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William Fairbanks (born Carl Ullman; May 24, 1894 – April 1, 1945) was an American actor. He appeared in over 65 silent era films between 1916 and 1928.


Biography

Fairbanks was born Carl Ullman in
St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi River, Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the Greater St. Louis, ...
, the son of Charles and Emma E. Ullman. His father was born in
Bavaria Bavaria ( ; ), officially the Free State of Bavaria (german: Freistaat Bayern, link=no ), is a state in the south-east of Germany. With an area of , Bavaria is the largest German state by land area, comprising roughly a fifth of the total lan ...
, Germany,
emigrated Emigration is the act of leaving a resident country or place of residence with the intent to settle elsewhere (to permanently leave a country). Conversely, immigration describes the movement of people into one country from another (to permanentl ...
to the U.S. and became a
naturalized citizen Naturalization (or naturalisation) is the legal act or process by which a non-citizen of a country may acquire citizenship or nationality of that country. It may be done automatically by a statute, i.e., without any effort on the part of the in ...
, and his mother was born in
Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolita ...
. His father was a dry goods merchant and his mother a saleslady at their store. At age 16, Carl worked as a clerk in a stationery store in St. Louis. He attended the St. Louis Military Academy. His first
film A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...
role was as Capt. Pierre Thierry in the
war War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militias. It is generally characterized by extreme violence, destruction, and mortality, using regular o ...
drama Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has been ...
''
Somewhere in France ''Somewhere in France'' is a 1916 silent era war espionage drama motion picture starring Louise Glaum and Howard C. Hickman. Directed by Charles Giblyn and produced by Thomas H. Ince, the screenplay was adapted by J. G. Hawks based on the 1915 ...
'' (1916) starring
Louise Glaum Louise Glaum (September 4, 1888 – November 25, 1970) was an American actor, actress. Known for her roles as a femme fatale, vamp in silent film, silent era film, motion picture drama film, dramas, she was credited with giving one of the b ...
and
Howard C. Hickman Howard Charles Hickman (February 9, 1880 – December 31, 1949) was an American actor, director and writer. He was an accomplished stage leading man, who entered films through the auspices of producer Thomas H. Ince. Career In 1900, Hickman d ...
. He was then living at 20 Horizon Avenue in
Venice, California Venice is a neighborhood of the city of Los Angeles within the Westside region of Los Angeles County, California. Venice was founded by Abbot Kinney in 1905 as a seaside resort town. It was an independent city until 1926, when it was annexed b ...
, where he registered to vote. He appeared in five movies released in 1917, including his role as Dillon in the drama ''
The Little Brother ''The Little Brother'' is a 1917 American silent drama directed by Charles Miller and starring William Garwood and Australian actress Enid Bennett. The scenario was written by Lambert Hillyer based on a story by Lois Zellner. Cast *Enid Bennett ...
'' starring
Enid Bennett Enid Eulalie Bennett (15 July 1893 – 14 May 1969) was an Australian silent film actress, mostly active in American film. Early life Bennett was born on 15 July 1893 in York, Western Australia, the daughter of Nellie Mary Louise (''née'' Wa ...
and
William Garwood William Davis Garwood, Jr. (April 28, 1884 – December 28, 1950) was an American stage and film actor and director of the early silent film era in the 1910s. Between 1911 and 1913, Garwood starred in a number of early adaptions of popula ...
. He was then living at 115 Dudley Avenue in Venice, where he registered for
the draft Conscription (also called the draft in the United States) is the state-mandated enlistment of people in a national service, mainly a military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and it continues in some countries to the present day un ...
of
World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
. He went on to serve as an
ensign An ensign is the national flag flown on a vessel to indicate nationality. The ensign is the largest flag, generally flown at the stern (rear) of the ship while in port. The naval ensign (also known as war ensign), used on warships, may be diffe ...
in the
U.S. Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage o ...
. Appearing in only one movie released in 1918, as Stuart Morley in the
comedy Comedy is a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. The term o ...
/drama ''
The Hired Man ''The Hired Man'' is a novel by Melvyn Bragg, first published in 1969 by Secker and Warburg. It is the first part of Bragg's Cumbrian Trilogy. The story is set predominantly in the rural area around Thurston (Bragg's name for Wigton, his home ...
'' starring Charles Ray and
Charles K. French Charles K. French (born Charles Ekrauss French or Charles E. Krauss; January 17, 1860 – August 2, 1952) was an American film actor, screenwriter and director who appeared in more than 240 films between 1909 and 1945. Biography French was ...
