Kirk Douglas Fast Facts

Updated 4:37 PM EST, Thu February 6, 2020
01:54 - Source: CNN
Actor Kirk Douglas dead at 103
CNN  — 

Here’s a look at the life of Kirk Douglas.

Personal

Birth date: December 9, 1916

Death date: February 5, 2020

Birth place: Amsterdam, New York

Birth name: Issur Danielovitch Demsky

Father: Herschel “Harry” Danielovitch Demsky, a Russian Jewish immigrant

Mother: Bryna “Bertha” (Sanglel) Danielovitch Demsky, a Russian Jewish immigrant

Marriages: Anne (Buydens) Douglas (May 29, 1954-February 5, 2020, his death); Diana Dill (November 2, 1943-February 23, 1951, divorced)

Children: with Anne Buydens: Eric, June 21, 1958-July 6, 2004; Peter, November 25, 1955; with Diana Dill: Joel, January 23, 1947; Michael, September 25, 1944

Education: St. Lawrence University, A.B., 1939; American Academy of Dramatic Arts, 1939-1941; St. Lawrence University, D.F.A., 1958

Military: US Navy, 1943-1944

from instagram
gallery

The star gene: Next-generation celebrity

Who knew that the veteran "Days Of Our Lives" actor's only daughter, Jennifer, would follow in his footsteps with a memorable stint on "Friends," and then blossom to become America's sweetheart?
Who knew that the veteran "Days Of Our Lives" actor's only daughter, Jennifer, would follow in his footsteps with a memorable stint on "Friends," and then blossom to become America's sweetheart?
Getty Images
gallery

Famous fathers and their famous kids

Other Facts

His parents changed their name from Danielovitch to Demsky after immigrating to the United States.

Changed his name several times before settling on Kirk Douglas, from Issur Danielovitch Demsky to Issur Danielovitch, to Isadore Demsky.

Appeared in two movies with his son Michael, “Cast a Giant Shadow” and “It Runs in the Family,” which also starred grandson Cameron and ex-wife Diana.

Starred in movies such as “Spartacus,” “Gunfight at the O.K. Corral,” “Lust for Life” and “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.”

Through the Anne and Kirk Douglas Playground Award, provided funding toward the building and refurbishing of more than 400 school playgrounds for the children of Los Angeles.

Nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards.

Nominated for three Academy Awards. Also received an honorary Academy Award.

Timeline

1941 - Broadway debut in “Spring Again.”

1946 - Film debut in “The Strange Loves of Martha Ivers.”

1952 - Founds the production company Bryna Productions.

1960 - First time as a producer for “Spartacus,” in which he also stars. His insistence that blacklisted writer Dalton Trumbo’s name appear in the credits is the beginning of the end of the Hollywood blacklist.

1962 - Founds his second film company, Joel Productions.

1964 - Founds The Douglas Foundation, a philanthropic organization run by Douglas and his wife Anne.

1973 - First time directing for “Scalawag,” in which he also stars.

1981 - Receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his role as a goodwill ambassador for the State Department.

1986 - Becomes a spokesperson against elder abuse after appearing in a television movie on the subject, “Amos.”

February 1991 - Survives a helicopter accident, in which two people die.

1991 - Receives the Life Achievement Award from the American Film Institute.

1995 - Suffers a stroke that initially leaves him without the ability to speak.

1996 - Receives an honorary Academy Award for “fifty years as a creative and moral force in the motion picture community.”

2001 - Receives the Producers Guild of America Milestone Award, its highest honor, in recognition of his contribution to entertainment history.

2001 - Awarded the National Medal of Arts.

March 2009 - Performs his one-man show, “Before I Forget,” at the Center Theatre Group/Kirk Douglas Theatre in California.

December 9, 2016 - Douglas turns 100.

February 5, 2020 - Passes away at the age of 103.

