73-year-old Michael Douglas and 48-year-old Catherine Zeta-Jones celebrate one birthday together

Biography

Michael Douglas is an American actor and producer, winner of two Oscars. Almost every film with his participation became an event and brought the performer prestigious nominations and awards. As a producer, Douglas became famous after the release of the Oscar-winning drama One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. The star still demonstrates impeccable acting form today, playing the role of Hank Pym in the superhero franchise of Marvel comics.

Childhood and youth

On September 25, 1944, a son was born into the acting family of Diana and Kirk Douglas. They named him Michael. The boy’s father successfully made a career in Hollywood; today he is one of the famous performers of the “golden era” of the “dream factory”. Kirk Douglas later played Spartacus in Stanley Kubrick's film of the same name. Mom acted on television.

Happy 101st birthday Dad!
You are truly a living legend! Love, Michael Posted by Michael Douglas Saturday, December 9, 2020

Michael Douglas and his father Kirk Douglas
The boy showed his irrepressible temperament from childhood. At the age of 14, Michael was expelled from school because his thoughts were occupied with girls and not with his studies. And the teenager’s behavior was no different. Michael Douglas was a typical representative of the “golden youth”: he either joined the hippies or wandered aimlessly through the streets and bars.

The boy's parents sent him to military school; by that time, his mother and father had already separated. Michael dreamed of continuing his father's work and becoming a famous actor.

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Michael Douglas in his youth
For the sake of his dream, he refused to enter Yale University and chose the Faculty of Dramatic Arts at the University of California. At the university, Douglas met Danny DeVito, and a friendship began between the guys. Danny became not only Michael's loyal friend, but also his work partner.

Kirk Douglas believed that his son should start acting in films no earlier than 25 years old, and before that time he needed to strengthen his character in the fight for a place in show business. And so it happened: in his youth, Michael had to serve coffee in a movie theater, work as an assistant director and as an assembly assistant.

Movies

The actor’s creative biography began in 1972. Michael made his debut as Inspector Stone in the TV series "Streets of San Francisco." Three years later, Douglas became the producer of the film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Michael acquired the rights to film the project from his own father, who staged a play based on the famous work by Ken Kesey, which was not successful. Douglas Jr. was inspired by the idea of ​​a novel, but the film's budget limited his possibilities.

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Michael Douglas with an Oscar Award
The aspiring Hollywood star was saving on everything, so he invited the unpromoted performer Jack Nicholson to the project, and a real hospital for the mentally ill was chosen as the filming location. The film's premiere exceeded the creators' expectations. Its budget paid off 20 times, but the main surprise awaited the producer six months later, when the film was presented at the Oscars in 9 categories, winning in five of them.

In 1979, The China Syndrome was released, in which Michael Douglas played one of the main roles and acted as a producer. In this film, the actor expressed his own opinion on the issue of nuclear disarmament, which was discussed for a long time on the sidelines.

Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner (still from the film “Romancing the Stone”)

In 1980, Douglas was seriously injured at a ski resort and was out of action for 3 years. During this time, the audience forgot him, but Michael subtly sensed the mood and tastes of society and knew what to offer film lovers. In 1984, he made a brilliant return to big cinema in the adventure film “Romancing the Stone.” Then there was a sequel - “The Pearl of the Nile”, in which he played the hero-lover.

An important step towards the image of a “tough guy” was the role of choreographer Zack in the film “Corde Ballet”. Michael Douglas's father always dreamed of his son playing a villain, and he was right. The role of stock market player Gordon Gekko in the film “Wall Street” not only made Douglas Jr. famous, but also brought him an Oscar and a Golden Globe.

Michael Douglas (still from the movie "Wall Street")

At the same time, Douglas's filmography was replenished with two more striking projects - the erotic thriller Fatal Attraction, which was included in the top 10 best films of the year according to the US National Board of Film Critics, and Danny DeVito's film The War of the Roses, which brought Michael a number of prestigious nominations .

The actor appeared as a “tough guy” in the films “Basic Instinct” and “Black Rain.” These roles cemented his status as a Hollywood superstar. Douglas's charisma, acting talent and attractive appearance (the artist's height is 178 cm, weight - up to 80 kg) made him a favorite of the female audience. The film Basic Instinct, in which Douglas co-starred Sharon Stone, grossed $112 million.

Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone (still from the film Basic Instinct)

In 1993, the actor embodied an image opposite to the usual role of a “tough guy.” In the thriller "I've Enough!" Douglas played the average everyman who can't stand the injustice of the world, grabs a baseball bat, destroys stores and makes his way to the birthday party of his daughter, whom the court has forbidden him to approach.

A year later, Douglas shone in Barry Levinson's thriller project "Exposure", which took 11th place in the ranking of the highest-grossing films of 1994. Michael Douglas's partner in the film was Demi Moore. The actor's most respectable role is the image of the American president in the film of the same name. But critics agree on one thing: Michael Douglas is better at portraying images in which the character of the hero requires an ambiguous reaction. They call the paintings “Game” and “Traffic” successful works.

Michael Douglas (still from the film "The Game")

Douglas plays a more negative than ambiguous character in another film that ensured his popularity, “A Perfect Murder.” The actor played the main role of the jealous and domineering Steven Taylor, who, having learned about his young wife’s infidelities, persuades her lover to commit the murder of his unfaithful wife.

The new millennium brings the actor a number of memorable leading roles. In 2000, Michael played a university professor facing problems both in his personal life and in writing a book in the tragicomedy “Geeks.” For his role as a teacher, Douglas received the Sputnik Award in the category “Best Actor, Comedy/Musical.”

Michael Douglas (still from the film "Geeks")

In 2001, the artist appeared as psychiatrist Nathan Conrad in the crime drama Don't Say a Word, based on the novel by Andrew Klavan. Michael Douglas played a brilliant doctor who was invited by his colleagues to consult other doctors on the treatment of the non-speaking girl Elizabeth. For Conrad, this case looks trivial until the psychiatrist learns that the life of his own daughter depends on Elizabeth's words.

In 2003, the actor returned to the role of a “tough guy” and played a secret CIA agent in the action comedy film “The Wedding Party.” Agent Steve Tobias tries to make it to his son's wedding, and at the same time drags his own matchmaker, quiet orthopedist Jerry, played by Albert Brooks, into the adventurous adventures. In the same year, the actor played the main role in the drama “Family Values,” which tells about the problems in the seemingly prosperous home of a successful businessman.

Michael Douglas and Kim Basinger (still from the movie "The Security Guard")

In 2006, the actor was remembered in the role of a special agent. In the crime thriller The Security Guard, Michael Douglas played patriot Pete Garrison. He suspected that there was a double agent among his colleagues, but did not have time to solve this problem when Pete was already accused of a crime and a double game. Harrison is forced to go into hiding and at the same time search for the traitor in order to save the life of the president.

In 2007, Douglas played in the popular tragicomedy My Dad is Crazy. The actor plays the role of a crazy double bass player who leaves a psychiatric clinic and drags his own daughter into adventurous adventures.

Michael Douglas (still from the film "Reasonable Doubt")

In 2009, the actor played the main role in the detective drama Reasonable Doubt, a remake of the 1956 film of the same name. In the same year, Michael Douglas plays the role of an elderly businessman who has lost everything, who began to uncontrollably “drag after every skirt” in the melodrama “Sexaholic.”

In 2010, the actor returned to the role of trader and former robber Gordon Gekko in the continuation of the financial drama Wall Street. Money doesn’t sleep.” In the new film, Gekko finds a student, portrayed by Shia LaBeouf, and comes up with a new brilliant plan amid the global financial crisis.

Michael Douglas and Matt Damon (still from the film “Behind the Candelabra”)

In 2013, the actor played the role of the famous pianist Valentino Liberace in the biographical drama Behind the Candelabra. In the same year, the actor appeared in the comedy “Star Peppers” about a bachelor party in Las Vegas, which elderly friends decided to throw. The film also stars Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Kline.

In 2014, the actor played in the melodrama “Here She Comes,” showing how the life of an old egoist changes with the appearance of a granddaughter, whom the grandfather did not even suspect. Also in 2014, Douglas appeared as millionaire Meidek in the thriller Game of Survival. During a hunt, Meidek accidentally kills a man, the millionaire's assistant wants to inform the police, which makes the two men bitter enemies who begin to fight for their own lives.

Michael Douglas as Hank Pym (still from the film "Ant-Man")

In 2020, the actor joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe, playing the role of Hank Pym in the blockbuster comic book Ant-Man.

In the spring of 2020, the actor appeared on screens in the action movie “Secret Agent,” where he plays the role of a CIA officer, mentor to agent Alice Raisin (Noomi Rapace). Douglas's hero dies at the hands of terrorists, but manages to convey the necessary information to his ward. The film also stars Orlando Bloom and John Malkovich.

