William Fairbanks was an American actor who is best known for Wyoming, The Handsome Brute, and Border Women. He was a notable figure in silent films, particularly in westerns and action genres.
Personal and Family Life
William Fairbanks was born as Carl Uhlman on May 24, 1894, in St. Louis, Missouri. He was married to Edna Whitson from October 1920 until 1930, and they had one child together. Fairbanks had a deep connection to the film industry, working mainly under independent production companies.
Career Highlights
Fairbanks made his mark during the silent film era, becoming a prominent leading man. He starred in numerous films throughout the 1920s, culminating in a successful yet brief career before retiring from acting in 1928. Despite his success, he was not related to the famous actor Douglas Fairbanks, despite sharing a similar name.
Death and Legacy
William Fairbanks passed away on April 1, 1945, in Los Angeles, California, due to lobar pneumonia. His contributions to silent cinema, especially in the action and western genres, remain appreciated by film historians and classic movie enthusiasts.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Fighting Youth | 1925-07-01 | Dick Covington |
| The Flame of the Yukon | 1917-07-01 | George Fowler |
| The Little Brother | 1917-03-11 | Dillon |
| Spoilers of the West | 1927-12-10 | Benton |
| Her Man | 1924-07-10 | |
| Somewhere in France | 1916-10-29 | Pierre Thierry |
| The Great Sensation | 1925-10-01 | Jack |
| Under the Black Eagle | 1928-03-24 | Ulrich Muller |
| A Western Demon | 1922-05-01 | Ned Underwood |
| The Battling Fool | 1924-08-01 | Mark Jenkins |
| Flying High | 1926-12-20 | Roy Cummins |
| Wolf Lowry | 1917-05-27 | Owen Thorpe |
| The Cowboy and the Flapper | 1924-08-25 | |
| The Beautiful Sinner | 1924-10-01 | |
| Racing for Life | 1924-08-08 | Jack Grant |
| The Vanishing West | 1928-10-15 | Long Collins |
| The Secret Gift | 1920-09-20 | Larry |
| The Down Grade | 1927-07-25 | Ted Lanning |
| One Chance in a Million | 1927-04-01 | Jerry Blaine |
| Through Thick and Thin | 1927-09-29 | Don Davis |
| That Something | 1920-05-02 | |
| The Torrent | 1924-08-01 | Hale Garrison |