Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
ActingAbout Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
Douglas Elton Fairbanks Jr. (December 9, 1909 – May 7, 2000) was an American actor, producer, and decorated naval officer of World War II. He is best-known for starring in such films as The Prisoner of Zenda (1937), Gunga Din (1939), and The Corsican Brothers (1941). The son of Douglas Fairbanks and stepson of Mary Pickford, his first marriage was to actress Joan Crawford. In 1969, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the International Best Dressed List. The moving image collection of Douglas Fairbanks Jr., held at the Academy Film Archive, includes over 90 reels of home movies. [biography (excerpted) from Wikipedia]
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Douglas Fairbanks Jr. reveals a career defined by exceptional commercial consistency. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Drama
The majority of Douglas Fairbanks Jr.'s filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 72% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Douglas Fairbanks Jr. remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Vivien Leigh: Scarlett and Beyond, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Douglas Fairbanks Jr.'s career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Douglas Fairbanks Jr..
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | The Real Charlie Chaplin | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2009 | 1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year | Self (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2005 | Little Caesar: End of Rico, Beginning of the Antihero | Self (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2004 | Checking Out: Grand Hotel | Self (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2002 | Joan Crawford: The Ultimate Movie Star | Self (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2001 | Goldwyn: The Man and His Movies | Self (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1996 | Joan Crawford: Always the Star | Self (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1996 | The Battle Over Citizen Kane | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 1990 | Vivien Leigh: Scarlett and Beyond | Self | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1988 | Cary Grant: A Celebration of a Leading Man | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 1986 | Strong Medicine | Eli Camperdown | Hit | Similar → |
| 1983 | Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1982 | Laurence Olivier: a life | Self | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1982 | The Pirates of Penzance | Self - Host | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1982 | H.M.S. Pinafore | Self - Host | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1982 | Night of 100 Stars | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 1981 | Ghost Story | Edward Charles Wanderley | Average | Similar → |
| 1972 | The Crooked Hearts | Rex Willoughby | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1968 | Red and Blue | Millionaire | Average | Similar → |
| 1958 | Chase a Crooked Shadow | Self - Epilogue (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1954 | The Awakening | Self - Host | Hit | Similar → |
| 1950 | State Secret | Dr. John Marlowe | Hit | Similar → |
| 1949 | The Fighting O'Flynn | The O'Flynn | Average | Similar → |
| 1948 | That Lady in Ermine | Colonel Ladislas Karolyi Teglas / The Duke | Average | Similar → |
| 1947 | The Exile | Charles II | Average | Similar → |
| 1947 | Sinbad the Sailor | Sinbad | Average | Similar → |
| 1941 | The Corsican Brothers | Lucien Franchi / Mario Franchi | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | Cavalcade of the Academy Awards | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Rulers of the Sea | David 'Davie' Gillespie | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Gunga Din | Thomas Anthony Ballantine | Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | Hollywood Goes to Town | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | The Young in Heart | Richard Carleton | Hit | Similar → |
| 1937 | The Prisoner of Zenda | Rupert of Hentzau | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1933 | Morning Glory | Joseph Sheridan | Average | Similar → |
| 1933 | The Life of Jimmy Dolan | Jimmy | Average | Similar → |
| 1932 | Scarlet Dawn | Baron Nikita 'Nikki' Krasnoff | Hit | Similar → |
| 1931 | How I Play Golf, by Bobby Jones No. 10: 'Trouble Shots' | Self - Golfer (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1931 | Chances | Jack Ingleside | Hit | Similar → |
| 1931 | The Aviator | Alain | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1931 | Little Caesar | Joe Massara | Hit | Similar → |
| 1930 | Outward Bound | Henry | Average | Similar → |
| 1930 | The Dawn Patrol | Douglas 'Doug' Scott | Hit | Similar → |
| 1928 | A Woman of Affairs | Jeffry Merrick | Average | Similar → |
| 1928 | The Power of the Press | Clem Rogers | Average | Similar → |
| 1928 | The Barker | Chris Miller | Hit | Similar → |
| 1926 | Broken Hearts of Hollywood | Hal Terwilliger | Hit | Similar → |
| 1926 | Padlocked | Sonny Galloway | Average | Similar → |
| 1925 | Stella Dallas | Richard Grosvenor | Hit | Similar → |
| 1925 | Wild Horse Mesa | Chess Weymer | Hit | Similar → |
| 1921 | The Three Musketeers | (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
Douglas Fairbanks Jr. - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Douglas Fairbanks Jr.?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr. is "Vivien Leigh: Scarlett and Beyond" with a rating of 10.0/10.
How many movies has Douglas Fairbanks Jr. acted in?
Douglas Fairbanks Jr. has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Douglas Fairbanks Jr.?
Other notable films include "Laurence Olivier: a life", "The Pirates of Penzance", and "H.M.S. Pinafore".