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Kirk Douglas

Acting 103 (deceased) years old Amsterdam, New York, USA ★ 2.8
Born: December 9, 1916
Died: February 5, 2020

Biography

Kirk Douglas (born Issur Danielovitch; December 9, 1916 – February 5, 2020) was an American actor, producer, director and author. He grew up as Izzy Demsky and legally changed his name to Kirk Douglas before entering the United States Navy during World War II.

During his career, Douglas appeared in more than 90 movies and was known for his explosive acting style. He became an international star for his leading role as an unscrupulous boxing hero in Champion (1949), which brought him his first nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor. Other early films include Young Man with a Horn (1950), Ace in the Hole (1951), and Detective Story (1951), a film for which he received a Golden Globe nomination as Best Actor in a Drama. He received a second Oscar nomination for his role in The Bad and the Beautiful (1952), and his third nomination for portraying Vincent van Gogh in Lust for Life (1956), which landed him a second Golden Globe nomination.

In 1955, Douglas established Bryna Productions, which produced films as varied as Paths of Glory (1957) and Spartacus (1960). He took the lead roles in both films. Douglas has been praised for helping to break the Hollywood blacklist by having Dalton Trumbo write Spartacus with an official on-screen credit. In 1963 Douglas starred in the Broadway play One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, a story that he purchased and later gave to his son Michael Douglas, who turned it into an Oscar-winning film.

As an actor and philanthropist, Douglas received an Oscar for Lifetime Achievement, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. As an author, he wrote ten novels and memoirs. He is No. 17 on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest male screen legends of classic Hollywood cinema.

Kirk Douglas died at age 103.

External Links

🌐 Official Website 🎬 IMDb

Known For

The Hook
The Hook Sgt. P.J. Briscoe 1963
Spartacus
Spartacus Spartacus 1960
Paths of Glory
Paths of Glory Col. Dax 1957
The Vikings
The Vikings Einar 1958
Ulysses
Ulysses Ulysses 1954

Filmography

Acting Credits (180)