, 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 Santa Monica (; Spanish: ''Santa Mónica'') is a city in Los Angeles County, situated along Santa Monica Bay on California's South Coast. Santa Monica's 2020 U.S. Census population was 93,076. Santa Monica is a popular resort town, owing to ...
, and four of his movies were released that year. He was elevated to
star A star is an astronomical object comprising a luminous spheroid of plasma (physics), plasma held together by its gravity. The List of nearest stars and brown dwarfs, nearest star to Earth is the Sun. Many other stars are visible to the naked ...
status by
independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in the New Hope, Pennsylvania, area of the United States during the early 1930s * Independ ...
producers Producer or producers may refer to: Occupations *Producer (agriculture), a farm operator *A stakeholder of economic production *Film producer, supervises the making of films **Executive producer, contributes to a film's budget and usually does not ...
Phil Goldstone Phil Goldstone (1893–1963) was a Polish-born American film producer and film director, director. He was also a real estate developer in Palm Springs, California, Palm Springs. Goldstone was involved with low-budget Poverty Row companies such as ...
and
Ben F. Wilson Ben F. Wilson (also credited as Benjamin Wilson; July 7, 1876 – August 25, 1930), was an American stage and film actor, director, producer and screenwriter of the silent era.screen name, taken from that of
Douglas Fairbanks Douglas Elton Fairbanks Sr. (born Douglas Elton Thomas Ullman; May 23, 1883 – December 12, 1939) was an American actor, screenwriter, director, and producer. He was best known for his swashbuckling roles in silent films including '' The Thie ...
, whose real surname happened to be the same as his, came about with the release of his starring role in Goldstone's
western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...
''Hearts of the West'' (1920) opposite Frances Conrad. Fairbanks and Edna Whitson were married in October 1920 and divorced in 1930. They had one son, William Fairbanks (December 12, 1923 – April 20, 1999), who served in the Navy during World War II. Other movies of Fairbanks include the western '' The Clean-Up'' (1922); the western '' Down by the Rio Grande'' co-starring
Dorothy Revier Dorothy Revier (born Doris Valerga; April 18, 1904 – November 19, 1993) was an American actress. Early years Born as Doris Valerga in San Francisco on April 18, 1904, Revier was one of five siblings of the famous Valerga performing fami ...
, the drama ''
A Fight for Honor ''A Fight for Honor'' is a lost film, lost 1924 American silent film, silent action film directed by Henry MacRae and starring William Fairbanks, Eva Novak and Claire McDowell.Connelly p.346 Cast * William Fairbanks as Jack Adams * Eva Novak as Ma ...
'' co-starring
Eva Novak Eva Barbara Novak (February 14, 1898 – April 17, 1988) was an American film actress, who was quite popular during the silent film era. Biography On February 14, 1898, Eva Barbara Novak was born in St. Louis, Missouri, to Joseph Jerome Nov ...
, in which Fairbanks played the role as Jack Adams, the
Columbia Pictures Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production studio that is a member of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group, a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment, which is one of the Big Five studios and a subsidiary of the mu ...
auto racing
action Action may refer to: * Action (narrative), a literary mode * Action fiction, a type of genre fiction * Action game, a genre of video game Film * Action film, a genre of film * ''Action'' (1921 film), a film by John Ford * ''Action'' (1980 fil ...
/drama ''
Racing for Life ''Racing for Life'' is a 1924 American silent action film directed by Henry MacRae and starring Eva Novak, William Fairbanks and Philo McCullough.Munden p.627 Cast * Eva Novak as Grace Danton * William Fairbanks as Jack Grant * Philo McCullo ...
'' co-starring Eva Novak, in which Fairbanks played the role as Jack Grant, and the western '' Border Women'' co-starring Dorothy Revier, in which Fairbanks played Big Boy Merritt, (all released in 1924); the serial '' Vanishing Millions'' co-starring
Vivian Rich Vivian Rich (May 26, 1893 – November 17, 1957) was an American silent film actress. Career Rich was born in Philadelphia and spent her early years there. Later the family moved to Boston and she completed her education at the Boston Latin H ...
, in which Fairbanks played Dave Merrill, and the action '' Flying High'' co-starring
Alice Calhoun Alice Beatrice Calhoun (November 21, 1900 – June 3, 1966) was an American silent film actress. Film star Born in Cleveland, Ohio, she made her film debut in an uncredited role in 1918 and went on to appear in another forty-seven films betw ...
