He left New York for California in 1915 and became one of Hollywood's first superstars. He was known for his swashbuckling roles in silent films, where he did most of his own stunts. He had a fairy-tale marriage to silent film star Mary Pickford that captivated Hollywood society throughout the 1920s. By the early 1930s, his popularity had waned. We many never know, but we can speculate.
People frequently visit the archive to find out about relatives' Mines attendance.
Four or five times a year, I have to report that the person never attended or if he did, he didn't graduate. Obviously, some people are willing to claim an association with Mines that is either false or tenuous. Maybe Fairbanks, even though a successful actor, succumbed to the time-honored practice of r sum padding. It is known that his mother had wished him to attend Mines. Perhaps he wished he had.