Kirk Douglas
Photo: Unknown author / Public domain / Wikimedia Commons
Birth Date
December 9, 1916
Died
February 5, 2020
Nationality
United States
Sun Sign
Sagittarius
Natural hair color
Light brown
Eye color
Blue
Height
5 ft 9 in | 175 cm
Weight
76 kg | 167 lbs
Shoe size
Not available
Early acting career First movie Breakthrough
Kirk Douglas was born in Amsterdam, New York, United States, on December 9, 1916, was an American actor.
Young Kirk Douglas began his acting career on radio, theater and in commercials in New York City.
He got his first big break in a play "Kiss and Tell" (1943).
He made his big screen debut in noir drama film The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946) in role as Walter O'Neil, with Barbara Stanwyck.
Kirk's breakthrough performance came as Michael "Midge" Kelly in noir drama sport movie Champion (1949), for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor.
Best Movies
He was nominated for the Academy Awards for Best Actor for his roles in movies:
The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) melodrama in role as Jonathan Shields
Lust for Life (1956) biographical drama in role as Vincent van Gogh, for which he won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor
He was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for his performance as Detective Jim McLeod in drama crime film Detective Story (1951).
He was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actor for his role as John W. "Jack" Burns in Western drama movie Lonely Are the Brave (1962).
In Harm's Way (1965) drama war with John Wayne
The War Wagon (1967) western with John Wayne
The Vikings (1958) epic historical action with Tony Curtis
Out of the Past (1947) noir opposite Robert Mitchum
The Fury (1978) supernatural horror in role as Peter Sandza
Young Man with a Horn (1950) musical drama with Doris Day and Lauren Bacall
Ace in the Hole (1951) noir drama in role as Chuck Tatum
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954) adventure drama with James Mason
Paths of Glory (1957) drama directed by Stanley Kubrick
The Final Countdown (1980) science fiction action with Martin Sheen
He starred in seven films with Burt Lancaster:
Victory at Entebbe (1976) thriller action
Tough Guys (1986) action comedy
Seven Days in May (1964) political thriller
The List of Adrian Messenger (1963) mystery drama
I Walk Alone (1947) drama crime
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957) western
The Devil's Disciple (1959) comedy romance
TV Shows
He was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for his role as Amos Lasher in television drama film Amos (1985).
He was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his role as General Kalthrob in HBO horror anthology series Tales from the Crypt (1991).
He was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his role as Ross Burger in CBS supernatural drama series Touched by an Angel (1994) in episode "Bar Mitvah".
Facts
Graduated from St. Lawrence University (1939), with a degree in English in Canton, NY.
Attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City.
Kirk has acted in over 90 films during his career.
He served as a communications officer in anti-submarine warfare aboard USS PC-1137 in the United States Navy (1941-1944).
He is a father of actor Michael Douglas.
Received an Oscar for Lifetime Achievement in 1996.
He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1981.
He established Bryna Productions in 1955.
Received the AFI Life Achievement Award in 1991.
Published his autobiography, The Ragman's Son in 1988.
Received the Cecil B. DeMille Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1968.
He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6263 Hollywood Boulevard in 1960.
He was friends with Lauren Bacall, Tony Curtis and Steven Spielberg.
Kirk died on February 5, 2020, Beverly Hills, California, U.S., at the age of 103.
Spouse
He was married to:
Diana Dill (1943-1951), they had two sons
Anne Buydens (1954-2020), they had two sons
Relationships
He dated Sylva Koscina (1967), Pier Angeli (1952-1953), Mona Knox (1952), Lisa Ferraday (1952), Lana Turner (1951-1953), Elizabeth Threatt (1951-1953), Patricia Neal (1949), Evelyn Keyes (1949), Peggy Diggins (1935-1938) and Linda Darnell (1948).