Originally published on 10/4/25

There are very few marriages like that of Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks. Not only were they two of the most beloved actors of the silent film era, but they are also responsible for the creation of the United Artists Corporation and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences—two things that helped revolutionize the film industry. Below, we look into exactly who the two were and how they met and fell in love.

Who was Mary Pickford? 

Pickford was born in 1892 in Toronto, Canada, under the name Gladys Louise Smith and to this day is considered one of the greatest actresses of all time. She began her career in silent films back in 1909, before switching to what they called “the talkies” a decade later, making her one of the few actresses to successfully do both. She remained in the industry up until 1933 and earned one Oscar at the time of her retirement. 

Personally, Pickford was married three times. First to Owen Moore from 1911 to 1920, then to Fairbanks from 1920 until 1936 and finally to Charles Rogers from 1937 until she died in 1979. She had two kids, whom she adopted with Rogers in 1943 and 1944. 

Pickford died in 1979 at age 87 from a cerebral hemorrhage and was survived by Rogers and her children. 

Who was Douglas Fairbanks? 

Fairbanks was born in May of 1883 and, similar to Pickford, was one of the most sought-after actors during the silent film era. He began acting in 1915 and remained in the industry until 1937. It was believed that he would have stayed in the industry longer had it been his choice, but he was one of the many actors deemed unusable once Hollywood shifted from silent films to talkies. 

Fairbanks was married before and after Pickford. First to Anna Beth Sully from 1907 until 1919. Next was Pickford and, following their divorce, Fairbanks married Sylvia Ashley, remaining with her until his death from a heart attack in 1939 at the age of 56. He was survived by son, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., whom he shared with Sully. 

A look at Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks’ marriage 

Pickford and Fairbanks met in 1915 while they were both married. Even so, their chemistry was undeniable, and by 1917, the two had fallen in love. However, due to their spouses, they couldn’t do anything about it publicly, so they enlisted people like Charlie Chaplin and Frances Marion to cover for them. Everyone, including Pickford’s mother, was just over the moon about the relationship because Pickford seemed happy for the first time in her life. 

“Mama loved Mary to be happy and Mary was never lovelier than when she was with Doug,” Marion once said. “That was enough for Mama–if only they both weren’t married to somebody else.”

Things took a turn when Pickford, Fairbanks and Chaplin were asked to go on a tour to sell war bonds. It was there that the press noticed just how lovingly the two looked at one another, which eventually led to Fairbanks deciding to divorce Sully.

Pickford, however, refused to leave Owen because she was scared of ruining her reputation, which created quite a rift in her relationship with Fairbanks–especially since by that point they were already working on creating the United Artists Corporation. 

“If I get a divorce and marry Douglas, will anyone ever go see my pictures again?” Pickford once asked. “Do you think they will forgive me? Above all, there are my people to consider.” 

Eventually, Pickford left Owen and married Douglas less than a year later. At first, the world was overjoyed with the news, given that these were two of the biggest movie stars of all time. Who wouldn’t want them to be together? As it turned out, it was them! 

“They embodied the youth, optimism and energy of their era,”  Tracey Goessel, author of The First King of Hollywood: The Life of Douglas Fairbanks, told Closer Weekly. “And the public interest in their marriage only added fuel to the fire of their fame.”

Despite all the lavish parties they threw for people like Chaplin, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Amelia Earhart and more, Pickford and Fairbanks were struggling. He was having trouble adapting to the talkies and she was getting jealous of his alleged flirting. Pickford also flirted with others, which allegedly led to their split. 

“Fairbanks was pathologically jealous, so he assumed she had strayed,” Goessel said. “Each thought the other had sinned first, so Douglas became a discreet rake. And Mary did begin an affair with her co-star.”

“After trying to get Mary to take him back, Douglas rebounded and married his lover,” she continued. “He regretted it every day for the rest of his life.”

Following their split, the two did continue to see one another—especially since they were some of the founding members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences—but they never got back together. 

To this day, they are considered two of the most beloved actors—and one of the most talked about couples—of all time. 

“They were more beloved and better known than anybody in the world,” said Goessel. “The fact that these two adored people were in love with each other made everybody feel good.”

Wanting to learn more about Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks? We recommend reading The Girls in the Picture by Melanie Benjamin. 

Link to original: https://www.womansworld.com/entertainment/celebrities/mary-pickford-and-douglas-fairbanks-marriage-changed-hollywood-forever