Danny DeVito and Michael Douglas (still from the TV series “The Kominsky Method”)

A year later, the screen star starred in the next installment of the superhero franchise Ant-Man and the Wasp, where he again embodied the image of inventor Hank Pym on the screen. The film brought the creators more than $600 million. Soon the film “Beastly Planet” was released, where the main negative role was played by an American actor.

Michael embodied on the screen the image of the head of a large corporation who plots intrigues for the main character. Another work of the year was the main role in the comedy series “The Kominsky Method,” for which the actor received the fourth Golden Globe Award in his film career in the category “Best Actor in a Television Series.”

Brilliant start

Dreaming of continuing his father's work, Michael saw himself not so much as an actor, but as a filmmaker. Moreover, Douglas Sr. brilliantly succeeded in this field. Ambitious and self-confident, Michael dreamed of surpassing him.

So when he learned that Kirk was preparing a film adaptation of the psychedelic drama One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and read the script, he convinced his father to let him serve as producer.

The success of the film exceeded even Michael's own expectations. A brilliant cast, precise direction and perfect camera work - everything came together in one place and at one time. After the premiere screening, it became clear that a new cinematic masterpiece had been born.

This work brought Douglas his first Oscar for best film of the year and gave him the status of a Hollywood star of the first magnitude.

In 1979, inspired by success, Douglas presented his new project to the audience - the political drama “The China Syndrome”, in which he plays one of the main roles. At the height of the Cold War, the topic of nuclear disarmament was super relevant. Michael got back into the swing of things and the film was highly acclaimed by critics and a commercial success.

A year later, while relaxing at a ski resort and thinking about a new film, Douglas receives a serious back injury and finds himself bedridden for several years. He understood that he could easily fall out of the picture if he didn’t offer the audience something very interesting. And he managed to make his return to the world of big cinema no less triumphant than his debut.

In 1984, the premiere of the action-packed adventure film “Romancing the Stone” took place, in which Douglas again acted as a producer and leading actor. The film was such a success that its sequel was soon filmed - the no less successful film “The Pearl of the Nile”.

But Kirk was still unhappy with his son. He believed that his acting talent was much deeper, and he was capable of serious dramatic roles.

The son satisfied his father's ambitions when he received his second Oscar in 1987, this time as best actor in a leading male role. He brilliantly played a stock shark in the drama “Wall Street,” directed by the famous director Oliver Stone. Michael realizes that Kirk was right, and he should act more, and not just produce films.

This was confirmed by the fantastic drama “The Game,” which was released in 1997. This film is one of the first hundred world film masterpieces of the last century - already Michael’s second. Douglas's success as an outstanding dramatic actor was cemented by the film A Perfect Murder, based on the novel by the legendary Alfred Hitchcock.

In total, the actor’s filmography includes more than fifty works, most of which were a huge commercial success. This is one of the few artists and producers in whose career there were no failed films. He managed to pull out even frankly weak plots with brilliant acting. Today, despite his advanced age, he continues his creative activity.

Personal life

Michael Douglas fell in love easily and often, and had so many affairs in his youth that he doesn’t even remember all the names. It seemed like he would never settle down. But after meeting actress Brenda Baccaro, 25-year-old Douglas thought he was ready for a serious relationship.

Alas, he was too busy with his own career for anything worthwhile to come of it, and the couple separated a few years later.

However, the paparazzi claim that there was a love triangle involved. Already a celebrity, Douglas meets the charming daughter of the Austrian ambassador at one of the social events. Despite the fact that she was much younger, the girl could not resist his charm. Fearing the loss of such prey, Douglas almost immediately led her down the aisle.

The choice turned out to be successful - this marriage lasted more than 20 years, during which Diandra Looker wisely turned a blind eye to her husband’s fleeting “creative novels.” A year after the wedding, their son Cameron was born. There were no signs of trouble. But in 1988, Douglas falls madly in love again.

With Diandra Looker

His new passion is Catherine Zeta-Jones, who is 25 years younger than Douglas. For some time he tries to fight this passion, especially since Catherine, having heard about his adventures, perceives him as nothing more than a womanizer trying to get another trophy.

However, Douglas decides to prove the seriousness of his intentions and files for divorce. This move cost him two years of litigation and the loss of $45 million.

