William Fairbanks

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 US Navy Appearing in only one movie released in 1918 as Stuart Morley in the comedydrama 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 Goldstones 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