From Roger Moore with Love
From Roger Moore with Love Self (archive footage) 2024
Kubrick by Kubrick
Kubrick by Kubrick Self (archive footage) 2020
Charlie Chaplin, The Genius of Liberty
Charlie Chaplin, The Genius of Liberty Self (archive footage) 2020
Vincent van Gogh Superstar
Vincent van Gogh Superstar Vincent van Gogh (archive footage) 2019
Mike Wallace Is Here
Mike Wallace Is Here (archive footage) 2019
Basketball: A Love Story
Basketball: A Love Story Self (archive footage) 2018
The Untameable Kirk Douglas
The Untameable Kirk Douglas Self - Actor 2017
If You're Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast
If You're Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast Self 2017
I Am Spartacus: A Conversation with Kirk Douglas
I Am Spartacus: A Conversation with Kirk Douglas Self - Interviewee 2015
Hollywood au pied du terril
Hollywood au pied du terril Self 2014
Stanley Kubrick in Focus
Stanley Kubrick in Focus Self 2012
Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen
Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen (archive footage) 2012
Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff
Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff Self – Interviewee 2010
Kirk Douglas: Before I Forget
Kirk Douglas: Before I Forget Self 2009
Brigitte Bardot: The Icon of France
Brigitte Bardot: The Icon of France 2009
Making of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Making of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Self 2009
Mel Blanc: The Man of a Thousand Voices
Mel Blanc: The Man of a Thousand Voices Self 2008
Empire State Building Murders
Empire State Building Murders Jim Kovalski 2008
Trumbo
Trumbo Self - Interviewee 2007
A Father… A Son… Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
A Father… A Son… Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Self 2005
Illusion
Illusion Donald Baines 2004
The Heroes of Telemark: Location report from Norway
The Heroes of Telemark: Location report from Norway 2003
It Runs in the Family
It Runs in the Family Mitchell Gromberg 2003
Real Time with Bill Maher
Real Time with Bill Maher Self 2003
Lana Turner... a Daughter's Memoir
Lana Turner... a Daughter's Memoir Self 2001
FBI contre Hollywood
FBI contre Hollywood Self 2001
Diamonds
Diamonds Harry Agensky 1999
Tales from the Crypt: The Robert Zemeckis Collection
Tales from the Crypt: The Robert Zemeckis Collection General Kalthrob 1999
Parkinson
Parkinson Self 1998
Completely Cuckoo
Completely Cuckoo Self 1997
The View
The View Self 1997
Barbara Stanwyck: Straight Down the Line
Barbara Stanwyck: Straight Down the Line Self (archive footage) 1997
Scene by Scene
Scene by Scene Self 1997
Clive Anderson All Talk
Clive Anderson All Talk Self 1996
The Universal Story
The Universal Story Self (archive footage) 1996
The Lies Boys Tell
The Lies Boys Tell Ed Reese 1994
Touched by an Angel
Touched by an Angel Ross Berger 1994
Greedy
Greedy Uncle Joe 1994
Brisant
Brisant Self 1994
A Century of Cinema
A Century of Cinema Self 1994
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Late Night with Conan O'Brien Self - Guest 1993
The Secret
The Secret Grandpa Mike Dunmore 1992
Two-Fisted Tales
Two-Fisted Tales General Calthrop 1992
Welcome to Veraz
Welcome to Veraz Quentin 1991
Oscar
Oscar Eduardo Provolone 1991
Movie Tough Guys
Movie Tough Guys Self (archive footage) 1991
Disney's Sing-Along Songs: Under the Sea
Disney's Sing-Along Songs: Under the Sea Ned Land (archive footage) 1990
The Simpsons
The Simpsons Chester J. Lampwick (voice) 1989
Tales from the Crypt
Tales from the Crypt Gen. Kalthrob 1989
Clive James' Postcard from
Clive James' Postcard from Self 1989
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
LIVE with Kelly and Mark 1988
The Racing Experience
The Racing Experience Self 1988
Inherit the Wind
Inherit the Wind Matthew Harrison Brady 1988
Queenie
Queenie David Konig 1987
Mike Tyson vs Trevor Berbick
Mike Tyson vs Trevor Berbick Self 1986
Tough Guys
Tough Guys Archie Long 1986
Looney Tunes 50th Anniversary
Looney Tunes 50th Anniversary Self 1986
Amos
Amos Amos Lasher 1985
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers Self (archive footage) 1985
Draw!
Draw! Harry H. Holland aka Handsome Harry Holland 1984
Goldene Kamera
Goldene Kamera Self 1984
James Bond: The First 21 Years
James Bond: The First 21 Years Self 1983
Eddie Macon's Run
Eddie Macon's Run Carl 'Buster' Marzack 1983
Remembrance Of Love
Remembrance Of Love Joe Rabin 1982
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (in "I Walk Alone") (archive footage) 1982
Wogan
Wogan Self 1982
The Man from Snowy River
The Man from Snowy River Harrison / Spur 1982
Let Poland Be Poland
Let Poland Be Poland Self 1982
Champs-Elysées
Champs-Elysées Self 1982
Champs-Elysées
Champs-Elysées Self (archive footage) 1982
Home Movies
Home Movies Dr. Tuttle 1980
Saturn 3
Saturn 3 Major Adam 1980
The Final Countdown
The Final Countdown Capt. Matthew Yelland 1980
Verstehen Sie Spaß?
Verstehen Sie Spaß? Self 1980
The Villain
The Villain Cactus Jack 1979
The Kennedy Center Honors
The Kennedy Center Honors Self 1978
The Fury
The Fury Peter Sandza 1978
Holocaust 2000
Holocaust 2000 Robert Caine 1977
Victory at Entebbe
Victory at Entebbe Herschel Vilnofsky 1976
Arthur Hailey's The Moneychangers
Arthur Hailey's The Moneychangers Alex Vandervoort 1976
Cérémonie des César
Cérémonie des César Self - President 1976
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live Self - Host 1975
Once Is Not Enough
Once Is Not Enough Mike Wayne 1975
Posse
Posse Howard Nightingale 1975
People's Choice Awards
People's Choice Awards Self 1975
