More stylishly handsome than his father, the Prince of Pickfair, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., may not have possessed Senior’s commanding screen presence that could elevate even the weakest scripts and direction, but he was undeniably a charming and gifted actor in his own right. Encouraged into the film industry by Jesse L. Lasky, who was eager to capitalize on the prestige of the Fairbanks name, Douglas made his debut at the tender age of 13 in Stephen Steps Out (1923). This move, however, strained his relationship with his father, who disapproved and remained distant from his son’s career for quite some time.
On his path to becoming a full-fledged star, Fairbanks honed his craft on stage in the 1927 production of John Van Druten’s Young Woodley. He soon captured widespread attention with a standout performance as the troubled brother of Greta Garbo’s character in A Woman of Affairs (1928), a role in which he nearly stole the spotlight from the legendary Garbo herself. Audiences were also delighted by his comedic flair in Our Modern Maidens (1929), where he showcased spot-on impressions of John Barrymore, John Gilbert, and even his own father. That same film marked the beginning of his romantic journey with Joan Crawford, his first wife.
Douglas Fairbanks Jr. appeared in a variety of films throughout his career, with one of his most acclaimed performances being in Flight Commander (1930). On the other hand, one of the films that received the least favorable reviews was Ghost Story (1981).