Michael Douglas

Michael Douglas
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Name:
Michael Douglas
Real name:
Michael Kirk Douglas
Who is:
,
Birth date:
(80 y.o.)
Place of birth:
New Brunswick, New Jersey, U.S.
Height:
5'10 ft ()
Weight:
176 lb (80 kg)
Namesakes:
Birth Sign:
(characteristic)
Chinese zodiac:
Links:

Photos: Michael Douglas

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Michael Douglas's biography

Michael Douglas is a famous actor and director, the representative of a famous acting dynasty. His awards include two Oscars and the hearts of millions of viewers worldwide. Michael's career has been nothing but upward trajectory, with each role showcasing his flawless talent. Net worth: $350 million.
In the photo: Michael Douglas
In the photo: Michael Douglas

Childhood and family

Michael Kirk Douglas is the eldest son of legendary Spartacus star Kirk Douglas, whose parents emigrated from Russia in the early 1900s, and actress Diana Darrid (died in 2015). Michael was born in New Jersey on September 25, 1944, and two and a half years later he had a younger brother, Joel.
Young Michael Douglas
Young Michael Douglas
When Douglas Sr. divorced his wife in 1951, Kirk and Diana maintained an amicable relationship, ensuring their sons never lacked parental attention. Michael stayed with his mother, who never tried to curb her son's rebellious streak and free-spirited nature.

Despite the fact that Michael studied well, he was expelled from school. The teenager skipped classes, rode motorcycles, drank, and challenged teachers, recognizing no authority except his father's. Kirk was an ideal for him because as the son of a Jewish ragman, he'd managed to rise from the very bottom of society to become a cinema icon for all of America.
Michael Douglas with his mother
Michael Douglas with his mother
After watching the first film with his father, Michael wanted to become an actor too, but Kirk was against and enrolled his son in a military school. Those years at military school toughened the future actor's character, and after graduation, he stuck to his guns and enrolled in acting classes at the University of California.

Career. Stellar beginning

Critics claimed that Michael's father had a hand in the brilliant start of his son's career, but this was just gossip. What can't be denied is that Michael clearly inherited his father's talent and steely determination, along with his mother's delicate features and striking eyelashes.
Michael Douglas
Michael Douglas
The young actor's first role was the main one: in the 1971 Summertree social drama, he played twenty-year-old Jerry, who returns home to inform his parents that he has been expelled from the university and now he must leave for Vietnam. The picture was a success due to the topical theme, raised by director Anthony Newley, and talented and beautiful young Douglas.
Douglas's first role – the lead role in the Summertree
Douglas's first role – the lead role in the Summertree
Michael shot in the next picture in the company of Ben Gazzara. In 1972's mysterious drama When Michael Calls, he played a young doctor who receives calls from his deceased brother, triggering unexplained events and terrible deaths in a small town.

That same year, the young actor starred in the family film Napoleon and Samantha, which became a classic of American children's cinema. Ten-year-old Jodie Foster played the main role. She was injured on the set being attacked by a lion.
A shot from the Napoleon and Samantha
A shot from the Napoleon and Samantha
The crime detective TV series The Streets of San Francisco cemented the rising star's early success. In the series, Michael played young detective Keller, refusing a stunt double and performing all the action sequences himself. Before the first season ended, Douglas left the series to pursue his dream of becoming a producer.

Douglas Sr. wanted to play the lead role in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest since he owned the film rights to Ken Kesey's famous novel. It took Michael a lot of time and nerves to dissuade his father and insist on Jack Nicholson. In 1975 the film won four Oscars and brought fabulous profits to the Douglas dynasty. Much later, in his autobiography The Ragman's Son, Kirk would write that he'd give everything down to his last cent to have played that role instead of Nicholson.
Michael Douglas with his father
Michael Douglas with his father
1978 was marked by the release of the thriller The China Syndrome, where Michael played the lead role and served as producer. His partner was Jane Fonda. The film's success was incredible—it received five Oscar nominations and just as many Golden Globe nods.
Jane Fonda and Michael Douglas
Jane Fonda and Michael Douglas
Continuing to engage in directing, Michael starred in films, each of which invariably became an event.

Best roles

One of Michael Douglas's most memorable roles is adventurer Jack Colton in the adventure films Romancing the Stone (1985) and The Jewel of the Nile (1986). Michael's co-star was Kathleen Turner, and his college friend Danny DeVito played an antique dealer in the film.
Michael Douglas in the Romancing the Stone
Michael Douglas in the Romancing the Stone
With the same team, Michael starred in the hilariously dark comedy The War of the Roses, where he played Oliver, with whom his ex-wife Barbara, played by Turner, was sharing a house. Danny DeVito played the lawyer who discovers the dead spouses crushed by a chandelier after their domestic warfare.

In the 1987 psychological thriller Fatal Attraction, the actor played in a duet with Glenn Close, who terrorized the family of Michael's character. The film earned countless nominations and awards, landing in the year's top ten best pictures.
Glenn Close and Michael Douglas
Glenn Close and Michael Douglas
Douglas won an Oscar for playing Gekko in the Wall Street drama, which also starred Daryl Hannah, Charlie Sheen, and Martin Sheen.

