competition just for the fun of it. Fairbanks was the golden boy of the silent era — a man so full of vigor, charm, and jaw-dropping athleticism that you half suspect gravity let him off easy.

Before he ever drew a sword or scaled a castle wall on camera, Fairbanks was a Broadway star, deftly charming live audiences with the same high-beam smile and boundless energy that would later dazzle millions in the flickering dark of early cinemas. In 1915, he leapt into films — quite literally — with The Lamb, directed by none other than D.W. Griffith, the wizard behind many of silent film’s more earnest moments. By 1917, Fairbanks was not only starring in movies but running his own production company, which was about as radical at the time as if an actor today decided to buy Netflix and run it from a treehouse.

At first, Fairbanks specialized in comedies, but soon realized that audiences preferred him leaping off balconies rather than out of drawing rooms. He found his true calling with The Mark of Zorro in 1920, a film that basically invented the modern action-adventure template — masked hero, daring stunts, a whole lot of cape-swirling — and, incidentally, made capes cool again.

What followed was a giddy parade of extravagant films:

The Three Musketeers (1921)

Robin Hood (1922), notable for having the first formal Hollywood movie premiere, complete with red carpet and an army of breathless onlookers

The Thief of Bagdad (1924)

The Black Pirate (1926)

The Gaucho (1927)

The Iron Mask (1929), which waved a fond farewell to the silent era with more sword fights than some countries had wars

Fairbanks insisted on performing his own death-defying stunts, scaling walls, swinging from chandeliers, and making audiences across America believe that perhaps they, too, could be dashing heroes — provided they owned a good pair of tights.

Like many of his contemporaries, Fairbanks found the arrival of sound films rather less delightful. His swashbuckling style, so suited to the silent screen, didn’t translate well to the more stilted dialogue of early talkies. He gamely gave it a go, starring in The Taming of the Shrew (1929) alongside Mary Pickford and later in The Private Life of Don Juan (1934), but the magic was fading. Wisely, he bowed out gracefully.

Douglas Fairbanks Sr. passed away in 1939, but not before carving his name — and indeed, a good many of his footprints — deep into Hollywood legend. In his prime, he was hailed as the “King of Hollywood,” a man who wasn’t just a star but a symbol of the boundless optimism and outsized dreams that defined early cinema. Even today, you can feel his influence every time a caped hero leaps off a rooftop or an awards ceremony runs embarrassingly long.

MUSIC AND ARTS Fairbanks was deeply involved in the arts, particularly theater and film, from a young age. He began acting in amateur theater as a child and quickly moved into professional stage and film work, demonstrating a lifelong passion for the dramatic arts.

Fairbanks worked closely with musicians and composers in the context of his films. For example, a 1926 photograph shows him collaborating with studio musicians and working with sheet music for the scoring of his film The Black Pirate.

LITERATURE Fairbanks was reportedly a keen reader and had a broad intellectual curiosity.

In 1917, Fairbanks capitalized on his rising popularity by publishing a self-help book, Laugh and Live, which promoted the philosophy that a good attitude and regular exercise were the keys to a fulfilling life.

NATURE A photograph taken in 1917 shows Fairbanks doing a handstand on a mountain peak in Yosemite after learning it would be named after him (though park officials apparently decided against the formal naming).

https://www.facebook.com/photos.from.Semas

HOBBIES AND SPORTS Fairbanks was renowned for his athleticism. He engaged in various sports and physical activities, including gymnastics, fencing, boxing, horseback riding, and swimming.

Fairbanks did many of his own stunts in his films. His physical feats in films were described as "seemingly defied the laws of physical science: vaulting over burros, jumping from rooftop to rooftop, flying over the city of Baghdad on a magic carpet". Even viewed today, his stunts are considered "jaw-dropping," particularly knowing that he completed most of them himself. (4)

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Douglas Fairbanks Sr. embodied a philosophy of boundless optimism, energy, and self-belief. He championed the idea that happiness and success stem from a positive mindset, laughter, and physical vitality. In his motivational book Laugh and Live, Fairbanks argued that laughter is not just a reaction but a conscious act that fosters well-being and resilience. He encouraged readers to start each day with a laugh, maintain a cheerful attitude, and use self-analysis and physical activity as tools for personal growth and happiness. His worldview was practical and focused on self-improvement, self-confidence, and spreading joy to others.

Fairbanks was raised Catholic, largely due to his mother’s influence, and served as an altar boy in his youth. However, he was not known to be a devout or regular churchgoer as an adult. His religious affiliation diminished after his divorces, mirroring his mother’s own experience of being distanced from the Catholic Church due to divorce. While he respected religious traditions, his spirituality was more evident in his zest for life and his films’ themes than in formal practice.

