Hollywood icon and ancestor of the famous dynasty Kirk Douglas 103 years old: How the star offspring congratulate him

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

December 9 marks the 103rd anniversary of the honorary veteran of Hollywood, the founder of one of the most successful and famous acting dynasties - Kirk Douglas. An incredibly talented actor who has such iconic roles as Spartacus and Van Gogh in his arsenal! He is practically an icon of American cinema. How do famous sons congratulate a famous father? What secrets are hidden by the Douglas family?

With Kirk Douglas, the adage “from rags to riches” is more relevant than ever. He was born on December 9, 1916, in a very poor Jewish family. The parents of the nee Isser Danielovich were emigrants from Belarus (at that time it was part of the Russian Empire). According to Kirk's recollections, the family lived in extreme poverty. Iser dreamed of breaking out of this dullness and poverty. He started working from childhood. What he did not do: he sold newspapers, and was a pizza delivery boy. Ysera was attracted by the cinema and the acting profession: he even arranged performances for the family at home. His perseverance, hard work and dedication helped him achieve college entrance. The young man was fond of wrestling and received a sports scholarship. After Iser Danielovich graduated from college, he went to conquer New York. There he tried to enter the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He did not have a penny of money to pay for the expensive education there. But the talented young man made such an indelible impression on the teachers that he was awarded a scholarship.

Isser moonlighted as a waiter and took part in the performances of the student troupe. It was the leader of this troupe who prompted Iser to change his name to a more euphonic one - Kirk Douglas. The actor himself says about this, jokingly: "How could one count on a career in cinema with the name Iser?" The actor's classmate was a girl named Diana Dill, who would later become his wife. Another future Hollywood star, Lauren Bacall, also studied with them. Lauren will remain Kirk's heartfelt friend forever. And it was thanks to her that Kirk was given his first film roles. After all, in those days, in America, it was very difficult for a boy of Jewish origin, and even penniless, to get a good job. Kirk's acting break happened when the Second World War began. The young man volunteered for the front. He served two years in the US Pacific Fleet. After being wounded and ill with dysentery, he was discharged. After returning from the front, Kirk actively pursued his acting career. He took on any role and performance.

Fame came to Douglas quite unexpectedly, after participating in a mediocre film, from which no one expected much success. But she shot! Stanley Kramer's The Champion has won critical acclaim and audiences love. This film also brought the actor his first nomination for the most prestigious cinematic award - "Oscar". Kirk Douglas became known to our viewers, mainly due to his iconic role in the film "Spartacus". This historical epic, where Douglas unmatchedly plays the role of a slave who rebelled against the Roman masters, brought him worldwide fame. In 2012, Douglas even wrote a memoir about this cult production in the history of American cinema.

The most interesting thing is that Kirk Douglas is also a fighter for justice outside the stage. In the midst of the struggle in America with the so-called "red threat", the writer Dalton Trumbo was blacklisted by the authorities. Douglas now sees this unfair persecution as a shameful chapter in American history. At the same time, he boldly challenged the entire establishment. Kirk ensured that screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, who wrote the screenplay under the name Sam Jackson, was recognized for his work. With this in mind, Kirk Douglas says, “I think I was so brave because I was young. Yes, it took a lot of courage at the time. It was a terrible time in Hollywood history. This should never have happened! This had to be fought! Now it's over and I am pleased to remember that I had a hand in this."

In Hollywood, Kirk Douglas won the fame of a famous ladies' man. He is credited with having affairs with such sultry Hollywood film stars as Marlene Dietrich and Jane Crawford. His first wife, with whom he has two sons in common, could not stand endless betrayal, left. Anne Bidense is the actor's second wife. He married her some time after his divorce from Diana. They are together to this day. Probably because Ann was wiser and more patient. Kirk's eldest son Michael hated his father for a very long time because he offended his mother. They did not communicate for many years.

All of Kirk Douglas's children have followed in his footsteps. But the most famous was his eldest son Michael Douglas. His acting arsenal includes many iconic roles and a host of prestigious cinematic awards. He earned, like his father, his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles. World fame came to Michael with the television series "Streets of San Francisco", released in the seventies. He then produced One One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest in 1975. The original copyright for the Ken Kesey novel that was filmed was owned by Kirk Douglas. He was going to film it and play the main character Randall McMurphy in it. But Michael categorically stated that his father was too old for this role and persuaded him to cede his rights.

The film, directed by Milos Forman, won five Oscars in the most prestigious nominations. Has earned worldwide fame, won over both critics and viewers. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, a film that revealed to the world another talented actor - Jack Nicholson, who played the main role, instead of Kirk. Kirk Douglas wrote several novels and two autobiographical books. Critics reacted very favorably to the work. In 1981, Douglas received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, a decade later - the French Legion of Honor.

In 1996, Kirk Douglas suffered a stroke. He endured it very hard, almost lost the opportunity to speak. The illness forced him to give up his career, and he devoted himself entirely to his family. Son Michael told about his father how to celebrate the milestones of the centenary. "He begged me with tears in his eyes that this was a family dinner, so that I would bring my children." Catherine Zeta-Jones, Kirk's star daughter-in-law, says of him: “We are very, very close. We are a big friendly family. We share absolutely everything. " Hearing from a Hollywood icon that he wants nothing more than just sitting at dinner with people close to him is so atypical!

Kirk Douglas has endured a lot in his difficult long life. He survived difficulties in his career, survived a helicopter crash, suffered a stroke and lost his son Eric (in 2004 he died of a drug overdose). Life taught him a lot, he is a renowned benefactor and philanthropist.

Kirk also has a subtle sense of humor. On the bronze wedding anniversary of Michael and Katherine, he congratulated his son with the words: "Michael, you have learned a very important lesson - to stay married, you must obey your wife!" And about himself, Kirk, on his centenary, said: “I never thought that I would live to be a hundred! I'm shocked!”Despite the fact that Kirk has crossed such a solid mark of 100 years,he is still able to enchant with his amazing charisma. Let his own body sometimes let him down, but the boyish enthusiasm in his eyes still has not gone out! In another our article about Kirk Douglas, you can learn about how he and Ann managed to keep their feelings for each other.