* | May 23, 1883 Denver, Colorado | |
as Douglas Elton Thomas Ullman | ||
† | December 12, 1939 Santa Monica, California |
Douglas Fairbanks (1883-1939) was an American actor, screenwriter, director, and producer during the silent film era. He was one of the most popular and influential actors of his time, and is best known for his swashbuckling adventure films, including "The Thief of Bagdad" (1924), "The Black Pirate" (1926), and "The Mark of Zorro" (1920).
Fairbanks was born in Denver, Colorado, United States, in 1883. He began his career as a stage actor, and made his film debut in 1915. He quickly gained fame for his athletic, energetic, and charismatic performances, and became one of the first true movie stars of the silent film era.
Fairbanks was known for his handsome appearance and charming personality, and was often referred to as "The King of Hollywood." He was also a skilled acrobat and swordsman, and performed many of his own stunts in his films. This, combined with his good looks and charm, made him a favorite with audiences around the world.
In addition to his work as an actor, Fairbanks was also a successful screenwriter, director, and producer. He co-founded United Artists with Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and D. W. Griffith in 1919, and produced and starred in a number of highly successful films under the United Artists banner.
Fairbanks was a pioneer in the development of the Hollywood studio system, and played a key role in shaping the film industry as it is known today. He was also instrumental in the creation of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which presents the annual Academy Awards.
Jeffrey Vance, with Tony Maietta Douglas Fairbanks Berkeley; Los Angeles; London, 2008 |
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Gary Carey Doug & Mary, A biography of Douglas Fairbanks & Mary Pickford New York, 1977 |
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Booton Herndon Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks, The most popular couple the world has ever known New York, 1977 |
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Richard Schickel Douglas Fairbanks, The first celebrity London, 1976 |
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Richard Schickel His Picture in the Papers, A Speculation on Celebrity in America Based on the Life of Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. New York, 1973 |
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Ralph Hancock and Letitia Fairbanks Douglas Fairbanks, The Fourth Musketeer New York, 1953 |
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Alistair Cooke Douglas Fairbanks, the making of a screen character New York, 1940 |
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Maurice Leloir Cinq mois à Hollywood avec Douglas Fairbanks, Films muets, films parlants Paris, 1929 |
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Wolf G. Martini (herausgeber) Douglas Fairbanks München, 1928 |
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Max Tak Douglas Fairbanks Amsterdam, 1927 (ca.) |
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Allene Talmey Doug and Mary, And others New York, 1927 |
Jennifer M. Bean (ed.) Flickers of desire, Movie stars of the 1910s New Brunswick, N.J., 2011 |
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Brian J. Robb Silent cinema Harpenden, Herts, 2007 |
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Michelle Vogel Children of Hollywood, Accounts of growing up as the sons and daughters of stars Jefferson, N.C., 2005 |
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Foreword by John-Michael Howson Cut!, Hollywood murders, accidents, and other tragedies Willoughby, Australia, 2005 |
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Anthony Slide Silent Players, A Biographical and Autobiographical Study of 100 Silent Film Actors and Actresses Lexington, Ky, 2002 |
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Mick LaSalle Dangerous Men, Pre-Code Hollywood and the Birth of the Modern Man 2002 |
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Jeanine Basinger Silent Stars Hanover and London, 2000 |
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Tom Pendergast, Sara Pendergast (eds.) International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers, 3. Actors and Actresses Detroit/New York/San Francisco/London/Boston/Woodbridge, CT, 2000 |
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Richard Dyer MacCann The Stars Appear Metuchen, NJ & London, 1992 |
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Ann Lloyd (ed.) Movies of the Silent Years London, 1985 |
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DeWitt Bodeen From Hollywood, The Careers of 15 Great American Stars New York - London, 1976 |
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Kevin Brownlow The Parade's Gone by... Berkeley and Los Angeles, California, 1976 |
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James Robert Parish & Don E. Stanke The Swashbucklers New Rochelle, New York, 1976 |
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Tony Thomas Cads and Cavaliers, The Gentlemen Adventures of the Movies South Brunswick and New York - London, 1973 |
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Ray Stuart (ed.) Immortals of the Screen New York, 1965 |
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Cedric Osmond Bermingham (editor) Stars of the Screen 1931, A volume of biographies of contemporary actors and actresses engaged in photoplay throughout the world London, [1931] |
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Charles Donald Fox and Milton L. Silver (eds.) Who's Who on the Screen New York City, 1920 |
David Thomson The New Biographical Dictionary of Film New York, 2003 |
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Kay Weniger Das große Personenlexikon des Films, Zweiter Band, C-F Berlin, 2001 |
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Glenn Mitchell A-Z of Silent Film Comedy, An Illustrated Companion London, 1998 |
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Roy Liebman Silent Film Performers, An Annotated Bibliography of Published, Unpublished and Archival Sources for over 350 Actors and Actresses Jefferson, North Carolina, and London, 1996 |
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Danny Peary Cult Movie Stars New York, [..], 1991 |
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Martin J. Quigley (ed.) The Motion Picture Almanac, Big Stars in Big Pictures Chicago, Ill., 1929 |
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Charles Donald Fox Mirrors of Hollywood, with brief biographies of favorite film folk New York, 1925 |
John Richard Finch and Paul Elby Close-Ups, From the Golden Age of the Silent Cinema South Brunswick and New York - London, 1978 |
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Mary Dawn Earley Stars of the Twenties, Observed by James Abbe New York, 1975 |
Scott Eyman, Blithe spirit, in: Filmcomment, nr. 5, 2015 pp. 56-60 |