REMARKABLE CAREER

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20120, 14 December 1939, Page 3

REMARKABLE CAREER

STAR OF DASHING PARTS Douglas Fairbanks, one of the most famous film actors, whose death was reported this week from Santa Monica, California, aged 55, first appeared on the stage at the age of 12 in his native town of Denver. After completing his studies at Harvard University he adopted a stage career. He played Shakespeare in New York and soon became a “Broadway star.” In 1914 he turned to the films. His success was instantaneous. He delighted the world with a whole series of films, in which he played dashing pm ts involving great physical energy, for, apart from .his remarkaDle gifts as an actor, Fairbanks was an allround sportsman and kept himself in perfect training. Fairbanks, whose first marriage was dissolved in 1918, married Mary Fiekford, the equally famous film star, in 1920. With Charles Chaplin, Norma Talmrdge and other players he formed the United Artists’ Corporation, which employed from 5000 to 0000 people. Fairbanks and his wife made several tours of Europe together, and even in Moscow were mobbed. The marriage was regarded as an ideal one. At their beautiful Hollywood home they entertained Prince George and the officers of H.M.S. Durban in 1929. Their guests included many other Royal personages and celebrities of all kinds. There were reports in 1931 of a rift between the couple. Two years later it was reported that, while Mary wished to continue her film career, Fairbanks wanted to make his home in London and- to travel. Leading figures in the film world made strenuous efforts to prevent a divorce, which would be a blow to the industry. The Fairbank-s-Pickford marriage had been regarded as a model for all successful cinema stars. However, the couple were divorced in 1937. The following year Fairbanks married the former Sylvia Lady Ashley. He leaves, also, a son by his first marriage, Douglas Fairbanks, jun.. who is also a well-known film actox.