With a highly decorated career that spans more than 6 decades, Kirk Douglas has achieved Hollywood legend status. The three-time Oscar nominee has several accomplishments as a film and stage actor, producer, film director, and author. He is also known as the patriarch of the Douglas dynasty of talented filmmakers, as several of his descendants also distinguished themselves in various aspects of Hollywood.
Bio – How old is Kirk Douglas?
A centenarian, Kirk Douglas was born IssurDanielovitch on December 9, 1916. His parents, Bryna and Herschel Danielovitch, were Jewish emigrants from the Russian Empire. Growing up, he adopted the name “Izzy Demsky” which he eventually changed to “Kirk Douglas” before joining the United States Navy during World War II.
As a young teenager, Douglas was able to endure for his acting talent despite a childhood of poverty and want. He did his college education at St. Lawrence University in New York and for his impeccable acting skills he was accepted to study at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts on a scholarship. He served in the United States Navy during World War II and was discharged in 1944 due to war injuries.
Upon returning to New York, Douglas gained employment at a radio station while simultaneously working as a stage actor. He originally planned to remain a stage actor, however, he made his screen debut in the film The Strange Love by Martha Ivers (1946) alongside Barbara Stanwyck. Her performance in the film earned her Hollywood attention as well as several other film roles. Douglas cemented his leadership status with his performance in the highly acclaimed film Champion (1949) which earned him his first Oscar nomination.
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Kirk Douglas maintained his place as a box office star, appearing in many war and Western films, not excluding dramas. He received his second Oscar nomination for his starring role in the melodrama film The Bad and the Beautiful (1952). He received a third Academy Award nomination and also won a Golden Globe Award for his role in the 1956 biographical film Thirst for Life. As his acting career flourished, the Hollywood star branched out into film production with the founding of his own film company, Bryna Productions. The company produced approximately 19 films from 1955 and 1986, some of which starred Douglas.
Douglas starred in over 90 films throughout his acting career and he was primarily known for playing tough, cruel, and glamorous characters that he portrayed in the most flamboyant acting style. He was instrumental in the career of the highly acclaimed epic historical film Spartacus (1960) in which he also doubled as executive producer. He made his directorial debut in the 1973 film Rogue followed by the Western film Detachment (1975), doubling as a lead actor in both films.
Among several other honors, Kirk Douglas Jimmy Carter, then President of the United States, received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1981. He also received the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award (1968), the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Film Institute (1991), the Academy Honorary Award (1996) and the Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award (1999).
Is he dead?
Kirk Douglas survived a stroke in January 1996 which temporarily impaired his ability to speak. Apart from this serious health scare, the Hollywood icon has enjoyed good sound condition for most of its long life. He has been the victim of a number of death pranks, the most notorious of which occurred in January 2017, weeks after his 101st birthday. The false claims were quickly dismissed following a statement from the Douglas family. The centenarian is still very much alive and healthy as of this writing.
grandchildren, wife
Just like his career in Hollywood, Kirk Douglas has also had it good in terms of relationships. He is currently married to his wife Anne Buydens (née Hannelore Marx), who is over six decades old. The duo met in Paris while Douglas was filming Thirst for Life and they tied the knot on May 29, 1954. Prior to their current union, they had been married for 8 years to Bermudian actress Diana Dill.
Kirk Douglas has 2 children from his first marital union; Oscar-winning actor and producer Michael Douglas and film producer Joel Douglas. He also has 2 sons from his current union; Television and film producer Peter Douglas and actor-comedian Eric Douglas. Her youngest son, Eric, tragically died in 2004 at the age of 46.
Douglas has at least 7 grandchildren. He has 3 from his first son Michael; Cameron Morrell Douglas (b. 1978), Dylan Michael Douglas (b. 2000) and Carys Zeta Douglas (b. 2003) and 4 of his third son Peter; Kelsey Douglas (born in 1992), Tyler Douglas (born in 1996), Ryan Douglas (born in 2000) and Jason Douglas (born in 2003).
His net worth
Kirk Douglas has amassed quite a good fortune for himself throughout his six-decade career in showbiz. Much of his wealth comes from his long career as an actor, producer and director. He also has a number of other profitable businesses and is known to be a great philanthropist alongside his wife Anne. His net worth is valued at a conservative estimate of $60 million.