, in which Fairbanks played Roy Cummins, (both released in 1926); the
crime In ordinary language, a crime is an unlawful act punishable by a State (polity), state or other authority. The term ''crime'' does not, in modern criminal law, have any simple and universally accepted definition,Farmer, Lindsay: "Crime, definit ...
/drama ''
One Chance in a Million ''One Chance in a Million'' is a 1927 American silent crime film directed by Noel M. Smith and starring William Fairbanks, Viora Daniel and Charles K. French. It was produced by the independent company Gotham Pictures. Synopsis After rescuing R ...
'' co-starring
Viora Daniel Viora Daniel (1902–1980) was an American film actress of the silent era.Foster p.33 She appeared in around twenty films, including several shorts, in a mixture of lead and supporting roles. Selected filmography * '' The Fourteenth Man'' (1920) ...
, in which Fairbanks played Jerry Blaine, and the action/
adventure An adventure is an exciting experience or undertaking that is typically bold, sometimes risky. Adventures may be activities with danger such as traveling, exploring, skydiving, mountain climbing, scuba diving, river rafting, or other extreme spo ...
'' The Down Grade'' co-starring Alice Calhoun, in which Fairbanks played Ted Lansing, (both released in 1927); and the
MGM Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded on April 17, 1924 a ...
wagon train ''Wagon Train'' is an American Western series that aired 8 seasons: first on the NBC television network (1957–1962), and then on ABC (1962–1965). ''Wagon Train'' debuted on September 18, 1957, and became number one in the Nielsen ratings. It ...
western ''
Wyoming Wyoming () is a U.S. state, state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is bordered by Montana to the north and northwest, South Dakota and Nebraska to the east, Idaho to the west, Utah to the south ...
'' (1928) with
Tim McCoy Timothy John Fitzgerald McCoy (April 10, 1891 – January 29, 1978) was an American actor, military officer, and expert on American Indian life. McCoy is most noted for his roles in B-grade Western films. As a popular cowboy film star, he ap ...
and
Dorothy Sebastian Dorothy Sebastian (born Stella Dorothy Sabiston; April 26, 1903The book ''Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory'' gives Sebastian's date of birth as April 26, 1907. – April 8, 1957) was an American film and stage actress. Ear ...
, and directed by
W.S. Van Dyke Woodbridge Strong Van Dyke II (Woody) (March 21, 1889 – February 5, 1943) was an American film director and writer who made several successful early sound films, including ''Tarzan the Ape Man'' in 1932, ''The Thin Man'' in 1934, ''San Franci ...
, in which Fairbanks played
Buffalo Bill Cody William Frederick Cody (February 26, 1846January 10, 1917), known as "Buffalo Bill", was an American soldier, bison hunter, and showman. He was born in Le Claire, Iowa Territory (now the U.S. state of Iowa), but he lived for several years in ...
. Although Fairbanks was a busy movie star through the greater part of the 1920s, after playing Long Collins in ''
The Vanishing West ''The Vanishing West'' is a 1928 American silent Western film serial directed by Richard Thorpe. The film is considered to be lost. Cast * Jack Perrin as Jack Marvin * Eileen Sedgwick as Betty Kincaid * Jack Dougherty as Jim Marvin (as Jack D ...
'' (1928), he retired from the screen. William Fairbanks died at age 50 of
lobar pneumonia Lobar pneumonia is a form of pneumonia characterized by inflammatory exudate within the intra-alveolar space resulting in consolidation that affects a large and continuous area of the lobe of a lung. It is one of three anatomic classifications o ...
in Los Angeles. A
military funeral A military funeral is a memorial or burial rite given by a country's military for a soldier, sailor, marine or airman who died in battle, a veteran, or other prominent military figures or heads of state. A military funeral may feature guards ...
service was conducted at graveside in
Los Angeles National Cemetery The Los Angeles National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery in the Sawtelle unincorporated community of the West Los Angeles neighborhood in Los Angeles County, California. Geography The entrance to the cemetery is located at 950 Sou ...
, Sawtelle.''Los Angeles Times'', Apr. 8, 1945, "Obituary --- William Fairbanks," p. 11


Selected filmography

* ''
Somewhere in France ''Somewhere in France'' is a 1916 silent era war espionage drama motion picture starring Louise Glaum and Howard C. Hickman. Directed by Charles Giblyn and produced by Thomas H. Ince, the screenplay was adapted by J. G. Hawks based on the 1915 ...
