1883

May 23  Born as Douglas Elton Thomas Ulman in Denver, Co., the fourth son of Ella Fairbanks Wilcox Ulman.  Douglas was described as being a “glum” baby, rarely laughing or smiling.  Legend tells the tale of young Douglas, physically active from a very young age,  falling off the roof.  Proudly telling his worried mother, “I fell off the roof,” he laughed out loud and smiled the smile that would soon enough be known around the world. 

 His siblings were John Fairbanks, Norris Wilcox (for reasons unknown, he never lives with the family) and Robert Ulman.  Charles Ulman leaves his family when Douglas is five years of age.  After being granted a divorce on grounds of desertion, Ella reverts to the use of the name Fairbanks, also bestowing it on her two younger boys, Robert and Douglas.

1888-1899

Douglas grows up in Denver, often with his brother Robert as his “partner in crime” they seek out and cause mischief wherever they go.  Douglas often played pranks and sought danger before finding a less dangerous outlet, a burgeoning interest in theater and participating in amateur theatricals.  His mother encouraged this interest by taking him to performances of regional groups as well as traveling professionals.  During the summer months he did odd jobs, although reports show him with an inclination to goof off.  During this time, he receives instruction from retired actress Maude Fealy, and comes to the notice of Frederick Warde a professional actor-manager.  Warde offers him a position if he will leave school and come to New York.

 1900-1915

Fairbanks and family head for the Great White Way.  He joins Frederick Warde’s company for the Broadway season 1899-1900.  Douglas leaves the Warde troupe thereafter, and holds a series of jobs (law office, brokerage firm) and even traveling to Europe (England and Paris).  He returns to Broadway in a series of plays.  He signs an exclusive contract with theatrical producer William Brady for 1905-1907.

Fairbanks meets and marries Anna Beth Sully in 1907.  He again leaves the theater for a time, at the insistence of his father-in-law and pursues “secure” work, e.g., soap salesman.  This lasts until 1908, when he returns to the theater, and re-establishes himself as a juvenile lead in such productions as The New Henrietta and Officer 666.

Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. is born on December 9, 1909.

Fairbanks signs a contract with Harry Aitkin’s Triangle Fine Arts company to appear in the “flickers” in 1915.  He makes his film debut in The Lamb. 

Douglas Fairbanks meets Mary Pickford for the first time at a party in New York, given by musical comedy star Elsie Janis in November 1915.   Mary is swept off her feet, literally.

 1915-1920

Two things mark these years: work and love.   Fairbanks makes modern comedies, spoofing fads and celebrating the wild and wooley west.  He develops a successful collaboration with writer Anita Loos, and director John Emerson, showcasing his ebullient, athletic, positive, patriotic persona.  Fairbanks becomes his own producer after signing with Artcraft in 1917.

Ella Fairbanks dies in 1916 with Beth Sully Fairbanks by her side.  Douglas and Mary reach “an understanding” at this time, and engage in a heady courtship.  

Douglas Fairbanks meets Charlie Chaplin for the first time in January 1917, and a great and enduring friendship is born.  Chaplin would later refer to Fairbanks as his only friend.  

Fairbanks, Pickford, and Chaplin do their bit for the war effort and crisscross the country speaking at war bond drives.

Douglas Fairbanks divorces Beth Sully Fairbanks in 1918.

Fairbanks, Pickford, and Chaplin, joined by D. W. Griffith found United Artists Corporation in 1919.  The company’s first release is the Fairbanks film His Majesty the American.  Now as well as producing, the stars become their own distributors, securing their financial profits.

 1920-1928

March  Mary Pickford divorces Owen Moore, and marries Douglas Fairbanks on March 28, 1920.  Doug and Mary embark on a Honeymoon to Europe where they are overcome and thrilled by the crowds that greet them.

Fairbanks becomes the swashbuckler we all know and love with his feature film The Mark of Zorro.  After one last modern comedy, The Nut, Fairbanks surrenders to the public taste for costume dramas.

Doug and Mary reign as “King and Queen of Hollywood”.

Fairbanks is instrumental in Founding AMPAS in 1927, and is a presenter at the first Academy Awards ceremony.

 1928-1939

The glory years come to a close with Fairbanks making fewer and less elaborate films after The Iron Mask in 1929. Doug travels the world; Mary stays at home. Fairbanks and Pickford grow apart, and the marriage falters.  Pickford divorces Fairbanks in January of 1936.  That same year Fairbanks would take a third wife, Lady Sylvia Ashley.

 1939

Douglas Fairbanks dies in his sleep of a heart attack.