Kirk Douglas poses for a studio portrait circa 1950.
Photos: Kirk Douglas' life in pictures
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Kirk Douglas poses for a studio portrait circa 1950.
Douglas, seen here in the 1950s, was born Issur Danielovitch to Russian immigrant parents in Amsterdam, New York, in 1916. He would eventually change his name to Kirk Douglas.
Photos: Kirk Douglas' life in pictures
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Douglas, seen here in the 1950s, was born Issur Danielovitch to Russian immigrant parents in Amsterdam, New York, in 1916. He would eventually change his name to Kirk Douglas.
Douglas escorts Irene Wrightsman McEvoy to the Academy Awards in March 1950. He was nominated that year for best actor for his breakout role in "Champion." He would also be nominated for "The Bad and the Beautiful" and "Lust for Life." He received an honorary Academy Award in 1996.
Photos: Kirk Douglas' life in pictures
Ed Clark/Getty Images
Douglas escorts Irene Wrightsman McEvoy to the Academy Awards in March 1950. He was nominated that year for best actor for his breakout role in "Champion." He would also be nominated for "The Bad and the Beautiful" and "Lust for Life." He received an honorary Academy Award in 1996.
Douglas is seen on location for the film "Ace in the Hole" in 1951. He embarked on a screen career in 1946 after theater work and a stint in the Navy during World War II.
Photos: Kirk Douglas' life in pictures
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Douglas is seen on location for the film "Ace in the Hole" in 1951. He embarked on a screen career in 1946 after theater work and a stint in the Navy during World War II.
Douglas kneels beside his sons Joel, left, and Michael in the mid-'50s. Both followed their father's career into films, with Joel a producer and Michael an actor and producer.
Photos: Kirk Douglas' life in pictures
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Douglas kneels beside his sons Joel, left, and Michael in the mid-'50s. Both followed their father's career into films, with Joel a producer and Michael an actor and producer.
Douglas stars as Vincent van Gogh in director Vincente Minnelli's film about the Dutch painter, "Lust for Life" (1956). Co-star Anthony Quinn, right, won the best supporting actor Oscar for his role as rival Paul Gauguin.
Photos: Kirk Douglas' life in pictures
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Douglas stars as Vincent van Gogh in director Vincente Minnelli's film about the Dutch painter, "Lust for Life" (1956). Co-star Anthony Quinn, right, won the best supporting actor Oscar for his role as rival Paul Gauguin.
Douglas enjoys a book with his second wife, Anne Buydens, circa 1956. The two were married in 1954 and remained married until his death.
Photos: Kirk Douglas' life in pictures
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Douglas enjoys a book with his second wife, Anne Buydens, circa 1956. The two were married in 1954 and remained married until his death.
Douglas, right, rehearses with Burt Lancaster in preparation for the "Night of 100 Stars" event in London in 1958. The two stars appeared in five films together, from "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral" (1957) to "Tough Guys" (1986).
Photos: Kirk Douglas' life in pictures
PA/AP
Douglas, right, rehearses with Burt Lancaster in preparation for the "Night of 100 Stars" event in London in 1958. The two stars appeared in five films together, from "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral" (1957) to "Tough Guys" (1986).
Douglas stops at the Rome airport on his way to a safari in Kenya in 1962.
Photos: Kirk Douglas' life in pictures
Keystone/Getty Images
Douglas stops at the Rome airport on his way to a safari in Kenya in 1962.
Douglas appears with his son Michael on the set of the film "Cast a Giant Shadow" in Rome in the mid-'60s. Michael Douglas had a small uncredited role in his dad's movie. He would go on to become a major film star himself in the 1980s and '90s.
Photos: Kirk Douglas' life in pictures
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Douglas appears with his son Michael on the set of the film "Cast a Giant Shadow" in Rome in the mid-'60s. Michael Douglas had a small uncredited role in his dad's movie. He would go on to become a major film star himself in the 1980s and '90s.
Douglas addresses reporters at the Cannes Film Festival, where he was president of the jury in 1980.
Photos: Kirk Douglas' life in pictures
Ralph Gatti/AFP/Getty Images
Douglas addresses reporters at the Cannes Film Festival, where he was president of the jury in 1980.
Actor Jack Nicholson greets Douglas after a ceremony honoring Michael Douglas in 1997. Michael placed his hands and footprints in cement at Grauman's Chinese Theatre, a Hollywood landmark.
Photos: Kirk Douglas' life in pictures
Vince Bucci/AFP/Getty Images
Actor Jack Nicholson greets Douglas after a ceremony honoring Michael Douglas in 1997. Michael placed his hands and footprints in cement at Grauman's Chinese Theatre, a Hollywood landmark.
From left, Corbin Allred, Dan Aykroyd and Douglas star in 1999's "Diamonds," one of the star's more recent screen appearances.
Photos: Kirk Douglas' life in pictures
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
From left, Corbin Allred, Dan Aykroyd and Douglas star in 1999's "Diamonds," one of the star's more recent screen appearances.
Kirk and Michael Douglas attend a Simon Wiesenthal Center dinner honoring the latter with its Humanitarian Award in 2001.
Photos: Kirk Douglas' life in pictures
Vince Bucci/Getty Images
Kirk and Michael Douglas attend a Simon Wiesenthal Center dinner honoring the latter with its Humanitarian Award in 2001.
Douglas displays a copy of his memoir, "My Stroke of Luck," at a New York bookstore in 2002. The star had recovered from a stroke he suffered in the mid-'90s.
Photos: Kirk Douglas' life in pictures
George De Sota/Getty Images
Douglas displays a copy of his memoir, "My Stroke of Luck," at a New York bookstore in 2002. The star had recovered from a stroke he suffered in the mid-'90s.
Douglas appears with his first wife, Diana, son Michael and grandson Cameron Douglas at a special screening of "It Runs in the Family" in Los Angeles. All four actors starred in the 2003 film.
Photos: Kirk Douglas' life in pictures
Chris Pizzello/AP
Douglas appears with his first wife, Diana, son Michael and grandson Cameron Douglas at a special screening of "It Runs in the Family" in Los Angeles. All four actors starred in the 2003 film.
Douglas greets his daughter-in-law Catherine Zeta-Jones backstage at Broadway's "A Little Night Music" in 2009. She was starring in a revival of the Stephen Sondheim-Hugh Wheeler musical.
Photos: Kirk Douglas' life in pictures
Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic/Getty Images
Douglas greets his daughter-in-law Catherine Zeta-Jones backstage at Broadway's "A Little Night Music" in 2009. She was starring in a revival of the Stephen Sondheim-Hugh Wheeler musical.
Douglas helps present an Academy Award in 2011.
Photos: Kirk Douglas' life in pictures
Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images
Douglas helps present an Academy Award in 2011.
Douglas poses for a portrait just days before his 98th birthday in 2016.
Photos: Kirk Douglas' life in pictures
Matt Sayles/Invision/AP
Douglas poses for a portrait just days before his 98th birthday in 2016.
Douglas looks on as his son Michael makes a speech at his 100th birthday party in 2016.
Photos: Kirk Douglas' life in pictures
Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
Douglas looks on as his son Michael makes a speech at his 100th birthday party in 2016.
Three generations of Douglas actors — from left, Cameron, Kirk and Michael —pose for a photo as Michael received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2018.
Photos: Kirk Douglas' life in pictures
Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
Three generations of Douglas actors — from left, Cameron, Kirk and Michael —pose for a photo as Michael received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2018.