1935 Niven & Zanuck This 1935 photo, taken at Fairbanks' Santa Monica beach house with David Niven (l) and Darryl Zanuck (r) shows the influence Fairbanks wielded within the entertainment industry, after his retirement from active film making in 1932. Fairbanks was sought out by the younger generation of filmmakers, eager to hear what Fairbanks would suggest, in his characteristic generosity of freely sharing his expertise, for the betterment of all.