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche Self 1975
Apostrophes
Apostrophes Self 1975
Spécial cinéma
Spécial cinéma Self 1974
Der große Preis
Der große Preis Self 1974
Mousey
Mousey George Anderson 1974
Scalawag
Scalawag Peg 1973
The American Film Institute Salute to ...
The American Film Institute Salute to ... Self 1973
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Dr. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde 1973
The Master Touch
The Master Touch Steve Wallace 1972
Kirk Douglas
Kirk Douglas Himself 1972
J'ai tout donné
J'ai tout donné Self 1972
The Special London Bridge Special
The Special London Bridge Special The Indian Fighter 1972
Catch Me a Spy
Catch Me a Spy Andrej 1971
A Gunfight
A Gunfight Will Tenneray 1971
The Light at the Edge of the World
The Light at the Edge of the World Will Denton 1971
V.I.P. Schaukel
V.I.P. Schaukel Self 1971
Once Upon a Wheel
Once Upon a Wheel 1971
There Was a Crooked Man...
There Was a Crooked Man... Paris Pitman, Jr. 1970
The Arrangement
The Arrangement Eddie Anderson 1969
The Johnny Cash Show
The Johnny Cash Show Self 1969
The Brotherhood
The Brotherhood Frank Ginetta 1968
The Dick Cavett Show
The Dick Cavett Show Self - Guest 1968
A Lovely Way to Die
A Lovely Way to Die Jameson Schuyler 1968
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In Self (uncredited) 1968
Rowan & Martin at the Movies
Rowan & Martin at the Movies Self 1968
The War Wagon
The War Wagon Lomax 1967
The Way West
The Way West Sen. William J. Tadlock 1967
Kirk Douglas
Kirk Douglas Self 1966
Is Paris Burning?
Is Paris Burning? General Patton 1966
Cast a Giant Shadow
Cast a Giant Shadow Col. David 'Mickey' Marcus 1966
The Heroes of Telemark
The Heroes of Telemark Dr. Rolf Pedersen 1965
In Harm's Way
In Harm's Way Commander Paul Eddington, Jr. 1965
The Making of A Movie
The Making of A Movie Self 1965
Seven Days in May
Seven Days in May Col. Martin "Jiggs" Casey 1964
For Love or Money
For Love or Money Deke Gentry 1963
The List of Adrian Messenger
The List of Adrian Messenger George Brougham / Vicar Atlee / Mr. Pythian / Arthur Henderson 1963
The Hook
The Hook Sgt. P.J. Briscoe 1963
The Lucy Show
The Lucy Show Kirk Douglas 1962
The Merv Griffin Show
The Merv Griffin Show Self 1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Self 1962
Two Weeks in Another Town
Two Weeks in Another Town Jack Andrus 1962
Lonely are the Brave
Lonely are the Brave John W. "Jack" Burns 1962
Town Without Pity
Town Without Pity Major Garrett 1961
The Last Sunset
The Last Sunset Brendan 'Bren' O'Malley 1961
Spartacus
Spartacus Spartacus 1960
Strangers When We Meet
Strangers When We Meet Larry Coe 1960
The Devil's Disciple
The Devil's Disciple Richard Dudgeon 1959
Last Train from Gun Hill
Last Train from Gun Hill Marshal Matt Morgan 1959
The Vikings
The Vikings Einar 1958
Paths of Glory
Paths of Glory Col. Dax 1957
Van Gogh: Darkness into Light
Van Gogh: Darkness into Light Self 1957
Tonight Starring Jack Paar
Tonight Starring Jack Paar Self 1957
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral Dr. John 'Doc' Holliday 1957
Top Secret Affair
Top Secret Affair Maj. Gen. Melville A. Goodwin 1957
Lust for Life
Lust for Life Vincent van Gogh 1956
The Steve Allen Show
The Steve Allen Show Self - Recipient 1956
The Steve Allen Show
The Steve Allen Show Self - Guest 1956
Walt Disney's Where Do the Stories Come From?
Walt Disney's Where Do the Stories Come From? Self 1956
Cinépanorama
Cinépanorama Self 1956
The Indian Fighter
The Indian Fighter Johnny Hawks 1955
Man Without a Star
Man Without a Star Dempsey Rae 1955
The Racers
The Racers Gino Borgesa 1955
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Ned Land 1954
Operation Undersea
Operation Undersea Self 1954
The Disneyland Story
The Disneyland Story Self 1954
Ulysses
Ulysses Ulysses 1954
The George Gobel Show
The George Gobel Show Self 1954
Act of Love
Act of Love Robert Teller 1953
The Juggler
The Juggler Hans Muller 1953
The Story of Three Loves
The Story of Three Loves Pierre Narval 1953
The Oscars
The Oscars Self 1953
The Bad and the Beautiful
The Bad and the Beautiful Jonathan Shields 1952
This Is Your Life
This Is Your Life Self 1952
The Big Sky
The Big Sky Jim Deakins 1952
The Big Trees
The Big Trees Jim Fallon 1952
Detective Story
Detective Story Det. James McLeod 1951
Ace in the Hole
Ace in the Hole Charles Tatum 1951
Along the Great Divide
Along the Great Divide Marshal Len Merrick 1951
The Glass Menagerie
The Glass Menagerie Jim O'Connor 1950
The Colgate Comedy Hour
The Colgate Comedy Hour Self 1950
The Colgate Comedy Hour
The Colgate Comedy Hour Ulysses (archive footage) 1950
Young Man with a Horn
Young Man with a Horn Rick Martin 1950
What's My Line?
What's My Line? Self 1950
Champion
Champion Midge Kelly 1949
A Letter to Three Wives
A Letter to Three Wives George Phipps 1949
The Walls of Jericho
The Walls of Jericho Tucker Wedge 1948
My Dear Secretary
My Dear Secretary Owen Waterbury 1948
The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show Self 1948
I Walk Alone
I Walk Alone Noll "Dink" Turner 1947
Out of the Past
Out of the Past Whit Sterling 1947
Mourning Becomes Electra
Mourning Becomes Electra Peter Niles 1947
The Strange Love of Martha Ivers
The Strange Love of Martha Ivers Walter O'Neil 1946
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards Self 1944
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards Self - Presenter 1944
My Life As Roger Moore
My Life As Roger Moore Self (Archivfilmmaterial)

Directing Credits (2)

Writing Credits (1)

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