Film Career
Fabian was contracted to 20th Century-Fox beginning with Don Siegel's Hound-Dog Man, based on Fred Gipson's novel. The Psychotronic Encyclopedia of Film featured a photo of Fabian's screen test where he appeared in the same outfit that Elvis Presley wore in Love Me Tender.
The movie was not a success but Fox found they could use Fabian in supporting roles such as Five Weeks in a Balloon, High Time, North to Alaska and The Longest Day. When Fox temporarily shut down following cost over-runs on Cleopatra, Fabian was one of the first actors whose options were exercised after the studio re-opened.
Most of Fabian's early films were comedies and cast him as a restless teenager with a penchant for singing. However, he received critical acclaim for his performance as a psychotic killer in 'A Lion Walks Among Us' for the TV show Bus Stop. This episode was highly controversial due to its violent content, with many affiliates refusing to run the program, and was mentioned in the US Senate.
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