How old is kirk douglas today

He worked odd jobs to pay for his college education and to support himself while studying acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. At that time, he had no idea what his future had in store: In the s and '60s, Douglas was one of the most popular leading men in cinema.

After serving in the U. Three years later, he gave a breakthrough performance as a boxer who stops at nothing to make it to the top in Champion He amazed audiences and critics alike with his portrayal of Midge Kelly in the film, which earned him his first Academy Award nomination. A sought-after actor, Douglas worked with many leading directors, including Billy Wilder for 's Ace in the Hole.

However, it was his work with Vincente Minnelli that led to two of his greatest performances: morally bankrupt movie executive Jonathan Shields in The Bad and the Beautiful , and troubled artist Vincent van Gogh in Lust for Life Douglas earned an Academy Award nomination for each of those films. In addition to his critical acclaim, Douglas became a big box-office draw. Over the years, he often appeared with his friend and fellow Hollywood heavyweight, Burt Lancaster, in such films as Gunfight at the O.

Douglas' work in Spartacus as a Roman slave the film's title character who leads an uprising is considered to be one of his signature roles. In making Spartacus , Douglas also challenged the practice of blacklisting certain Hollywood figures over their possible communist leanings. He hired blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo to write Spartacus. Trumbo, a member of the Hollywood Ten, turned out a number of screenplays under various pseudonyms during the more than a decade he was blacklisted but was later given full credit for his work, including two Academy Awards.

In the s, Douglas tried his hand at directing, but met with little success. Two of his directorial efforts that decade, Scalawag and Posse , failed to make much of an impression on movie-goers.

Around the same time, his acting career stalled. It has given me fame, money and satisfaction. His ascension up the Hollywood ranks came after his athletic college years at St. Lawrence University, where he was a wrestling champion. Following his graduation, Douglas won an acting scholarship to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. After the war, he returned to the theater and also performed in radio plays. He married Dill in , with whom he had two sons, Michael and Joel.

They were divorced in and he married Buydens in , with whom he had two more sons, Peter and Eric. Eric died in Their chemistry was so potent that they made seven films together, including the Western "Gunfight at the O. Corral" and the political thriller "Seven Days in May" Their last collaboration was in the gangster comedy "Tough Guys" in My luck has changed for the better. Douglas executive-produced "Spartacus" and described in "I Am Spartacus!

It was an experience detailed in the film "Trumbo," starring Bryan Cranston. I hated being part of such a system. Douglas had his share of missteps. He starred in a couple of bombs, including the loopy western "The Villain" with Arnold Schwarzenegger and "Saturn 3" with Farrah Fawcett.

He put himself on the line to break the blacklist. My love goes out to my friend Michael and the whole family. I did a play, and my mother made a black apron, and I played a shoemaker. After the performance, [my father] gave me my first Oscar: an ice cream cone. That trash? The Associated Press contributed to this article. Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission.

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