Actor Kirk Douglas died Wednesday in Los Angeles, California at the age of 103. Born December 9, 1916, Douglas made his feature film debut in 1946’s The Strange Love of Martha Ivers. He became one of the top male actors in post-World War II Hollywood, rising in popularity through the 50s and 60s. By the time Douglas retired from acting in 2004, he’d appeared in over 80 movies, including classics like 1960’s Spartacus and 1957’s Gunfight at the O.K. Corral among others.
Douglas was nominated three times for the Best Actor in a Leading Role Oscar by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for his roles as ruthless boxer Midge in 1949’s Champion, ambitious movie producer Jonathan in 1952’s The Bad and the Beautiful and the artistic genius Vincent Van Gogh in 1956’s Lust for Life. In 1996, Douglas won an honorary Oscar for “50 years as a creative and moral force in the motion picture community.” He was presented with the Cecil B Demille Award by the Hollywood Foreign Press at the 1968 Golden Globes Ceremony - and returned to the Golden Globes as a presenter during the 2017 ceremony alongside his daughter-in-law Catherine Zeta Jones. Outside Hollywood, Douglas was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1981 by President Jimmy Carter.
The actor’s son, Michael Douglas, confirmed Kirk Douglas’ death on Instagram, writing, “It is with tremendous sadness that my brothers and I announce that Kirk Douglas left us today at the age of 103.” Douglas penned a heartfelt statement to his father, honoring the Hollywood icon’s legacy in the industry and acknowledging the family left behind. Kirk Douglas is survived by his three sons Michael, Joel and Peter, their families - including Michael’s wife Catherine Zeta Jones - as well as Douglas’ wife, Hollywood producer Anne Buydens. See Michael Douglas’ Instagram post below.
Members of Hollywood have taken to social media to remember Kirk Douglas, including his daughter-in-law Jones, who wrote on Instagram, “I shall love you for the rest of my life. I miss you already.” Director Steven Spielberg additionally released a statement (via THR) in memory of the late actor, “I will miss his handwritten notes, letters and fatherly advice, and his wisdom and courage - even beyond such a breathtaking body of work - are enough to inspire me for the rest of mine.”
Later in his career, Douglas survived a plane crash in 1991 and suffered a stroke in 1996, before retiring from acting in the early 2000s. In addition to acting, Douglas was also an author, having penned more than 10 novels and memoirs, including his first, the autobiography The Ragman’s Son, published in 1988. His 11th book, Kirk and Anne: Letters of Love, Laughter, and a Lifetime in Hollywood - which he co-write with his wife Anne - was published in May 2017. Until his death, Douglas was the highest ranked person on the American Film Institute’s list of classic Hollywood cinema’s male screen legends at number 17. The actor has undoubtedly left an impact on Hollywood and beyond.
Rest in Peace Kirk Douglas: December 9, 1916 - February 5, 2020
Source: Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta Jones/Instagram, THR