'' (1916) * ''
The Little Brother ''The Little Brother'' is a 1917 American silent drama directed by Charles Miller and starring William Garwood and Australian actress Enid Bennett. The scenario was written by Lambert Hillyer based on a story by Lois Zellner. Cast *Enid Bennett ...
'' (1917) * ''
Wolf Lowry ''Wolf Lowry'' is a 1917 silent film western directed by and starring William S. Hart. It was produced at Kay-Bee Studios and released by Triangle Film Corporation. A surviving film with prints at the Library of Congress, George Eastman House ...
'' (1917) * ''
The Mother Instinct ''The Mother Instinct'' is a 1917 American silent drama film directed by Lambert Hillyer and Roy William Neill and starring Enid Bennett, Rowland V. Lee and Margery Wilson.Golden p.33 Cast * Enid Bennett as Eleanor Coutierre * Rowland V. Lee ...
'' (1917) * '' The Medicine Man'' (1917) * '' The Flame of the Yukon'' (1917) * ''
The Hired Man ''The Hired Man'' is a novel by Melvyn Bragg, first published in 1969 by Secker and Warburg. It is the first part of Bragg's Cumbrian Trilogy. The story is set predominantly in the rural area around Thurston (Bragg's name for Wigton, his home ...
'' (1918) * ''
What Women Love ''What Women Love'' is a lost 1920 American silent comedy drama film directed by Nate Watt and starring Annette Kellerman. Cast *Annette Kellerman as Annabel Cotton * Ralph Lewis as James King Cotton *Wheeler Oakman as Willy St. John *William ...
'' (1920) * '' Peaceful Peters'' (1922) * ''
A Western Demon ''A Western Demon'' is a 1922 American silent Western film directed by Robert McKenzie. The film stars William Fairbanks, Marilyn Mills, and Monte Montague. The film was restored by The Film Foundation and the Academy of Motion Picture ...
'' (1922) * '' Spawn of the Desert'' (1923) * ''
The Law Rustlers ''The Law Rustlers'' is a 1923 American silent Western film directed by Louis King and starring William Fairbanks, Edmund Cobb and Joseph W. Girard.Munden, p. 426. Synopsis Two ranch hands set off for Alaska but stop in a town on the way, cont ...
'' (1923) * '' Her Man'' (1924) * ''
The Beautiful Sinner ''The Beautiful Sinner'' is a lost 1924 American silent Western film directed by W. S. Van Dyke and starring William Fairbanks, Eva Novak and George Nichols. Cast * William Fairbanks as Henry Avery * Eva Novak as Alice Carter * George Nic ...
'' (1924) * ''
The Cowboy and the Flapper ''The Cowboy and the Flapper'' is a 1924 American silent Western film directed by Alan James and starring Alan James and starring William Fairbanks, Dorothy Revier and Jack Richardson. Cast * William Fairbanks as Dan Patterson * Dorothy R ...
'' (1924) * '' Marry in Haste'' (1924) * ''
Racing for Life ''Racing for Life'' is a 1924 American silent action film directed by Henry MacRae and starring Eva Novak, William Fairbanks and Philo McCullough.Munden p.627 Cast * Eva Novak as Grace Danton * William Fairbanks as Jack Grant * Philo McCullo ...
'' (1924) * ''
The Fatal Mistake ''The Fatal Mistake'' is a 1924 American silent crime film directed by Scott R. Dunlap and starring William Fairbanks, Eva Novak and Wilfred Lucas. Synopsis A sacked newspaper reporter and a policewoman join forces to battle a gang of criminals ...
'' (1924) *''
A Fight for Honor ''A Fight for Honor'' is a lost film, lost 1924 American silent film, silent action film directed by Henry MacRae and starring William Fairbanks, Eva Novak and Claire McDowell.Connelly p.346 Cast * William Fairbanks as Jack Adams * Eva Novak as Ma ...
'' (1924) * ''
Tainted Money ''Tainted Money'' is a 1924 American silent drama film directed by Henry MacRae and starring William Fairbanks, Eva Novak and Bruce Gordon. Cast * William Fairbanks as Chester Carlton * Eva Novak as Adams' Daughter * Bruce Gordon as Marston * E ...
'' (1924) * ''
Women First ''Women First'' is a 1924 American silent drama film directed by B. Reeves Eason and starring William Fairbanks, Eva Novak and Lydia Knott.Dick p.232 Cast * William Fairbanks as Billy * Eva Novak as Jennie * Lydia Knott as Mrs. Abigail Doon ...
