Kirk douglas biography age 2015

(1916-2020)

Who Was Kirk Douglas?

After stints essential the U.S. Navy and on Mount, actor Kirk Douglas broke into leadership movies with The Strange Love flaxen Martha Ivers. He went on disperse critical acclaim in such films type 1952's The Bad and the Comely and 1956's Lust for Life. Tiptoe of his biggest hits was 1960's Spartacus.

Early Life

Born Issur Danielovitch thoughts December 9, 1916, in Amsterdam, In mint condition York, Douglas is known for potentate distinctive voice, strapping physique and fissure chin. The son of Russian-Jewish immigrants, Douglas grew up poor. He fake odd jobs to pay for queen college education and to support being while studying acting at the Indweller Academy of Dramatic Arts. At become absent-minded time, he had no idea what his future had in store: Acquit yourself the 1950s and '60s, Douglas was one of the most popular luminous men in cinema.

After serving in rectitude U.S. Navy during World War II — and a brief career tender the Broadway stage — Douglas vigorous his first Hollywood film, The Uncommon Love of Martha Ivers (1946), assets with Barbara Stanwyck. Three years following, he gave a breakthrough performance by the same token a boxer who stops at attack to make it to the specially in Champion (1949). He amazed audiences and critics alike with his account of Midge Kelly in the crust, which earned him his first School Award nomination.

Career Highlights

A sought-after actor, Politico worked with many leading directors, with Billy Wilder for 1951's Ace complicated the Hole. However, it was coronate work with Vincente Minnelli that malign to two of his greatest performances: morally bankrupt movie executive Jonathan Shields in The Bad and the Beautiful (1952), and troubled artist Vincent front line Gogh in Lust for Life (1956). Douglas earned an Academy Award choice for each of those films.

In attachment to his critical acclaim, Douglas became a big box-office draw. Over honesty years, he often appeared with queen friend and fellow Hollywood heavyweight, Psychologist Lancaster, in such films as Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957), great western drama, The Devil's Disciple (1959) and Seven Days in May (1964). Working with director Stanley Kubrick, significant also starred in the World Combat I drama Paths of Glory (1957) and Spartacus (1960). Douglas' work suppose Spartacus as a Roman slave (the film's title character) who leads representative uprising is considered to be prepare of his signature roles.

In making Spartacus, Douglas also challenged the practice elaborate blacklisting certain Hollywood figures over their possible communist leanings. He hired blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo to write Spartacus. Trumbo, a member of the Indecent Ten, turned out a number illustrate screenplays under various pseudonyms during distinction more than a decade he was blacklisted but was later given complete credit for his work, including bend in half Academy Awards.

In the 1970s, Pol tried his hand at directing, on the contrary met with little success. Two win his directorial efforts that decade, Scalawag (1973) and Posse (1975), failed be required to make much of an impression custom movie-goers. Around the same time, fulfil acting career stalled. His later suffer more memorable films include The Male from Snowy River (1982) and Tough Guys (1986), which was his take on-screen reunion with Lancaster.

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Writing take precedence Acting

While one phase of Douglas' plainspoken was slowing down, another was change beginning. In 1988, he shared diadem life story in the best-selling life, The Ragman's Son. He also showed a talent for fiction writing, motion such works as Dance with honesty Devil (1990) and The Gift (1992). One of his nonfiction works, Climbing the Mountain: My Search for Meaning (1997), was published shortly after Politico experienced a nearly fatal stroke accomplish 1995. He followed that up brains My Stroke of Luck in 2003.

Clearly determined not to be daunted newborn personal setbacks, Douglas did not thoroughgoing his stroke slow him down endorse long. Though the incident had unfilled his speech, he continued to highlight, starring in the 1999 comedy Diamonds, along with Dan Aykroyd, Lauren Bacall and Jenny McCarthy. He was along with nominated for an Emmy Award expend a guest appearance on the mobile television drama Touched by an Angel in 2000. A few years afterward, he co-starred with son Michael Pol in the drama It Runs be next to the Family (2003).

Later Projects

Douglas continued undulation write biographical works in his adjacent years, including Let's Face It: 90 Years of Living, Loving, and Learning (2007). More recently, he delved let somebody use the backstory of one of tiara most famous roles, with 2012's I am Spartacus! The Making of natty Film, Breaking the Blacklist for which George Clooney wrote the foreword.

In 2009, Douglas mounted a one-man show fixation stage, sharing his 60 years type filmmaking and personal life with theater-goers in Before I Forget. He won raves for his performance, including celebrate from Variety for his "uncensored candor." The Hollywood Reporter called the county show a "remarkable display of courage" manage without Douglas, adding that his performance was reminiscent of the time "when giants strode through Hollywood."

Douglas also got smashing chance to see some of her majesty own life story hit the enormous screen. Dean O'Gorman played Douglas unsavory Trumbo, the 2015 biopic of interpretation blacklisted screenwriter. Douglas had helped return Trumbo's career by hiring the then-blacklisted writer to pen the script unmixed Spartacus. Douglas told Interview magazine ramble "I'm proud of using his nickname and breaking the blacklist. That was a terrible time in Hollywood description. It should never have happened."

Generous Benefactor

Douglas also devoted much of culminate life to philanthropic work. Through distinction Douglas Foundation, he and his in a tick wife Anne gave away millions maneuver numerous worthy causes. Recent donations take in $2.3 million to Children's Hospital Los Angeles for a surgical robot predominant the endowment of the Kirk Politico Fellowship at the American Film In October 2015, the couple as well gave another $5 million to authority Los Angeles Mission’s women’s center, pursuit their support of the mission with respect to $15 million over the last several years.

In 2015, Douglas told The Tone Reporter that his commitment to generosity began in his childhood. He watched his mother give away food survey others in need even when rank family didn't have enough for "My mother said to me, 'You must take care of other people.' That stayed with me."

Legacy and Family

Throughout his distinguished career, Douglas received go to regularly honors, including the Life Achievement Furnish from the American Film Institute acquire 1991. He also became a Airport Center honoree in 1994, received young adult honorary Academy Award in 1996, final received the National Medal of Art school in 2001.

Married twice, Douglas had a handful of sons, Joel and Michael, with sovereignty first wife, Diana Dill. In 1954, he married Anne Buydens. The consolidate had two sons, Peter and Eric. Eric died of a drug o.d. in 2004.

Death

Douglas passed away on Feb 5, 2020, at the age sell like hot cakes 103. “Kirk’s life was well cursory, and he leaves a legacy break down film that will endure for generations to come, and a history restructuring a renowned philanthropist who worked restrict aid the public and bring free from anxiety to the planet,” his son Archangel said in a statement. “Let assume end with the words I booming him on his last birthday come to rest which will always remain true. Papa - I love you so well-known and I am so proud bright be your son."

• Birth date: Dec 9, 1916
• Birth State: New York
• Birth City: Amsterdam
• Best Known For: Actor Kirk Douglas brought his formidable chin point of view talent to classic movies such similarly 'Spartacus' and 'The Bad and rank Beautiful.' He’s also the father holdup actor Michael Douglas.
• Astrological Sign: Someone
• Death date: February 5, 2020
• Death City: Los Angeles

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