Douglas sought Catherine's favor for several years. And they announced their official engagement only in 1999 - this is truly an example of perseverance and constancy!

With Catherine Zeta-Jones

A few months later a magnificent wedding took place, and then the wife gave Douglas two charming children, Dylan and Caris. It would seem that everything is going as well as possible, but fate has prepared another severe test for them.

In 2010, completely by chance, while undergoing a preventive examination, Douglas learned that he had laryngeal cancer. But this news killed his young wife even more, who did everything possible, trying to help her husband overcome the disease.

Nervous stress resulted in Katherine's bipolar mental disorder, for which she was even forced to undergo treatment in a psychiatric clinic.

This period was very difficult for both spouses. Their marriage was on the verge of collapse. But still they managed to gradually restore their relationship. A year later, an examination showed that Douglas disease had gone away. But due to Catherine's mental state, he was already ready to file for divorce.

Only at the end of 2013 the couple began to appear together in public again. Now they are still married.

Personal life

In 1971, Michael fell in love with actress Brenda Vaccaro, whom he met on the set of the film Summertree. Their relationship lasted almost 6 years.

In the spring of 1977, Michael Douglas married Diandra Luker, who is almost half his age. She was the daughter of an Austrian diplomat and had nothing to do with the film industry. A year later, the couple had a son, Cameron. Their marriage lasted 23 years; the couple divorced in 2000. The divorce proceedings lasted almost 2 years - Douglas paid Looker $45 million in compensation.

Embed from Getty Images Michael Douglas and Diandra Looker

After breaking up with Diandra, the actor had short-term romances, until at the premiere of the film “The Mask of Zorro” he met actress Catherine Zeta-Jones. The middle-aged Michael Douglas fell in love with her immediately and sought her favor in every possible way. In December 1999, the couple announced their engagement, and in November 2000 they legalized their relationship. Katherine gave birth to two children for Michael - son Dylan Michael and daughter Carys Zeta.

In 2010, doctors diagnosed Douglas with laryngeal cancer. He was treated for almost a year and, as he told the press, overcame the disease. But the wife could not stand the test: since 2011, Katherine has been suffering from bipolar disorder. The ordeal almost put an end to the personal lives of Michael and Katherine. Since the spring of 2013, Zeta-Jones and Douglas have not appeared in public together. In August of the same year, the actor announced that he was going to file for divorce due to his wife’s “global depression.” But after 3 months the couple made peace.

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Michael Douglas and his wife Catherine Zeta-Jones
At the end of 2020, Michael Douglas received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The award was timed to coincide with the anniversary date - the artist’s 50th anniversary in cinema.

The actor spent the beginning of 2020 with his family. Together with his wife, son and daughter, he went on a trip to warm countries, as reported by Katherine from her personal Instagram page. In joint photos, the couple and their children looked happy. They celebrated the New Year on the island of Roatan in the Caribbean, and then went to Cuba.

