Fairbanks Family History & Genealogy

Minnie (Fairbanks) Poplow of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania United States was born in September 1922 in Philadelphia, and died at age 66 years old in June 1989 in Philadelphia.

Although he appeared in approximately 100 movies or TV shows, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. never really intended to take up acting as a career. However, the environment he was born into and the circumstances naturally led him to be a thespian. Noblesse oblige. He was born Douglas Elton Fairbanks, Jr. in New York City, New York, to Anna Beth (Sully), daughter of a very wealthy cotton mogul, and actor Douglas Fairbanks (born Douglas Elton Thomas Ullman), then not yet established as the swashbuckling idol he would become. Fairbanks, Jr. had German Jewish (from his paternal grandfather), English, and Scottish ancestry. He proved a gifted boy early in life. To the end of his life he remained a multi-talented, hyperactive man, not content to appear in the 100 films mentioned above. Handsome, distinguished and extremely bright, he excelled at sports (much like his father), notably during his stay at the Military Academy in 1919 (his role in Claude Autant-Lara's "L'athlète incomplete" illustrated these abilities). He also excelled academically, and attended the Lycéee Janson de Sailly in Paris, where he had followed his divorced mother. Very early in his life he developed a taste for the arts as well and became a painter and sculptor. Not content to limiting himself to just one field, he became involved in business, in fields as varied as mining, hotel management, owning a chain of bowling alleys and a firm that manufactured popcorn. During World War II he headed London's Douglas Voluntary Hospital (an establishment taking care of war refugees), was President Franklin D. Roosevelt's special envoy for the Special Mission to South America in 1940 before becoming a lieutenant in the Navy (he was promoted to the rank of captain in 1954) and taking part in the Allies' landing in Sicily and Elba in 1943. A fervent Anglophile, was knighted in 1949 and often entertained Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in his London mansion, "The Boltons". His film career began at the age of 13 when he was signed by Paramount Pictures. He debuted in Stephen Steps Out (1923) but the film flopped and his career stagnated despite a critically acclaimed role in Stella Dallas (1925). Things really picked up when he married Lucille Le Sueur, a young starlet who was soon to become better known as Joan Crawford. The young couple became the toast of the town (one "Screen Snapshots" episode echoes this sudden glory) and good parts and success followed, such as the hapless partner of Edward G. Robinson in Little Caesar (1931) a favorably reviewed turn as the villain in The Prisoner of Zenda (1937) or more debonair characters in slapstick comedies or adventure yarns. The 1930s were a fruitful period for Fairbanks, his most memorable role probably being that of the British soldier in Gunga Din (1939); although it was somewhat of a "swashbuckling" role, Fairbanks made a point of never imitating his father. After the World War II, his star waned and, despite a moving part in Ghost Story(1981), he did not appear in a major movie. Now a legend himself, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. left this world with the satisfaction of having lived up to the Fairbanks name at the end of a life nobody could call "wasted". To read more about his long and fascinating life, see IMDb Mini Biography by Guy Bellinger and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. dies at age 90.

Clara Jane Gale (Fristo) Fairbanks of 819 N Central Ave, in Medford, Jackson County, Oregon United States was born circa December 29, 1922, and died at age 47 years old circa September 2, 1970 at Jacksonville Cemetary in Jacksonville.

Torey Louise Fairbanks of Cass Lake, Minnesota United States was born on May 21, 2009. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Torey Louise Fairbanks.

Doris V Fairbanks of Manchester, Hartford County, CT was born on July 13, 1932, and died at age 67 years old on January 10, 2000.

George E Fairbanks of Brookfield, Worcester County, MA was born on April 13, 1928, and died at age 82 years old on October 19, 2010.

George R Fairbanks of Clinton, Worcester County, MA was born on March 6, 1914, and died at age 80 years old on April 24, 1994.

George N Fairbanks of Trappe, Talbot County, MD was born on March 30, 1923, and died at age 77 years old on January 26, 2001. George Fairbanks was buried at Eastern Shore Veterans Cemetery Section E Row 33 Site 22 6827 East New Market Ellwood Road, in Hurlock.

Franklin J Fairbanks of West Roxbury, Suffolk County, MA was born on February 4, 1919, and died at age 69 years old on January 24, 1989.

Ralph K Fairbanks of Coalinga, Fresno County, CA was born on March 20, 1920, and died at age 75 years old on September 14, 1995.

Herschel B Fairbanks of Burton, Geauga County, OH was born on August 16, 1914, and died at age 85 years old on January 8, 2000.

Wilbert J Fairbanks of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio was born on August 8, 1911, and died at age 73 years old in February 1985.

William J Fairbanks of Maple Heights, Cuyahoga County, OH was born on May 8, 1917, and died at age 77 years old on September 2, 1994.

William F Fairbanks of Clinton, Worcester County, MA was born on February 2, 1921, and died at age 90 years old on June 7, 2011.

Alfred V Fairbanks of Springfield, Hampden County, MA was born on May 8, 1918, and died at age 79 years old on June 30, 1997.

Stewart D Fairbanks of Smithville, Dekalb County, TN was born on May 25, 1920, and died at age 76 years old on November 29, 1996.

Robert D Fairbanks of Nashville, Davidson County, TN was born on October 19, 1923, and died at age 85 years old on November 2, 2008.

Robert A Fairbanks of Oconomowoc, Waukesha County, WI was born on September 8, 1918, and died at age 69 years old on March 4, 1988.

Robert L Fairbanks of Dallas, Dallas County, TX was born on July 26, 1936, and died at age 53 years old on November 19, 1989.

Robert D Fairbanks of Portville, Cattaraugus County, NY was born on December 6, 1916, and died at age 81 years old on March 25, 1998.