William Fairbanks
View on IMDb ↗From Wikipedia William Fairbanks (May 24, 1894 – April 1, 1945) was an American actor. He appeared in over 65 silent era motion pictures between 1916 and 1928. His first film role was as Capt. Pierre Thierry in the war drama Somewhere in France (1916) starring Louise Glaum and Howard C. Hickman. He was then living at 20 Horizon Avenue in Venice, California, where he registered to vote. He appeared in five movies released in 1917, including his role as Dillon in the drama The Little Brother starring Enid Bennett and William Garwood. He was then living at 115 Dudley Avenue in Venice, where he registered for the draft of World War I. He went on to serve as an ensign in the U.S. Navy. Appearing in only one movie released in 1918, as Stuart Morley in the comedy/drama The Hired Man starring Charles Ray and Charles K. French, he was then absent from the screen for over a year due to the war. In 1920, he lived at 1309 Ocean Front in Santa Monica, and four of his movies were released that year. He was elevated to star status by independent producers Phil Goldstone and Ben F. Wilson. His screen name, taken from that of Douglas Fairbanks, whose real surname happened to be the same as his, came about with the release of his starring role in Goldstone's western Hearts of the West (1920) opposite Frances Conrad. Although Fairbanks was a busy movie star through the greater part of the 1920s, after playing Long Collins in The Vanishing West (1928), he retired from the screen. In spite of sharing the same last name, William Fairbanks and Douglas Fairbanks Sr. were not related.
Known for
Filmography (43)
- 1928
The Vanishing WestLong Collins - 1928WyomingBuffalo Bill
- 1928
Under the Black EagleUlrich Muller - 1927When Danger CallsRalph Spencer
- 1927
The Down GradeTed Lanning - 1927One Chance in a MillionJerry Blaine
- 1927
Through Thick and ThinDon Davis - 1927
Spoilers of the WestBenton - 1927Catch-As-Catch-CanReed Powers
- 1926
Flying HighRoy Cummins - 1926The Winning WallopRex Barton
- 1926
Vanishing MillionsDave Merrill - 1925
A Fight to the FinishJim Davis - 1925
The Great SensationJack - 1925
The Handsome BruteLarry O'Day - 1925
The New ChampionBob - 1925
Speed MadBill Sanford - 1925
Fighting YouthDick Covington - 1924
Racing for LifeJack Grant - 1924The TorrentHale Garrison
- 1924
The Battling FoolMark Jenkins - 1924
The Fatal MistakeJack Darwin - 1924The Beautiful SinnerHenry Avery
- 1924Her Man
- 1924
The Cowboy and the FlapperDan Patterson - 1924
Marry in HasteWayne Sturgis - 1924
Women FirstBilly Decker - 1924Do It Now
- 1923
Spawn of the DesertDuke Steele - 1923
The Law RustlersPhil Stanley - 1922A Western DemonNed Underwood
- 1922
Sheriff of Sun Dog'Silent' Davidson - 1922
Peaceful Peters'Peaceful Peters' - 1920That Something
- 1920
The Secret GiftLarry - 1920
What Women LoveJack Mortimer - 1918
The Hired ManStuart Morley - 1917
The Flame of the YukonGeorge Fowler - 1917
The Little BrotherDillon - 1917
Wolf LowryOwen Thorpe - 1917The Mother InstinctRaoul Bergere
- 1917The Medicine ManLuther Hill
- 1916
Somewhere in FrancePierre Thierry
Flying High
A Fight to the Finish
Sheriff of Sun Dog
The Flame of the Yukon
Vanishing Millions
The Great Sensation
Racing for Life
The Battling Fool
The Fatal Mistake
Spawn of the Desert