Michael Douglas on Cosmo.ru

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• “I will love you forever”: Catherine Zeta-Jones said an emotional goodbye to her father-in-law
• Legendary actor from Hollywood's golden era, Kirk Douglas, has passed away.
• Quarrels, cancer and dirty rumors: all the trials of Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas
• Family Hollywood style: a 48-year romance between Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman
• Catherine Zeta-Jones in a transparent dress exposed her breasts in front of her husband
• Cosmo TV: 10 stars who look exactly like their famous fathers
• Cosmo TV: films that will make you believe in eternal love
• Two anniversaries in one day: the love story of Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas
• There is a chance: Korchevnikov, Posner and other stars who defeated cancer
• 10 famous men and one Madonna: stars who were ruined by divorce
• Catherine Zeta-Jones vacations with her family in the Caribbean
• Michael Douglas's father celebrated his 102nd birthday with his family
• Millions for treason, drug ban and other clauses of star marriage contracts
• 10 Stars Who Look Exactly Like Their Famous Fathers
• Goal set: Michael Douglas's son wants to marry a princess
• Catherine Zeta-Jones's daughter admitted that she was bullied at school because of her father's age
• Michael Douglas is proud of his son, who was released from prison two years ago
• The fire of our loins: the most attractive actors in films with sex scenes
• Oleg Tabakov, Bruce Willis, Hugh Grant and 12 other stars who became fathers after 50 years
• Michael Douglas showed off his newborn granddaughter
• 73-year-old Michael Douglas became a grandfather for the first time
• 48-year-old Catherine Zeta-Jones in a tight dress with a deep neckline
• Unequal marriage: 15 celebrity couples with huge age differences
• Total Recall: Sharon Stone showed how she auditioned for Basic Instinct
• Idyll: Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas had dinner with their children in a restaurant
• Michael Douglas' son could go back to prison
• Like lifeless: 47-year-old Catherine Zeta-Jones overdid it with Botox?
• “Titanic”, “Pretty Woman”, “The Notebook”: what iconic movie couples look like now
• Channing Tatum, Ryan Gosling and other star guys born in the year of the Monkey
• Michael Douglas sparks rumors of cancer recurrence due to extreme thinness
• Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas showed rare photos with their children
• The son of Michael Douglas was released, where his girlfriend and family were waiting for him for 7 years
• The cancer has returned: doctors believe Michael Douglas has six months to live
• Robbie Williams, Britney Spears, Nicole Richie and other stars whose lives were saved by marriage
• First trailer for Ant-Man
• Michael Douglas and Diane Keaton in the comedy Here She Comes
• Michael Douglas will vacation with his wife
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• Family vacation of Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones
• Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas get back together
• "StarBeats" is one bachelor party in Vegas
• Man of the week: American, Spanish and British
• Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas: divorce cancelled?
• Michael Douglas talks about divorce
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• Results of the week: three divorces and one wedding
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• Michael Douglas Cancer Cause
• Celebrity couples in Cannes
• Is Catherine Zeta-Jones cured?
• Catherine Zeta-Jones is treating psychosis
• Cannes 2013: best films
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• "The Last Bachelor Party" will take place in Vegas
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• Catherine Zeta-Jones's birthday
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• Cerruti
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Michael Douglas now

The main premiere of 2020 with the participation of Michael Douglas was the film “Avengers: Endgame”. The blockbuster grossed more than $1.9 billion in just a few months.

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Michael Douglas in 2020
The actor is currently working on the lead role in the drama about school memories “The God Four” and the image of Ronald Reagan in the biographical film “Reykjavik”, dedicated to the meeting of Reagan and Gorbachev and the beginning of nuclear disarmament of the two superpowers: the USSR and the USA.

Filmography

• 1972-1976 – “Streets of San Francisco”
• 1979 – “The China Syndrome”
• 1984 – “Romancing the Stone”
• 1985 – “Corporate Ballet”
• 1985 – “Pearl of the Nile”
• 1987 – “Fatal Attraction”
• 1987 – “Wall Street”
• 1992 – “Basic Instinct”
• 1993 – “I’ve had enough”
• 1997 – “Game”
• 2003 – “Family Values”
• 2010 – “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps”
• 2013 – “Behind the candelabra”
• 2015 – “Ant-Man”
• 2018 – “Planet of Beasts”
• 2018-2019 – “The Kominsky Method”
• 2019 – “Avengers: Endgame”

Star Trek

In 1972, Michael Douglas made his film debut, playing a role in the TV series “Streets of San Francisco.” The television film became very successful and brought the young actor his first fame. And during the last year of filming the series, Michael convinces his father to give him the rights to the film adaptation of the novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and later acts as a producer of the film.

Thus, in 1975, Douglas produced the film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, which became a cult classic and brought him the prestigious Oscar (1976) in the Best Picture category.

In 1979, starring Michael Douglas, the acclaimed film “The China Syndrome” was released, which raised the pressing issue of the need for nuclear disarmament and brought Michael even greater popularity.

In 1980, the actor had an accident while skiing in the mountains. In this regard, the actor disappears from the public eye for three years.

The 1984 adventure film “Romancing the Stone” can be considered a triumphant return to the set. The second half of the 80s marked the golden time of the actor's career, during which, according to critics, he played three of his most outstanding roles in such cult films as Fatal Attraction, The War of the Roses and Wall Street.

In 1988, Michael was awarded an Oscar for Best Actor for the film Wall Street.

“This was my first and only Oscar for acting. True, I still have a statuette for the film “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” - but there I acted as a producer. And I’m no less proud of it.”

And in 1992, Douglas appeared in the thriller Basic Instinct, which later died out all over the world. Michael Douglas becomes a Hollywood star and one of the highest paid actors of the time.

Since then, Michael Douglas has played in many films such as "Exposure", "A Perfect Murder", "He, Me and His Friends", "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps" and many others and is one of the most famous actors in Hollywood .