William Fairbanks | WatchedThis
William Fairbanks
Acting
Biography
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.
Filmography Movies
Acting
The Beautiful Sinner
To help secret serviceman Bill Parsons in pursuit of the thieving Benson gang wealthy criminologist Henry Avery sends his assistant Blinky to cover the waterfront while he attends a reception at the home of Mrs. Cornelius Westervelt. At the soiree he meets gang member Alice Carter while also discover the gang’s cache hidden there. Captured Parsons is saved by Blinky, and the pair foil the gang’s attempt to rob Mrs. Westervelt and her guests.
Racing for Life
Jack Grant agrees to drive in the big race in order to save his brother Carl from being charged with embezzlement.
The Vanishing West
A boy's father is an unjustly accused fugitive, and the boy's scheming uncle plots to become the youngster's guardian and take over the family fortune.
The Secret Gift
Jan Saxe and Peter Harlingen, two young men from Holland, arrive in America with little orphan Bertha Kruger whom they have befriended during the trip and whom they both love. Bertha has come to live with her blind Aunt Sophie, and when Jan secretly raises $500 for an operation to restore her aunt's sight, Bertha marries Peter, believing that he was the donor of the "secret gift."
The Down Grade
Ted Lanning works for his father's railroad company. He is demoted to a manual labor position on a dangerous mountain section of the track known as the "down grade". Ted must prove his worth while dealing with a gang of hijackers and competing for the affection of Molly Crane.
One Chance in a Million
Secret Service agent Jerry Blaine is hot on the trail of a gang of jewel thieves, Jerry briefly poses as a crook himself to gain the gang's confidence.
Through Thick and Thin
An undercover agent tracks a gang of drug smugglers to their headquarters in Mexico, a nightclub, where he manages to get a job as a bouncer. There he meets and falls for a pretty young woman, whose father happens to be the man the agent suspects of heading the gang.
That Something
Drifter Edwin Drake, estranged from his family, has a prophetic vision and gets his life back on track. Eventually he meets Sarah Holmes, an acolyte of the power of positive thinking, in the boardinghouse where both reside. Sarah happens to befriend Edwin’s mother and after Mrs. Drake shows her a picture of Edwin Sarah arranges for them to be reunited bringing happiness to all.
Fighting Youth
Dick Covington is a society athlete who is quick with his fists. His fiancée, Jean Manley, hates his fighting and convinces him to stop. But then his rival tricks him into accepting an offer to fight Murdering Mooney at a charity show. At first Jean is chagrined, but when the rival insults her, she is anxious for Covington to beat his opponent.
The Torrent
Hale Garrison, a big game hunter returning from safari in Africa, meets Gloria Manner on shipboard and falls in love with her.