Douglas's role as detective Nick Curran investigating a rock star's murder in the 1992 thriller Basic Instinct is also considered one of his most successful. His character falls under Sharon Stone's spell and can't see the obvious truths. But no matter how astute the viewer is, the end is unpredictable.
Basic Instinct 1992 - Trailer
In 1993 Michael stunned audiences with his role in Falling Down. His character faces constant bad luck and failures that turn his life into hell, until the quiet office worker finally snaps and takes up arms. Robert Duvall and Barbara Hershey co-starred in the film.
Michael Douglas in the Falling Down
Michael Douglas in the Falling Down
Between 1994 and 1999 Douglas starred in ten films, with the thriller The Game being one of the most significant, where Michael's hero's brother is played by Sean Penn. The film became a huge success and was hailed as one of the year's best pictures. Another standout from this period is The Perfect Murder, a thriller where Michael plays the deceived husband of the heroine played by Gwyneth Paltrow. After plotting the perfect murder, he approaches his wife's lover with a substantial reward to kill her, but things take an unexpected turn with unpredictable consequences. The lover was played by Viggo Mortensen.
The Perfect Murder - Trailer
In 2000, the film Traffic enriched world cinema, which was awarded all the existing awards. Douglas shared the screen with Benicio del Toro, Dennis Quaid, and the stunning Catherine Zeta-Jones. Beyond the drug trade, Steven Soderbergh's film tackled other serious issues and sparked widespread social discussion.
A shot from the Traffic
A shot from the Traffic
Though he rarely treated fans to comedy projects, between 2003-2006 he appeared in the comedies The In-Laws, It Runs in the Family, and You, Me, and Dupree.

In the 2007 black comedy King of California, the actor played a genuine psycho who returned from the hospital but couldn't shake his obsessive idea to find treasure. His irresponsible character's daughter was played by Evan Rachel Wood.
King of California - Trailer
In the political thriller Beyond a Reasonable Doubt with its unpredictable ending, Douglas played the district attorney that young journalist Jesse Metcalfe is trying to expose for corruption.

In Steven Soderbergh's Haywire, the actor assembled a brilliant cast around him including Gina Carano, Ewan McGregor, and Channing Tatum.
Haywire - Trailer
Douglas's most unexpected screen transformation was his role as entertainer Liberace in the drama Behind the Candelabra. Matt Damon played Liberace's lover. Who would have thought these two tough guys could so authentically portray gay characters? Of course, because they can do anything.

In 2014, Michael took on the role of a cynical, wealthy businessman seeking new thrills in the thriller Beyond the Reach. The following year he joined the Marvel Universe, playing Hank Pym in Ant-Man.
Ant-Man - Trailer
In the action film Unlocked, released in spring 2017, Douglas played the mentor to Noomi Rapace's heroine. John Malkovich and Toni Colette also played in the picture. In 2018, Ant-Man and the Wasp was completed, where the actor's co-stars included Michael Peña, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Laurence Fishburne.

At the end of 2018, Michael Douglas received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of his career.
Michael Douglas's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Michael Douglas's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
In 2018, the Chinese action-drama Animal World premiered, featuring Chinese actors starring alongside Douglas. The film wasn't well-received in Europe and America, partly due to its animated sequences, which many critics felt were excessive.

Michael Douglas's personal life

The actor's first wife wasn't connected to the entertainment industry. Austrian Diandra Luker was the daughter of a high-ranking official. Michael and Diandra married in 1977. Their son Cameron was born in 1978. The couple had a smooth relationship until Michael grew restless with routine life and left Diandra in 1997.
Michael Douglas and Diandra Luker
Michael Douglas and Diandra Luker
Michael's firstborn, Cameron, tried his hand at acting without success. In 2009 he was charged with large-scale drug trafficking. He spent 5 years in prison.

In 1998 at the Mask of Zorro premiere, Michael Douglas spotted Catherine Zeta-Jones and was so smitten that he boldly told her he wanted to father her children. Whether Catherine was more put off by Michael's boldness or his ongoing divorce proceedings remains unclear, but she declined to pursue things further. But Michael inherited his father's determination, and no obstacle could stop him – Catherine included. After six months of pursuit, she gave in.
Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones
Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones
Michael and Catherine share the same birthday and both believe they were meant for each other. In 2000 their first child, Dylan was born and the actors soon married. Their daughter Carys was born in 2003.
Michael Douglas with his family
Michael Douglas with his family
When Michael was diagnosed with cancer in 2010, Catherine did everything possible to help him recover and battle the disease. The stress and worry over her husband's condition took a toll on her own health, and the actress began showing signs of mental health issues. Despite Michael's initial reluctance to view mental health issues as seriously as physical illness after his own experience, the couple eventually worked through the challenge together.

Michael Douglas nowadays

One of Michael Douglas's most memorable recent roles was in the comedy series "The Kominsky Method," where he played an aging acting coach. In January 2019, Michael received another Golden Globe for this role.

Michael Douglas remains active in Hollywood, with new projects featuring the actor released regularly. In 2019, Douglas reprised his role as Hank Pym in "Avengers: Endgame," and in 2020, he voiced the same character in the animated series "What If...?"
Legendary Michael Douglas
Legendary Michael Douglas

Michael Douglas: latest news and articles

  • «My Dad Is Crazy» is a good movie. Douglas is great as always.
    2021-04-26 18:14:56
  • With Douglas I looked the other day cool movie «A Perfect Murder». Powerful thriller, addictive!
    2021-04-16 16:19:25
  • Michael Douglas has such masculine strength and charisma. In general, I really like this actor
    2021-03-27 14:27:46
  • «Basic Instinct»!! With Douglas. This is a bobm, not a movie. You need to watch it, everyone.
    2021-03-22 23:12:24
  • Naturally, such an actor`s genes are powerful, here, apart from this career, there can be no particular choice, since talent! Douglas is a legend for me
    2021-03-07 08:05:16
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