'' (1924) * '' The Other Kind of Love'' (1924) * ''
The Torrent Torrent or torrents may refer to: * A fast flowing stream Animals * Torrent duck, a species of the family Anatidae * Torrent fish * Torrent frog, various unrelated frogs * Torrent robin, a bird species * Torrent salamander, a family of sala ...
'' (1924) * '' Do It Now'' (1924) * ''
The Great Sensation ''The Great Sensation'' is a 1925 American silent drama film directed by Jay Marchant and starring William Fairbanks, Pauline Garon and Lloyd Whitlock.Munden p.313 The son of a wealthy family masquerades as a chauffeur, and thwarts the plans of ...
'' (1925) * ''
The New Champion ''The New Champion'' is a 1925 American silent sports action film directed by B. Reeves Eason and starring William Fairbanks, Edith Roberts and Lotus Thompson. Cast * William Fairbanks as Bob * Edith Roberts as Polly Brand * Lotus Thompson ...
'' (1925) * ''
Fighting Youth ''Fighting Youth'' is a 1935 American drama film directed by Hamilton MacFadden and written by Henry Johnson, Hamilton MacFadden and newspaper reporter Florabel Muir. The film stars Charles Farrell, June Martel, Andy Devine, J. Farrell MacDonald ...
'' (1925) *''
The Fearless Lover ''The Fearless Lover'' is a lost 1925 American silent drama film directed by Scott R. Dunlap and Henry MacRae and starring William Fairbanks, Eva Novak, and Tom Kennedy. Plot As described in a film magazine reviews, Patrick Michael Casey, son o ...
'' (1925) * '' The Handsome Brute'' (1925) * '' A Fight to the Finish'' (1925) * ''
The Winning Wallop ''The Winning Wallop'' is a 1926 American silent comedy-drama film directed by Charles Hutchison and starring William Fairbanks, Shirley Palmer and Charles K. French.Munden p.909 Cast * William Fairbanks as Rex Barton * Shirley Palmer as Mar ...
'' (1926) * ''
The Mile-a-Minute Man ''The Mile-a-Minute Man'' is a 1926 American silent drama film directed by Jack Nelson and starring William Fairbanks, Virginia Brown Faire, and George Periolat. It was produced by the independent Gotham Pictures. The plot revolves around two r ...
'' (1926) * '' Flying High'' (1926) * '' The Down Grade'' (1927) * '' Through Thick and Thin'' (1927) *'' Catch-As-Catch-Can'' (1927) * ''
Spoilers of the West ''Spoilers of the West'' is a 1927 American silent Western film directed by W. S. Van Dyke, written by Joseph Farnham, Madeleine Ruthven, and Ross B. Wills, and starring Tim McCoy, Marjorie Daw, William Fairbanks, Charles Thurston and Chief J ...
'' (1927) * ''
One Chance in a Million ''One Chance in a Million'' is a 1927 American silent crime film directed by Noel M. Smith and starring William Fairbanks, Viora Daniel and Charles K. French. It was produced by the independent company Gotham Pictures. Synopsis After rescuing R ...
'' (1927) * ''
When Danger Calls ''When Danger Calls'' is a 1927 American silent thriller film directed by Charles Hutchison and starring William Fairbanks, Eileen Sedgwick and Ethan Laidlaw.Munden p.884 Cast * William Fairbanks as Ralph Spencer * Eileen Sedgwick as June Weld ...
'' (1927) * ''
Wyoming Wyoming () is a U.S. state, state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is bordered by Montana to the north and northwest, South Dakota and Nebraska to the east, Idaho to the west, Utah to the south ...
'' (1928) * ''
Under the Black Eagle ''Under the Black Eagle'' is a 1928 American silent World War I drama film directed by W. S. Van Dyke, written by Norman Houston, Bradley King, and Madeleine Ruthven, and starring Ralph Forbes, Marceline Day, Bert Roach, William Fairbanks, a ...
'' (1928) * ''
The Vanishing West ''The Vanishing West'' is a 1928 American silent Western film serial directed by Richard Thorpe. The film is considered to be lost. Cast * Jack Perrin as Jack Marvin * Eileen Sedgwick as Betty Kincaid * Jack Dougherty as Jim Marvin (as Jack D ...
'' (1928)


References


External links

*
William Fairbanks
at
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Fairbanks, William 1894 births 1945 deaths American male silent film actors American people of German descent Male actors from St. Louis Male actors from Los Angeles Deaths from pneumonia in California 20th-century American male actors United States Navy personnel of World War I United States Navy officers