Fairbanks’ films often touched on religious and moral themes, even if he was not personally overtly religious. For example, in The Gaucho (1927), his character undergoes a spiritual transformation, moving from skepticism to faith after experiencing miraculous healing-an explicit nod to the power of prayer and redemption. In The Iron Mask, the film’s ending is interpreted as expressing Fairbanks’s belief in adventure beyond death, with a moving scene where departed friends beckon the hero to a “greater adventure beyond,” suggesting a belief in an afterlife or spiritual continuation. (5)

The Fairbanks family motto, “Fides Conatus et Fidelitas”-Faith, Effort, and Fidelity-reflects the core values Douglas Fairbanks Sr. lived by. These principles guided his approach to both his career and personal life: faith in himself and his work, relentless effort in pursuit of his goals, and loyalty to his ideals and loved ones.

POLITICS Fairbanks was generally not overtly political in his public persona. However, during World War I, he actively participated in Liberty Bond drives and used his fame to support the war effort. He understood the power of his image and used it for patriotic purposes.

Fairbanks speaking in front of a crowd at a 1918 war bond drive in New York City

SCANDAL The most notable scandal in Fairbanks' life was his relationship with Mary Pickford, which began as an extramarital affair while both were married to other people. Though potentially scandalous by the standards of the time, they managed the public perception well and became Hollywood's beloved royal couple after their marriage.

MILITARY RECORD Fairbanks did not have a traditional military record, but he supported the war effort during World War I.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Fairbanks was renowned for his exceptional physical fitness and athleticism. His "stupendous physique" was on display in films like The Half Breed and The Thief of Bagdad. His ability to perform his own stunts, which were physically demanding, demonstrated his remarkable fitness level. His book Laugh and Live emphasized the importance of regular exercise.

HOMES Fairbanks' most famous residence was "Pickfair," the Beverly Hills mansion he shared with Mary Pickford. They purchased the property, originally a hunting lodge on 15 acres, for $35,000 in 1919 and transformed it into a 22-room mansion. In the early 1930s, they expanded it further to 42 rooms, including 8 staff quarters. After their divorce in 1936, Pickford remained in the house until her death in 1979. The original house was later demolished and rebuilt in 1989, much to the dismay of Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and others who valued its historical significance.

TRAVEL Fairbanks traveled extensively, including a month-long European honeymoon with Mary Pickford that turned into something of a royal tour with massive crowds greeting them. Before his acting career, he traveled to Europe and worked on a cattle freighter, gaining diverse experiences that would later influence his adventurous film roles.

DEATH Douglas Fairbanks Sr. died on December 12, 1939, at his home in Santa Monica, California, after suffering a massive heart attack. He was 56 years old. His health had been declining in his final years, partly due to heavy cigarette smoking and heart problems. According to reports, his last words were, "I've never felt better"-a reflection of his lifelong optimism.

Fairbanks’ funeral took place on December 15, 1939, at the Wee Kirk o’ the Heather Chapel at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. The service was simple but drew a large crowd, with about 200 close friends and family members in attendance. The chapel was so small that many guests had to be seated on the lawn outside. Reverend Neal Dodd, a longtime friend, delivered the eulogy. During the service, music that Fairbanks had loved during his career-including Brahms’ “Lullaby” and favorite hymns such as “La Paloma,” “Cielito Lindo,” “La Violetera,” and “Flor de Mal”-was played, honoring his connection to the arts and his fondness for these melodies.

Fairbanks’ widow, Lady Sylvia Ashley, was present, as were his son Douglas Fairbanks Jr., his brother Robert Fairbanks, and other family members. His previous wives, Anna Beth Sully and Mary Pickford, did not attend. Mary Pickford, though devastated, was in Chicago at the time and sent a wreath with a card bearing the word "Frin," Fairbanks’ nickname for her.

After the service, Lady Sylvia Ashley placed a cluster of orchids on the casket, and Charlie Chaplin read the Shakespearean inscription engraved on Fairbanks’ tomb:

"Good night, sweet prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest."

Initially, Fairbanks was temporarily interred in the Great Mausoleum at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale while his permanent memorial was being constructed. In October 1941, his remains were moved by his widow to Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles. There, she commissioned an elaborate marble monument known as "Fairbanks Garden," featuring a raised tomb, a long reflecting pool, and classical Greek architectural elements. The monument, which cost an estimated $40,000 (then the most expensive in Southern California), includes a brass profile relief of Fairbanks and became one of Hollywood’s most iconic memorials.

Upon his death in 2000, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. was also interred in the family sarcophagus at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. (6)

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Beyond his numerous films, Fairbanks' legacy has continued in modern media. In 2011, Jean Dujardin's lead character in The Artist was loosely based on Douglas Fairbanks, and the film included a Zorro scene as an homage to him. His films continue to be shown at film festivals and revivals, with The Thief of Bagdad and The Taming of the Shrew included in the 2013 Wisconsin Film Festival.

Fairbanks is often featured in documentaries and film histories.