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Kirk Douglas Fast Facts

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Updated 4:37 PM ET, Tue November 28, 2017

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Kirk Douglas, one of the last survivors of Hollywood's golden age, celebrates his 100th birthday on Friday, December 9. He embarked on a screen career in 1946 after theater work and a stint in the Navy during World War II. The three-time Oscar nominee, pictured here circa 1955, appeared in such classics as "Champion" (1949), "The Bad and the Beautiful" (1952), "Lust for Life" (1956), "Paths of Glory" (1957) and "Spartacus" (1960).
Photos: Kirk Douglas turns 100
Kirk Douglas, one of the last survivors of Hollywood's golden age, celebrates his 100th birthday on Friday, December 9. He embarked on a screen career in 1946 after theater work and a stint in the Navy during World War II. The three-time Oscar nominee, pictured here circa 1955, appeared in such classics as "Champion" (1949), "The Bad and the Beautiful" (1952), "Lust for Life" (1956), "Paths of Glory" (1957) and "Spartacus" (1960).
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The actor, 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 turns 100
The actor, 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.
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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." The star received an honorary Academy Award in 1996.
Photos: Kirk Douglas turns 100
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." The star received an honorary Academy Award in 1996.
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Douglas goes on location in 1951 for director Billy Wilder's film "Ace in the Hole." The star played a cynical reporter out for a scoop in this dark look at journalism.
Photos: Kirk Douglas turns 100
Douglas goes on location in 1951 for director Billy Wilder's film "Ace in the Hole." The star played a cynical reporter out for a scoop in this dark look at journalism.
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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 turns 100
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.
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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 turns 100
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.
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Kirk Douglas enjoys a book with his second wife, Anne Buydens, circa 1956. The two have been married since 1954.
Photos: Kirk Douglas turns 100
Kirk Douglas enjoys a book with his second wife, Anne Buydens, circa 1956. The two have been married since 1954.
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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 turns 100
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).
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Douglas stops at the Rome airport on his way to a safari in Kenya in 1962.
Photos: Kirk Douglas turns 100
Douglas stops at the Rome airport on his way to a safari in Kenya in 1962.
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Kirk 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 move. He would go on to become a major film star himself in the 1980s and '90s.
Photos: Kirk Douglas turns 100
Kirk 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 move. He would go on to become a major film star himself in the 1980s and '90s.
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Douglas address a press conference in 1980 at the Cannes Film Festival, where he was president of the jury.
Photos: Kirk Douglas turns 100
Douglas address a press conference in 1980 at the Cannes Film Festival, where he was president of the jury.
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Actor Jack Nicholson greets Kirk Douglas after a ceremony honoring son Michael at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in 1997. Michael Douglas placed his hands and footprints in cement at the Hollywood landmark.
Photos: Kirk Douglas turns 100
Actor Jack Nicholson greets Kirk Douglas after a ceremony honoring son Michael at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in 1997. Michael Douglas placed his hands and footprints in cement at the Hollywood landmark.
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From left, Corbin Allred, Dan Aykroyd and Douglas star in "Diamonds" (1999), one of the star's more recent screen appearances.
Photos: Kirk Douglas turns 100
From left, Corbin Allred, Dan Aykroyd and Douglas star in "Diamonds" (1999), one of the star's more recent screen appearances.
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Father and son attend a Simon Wiesenthal Center dinner honoring the latter with its Humanitarian Award in 2001.
Photos: Kirk Douglas turns 100
Father and son attend a Simon Wiesenthal Center dinner honoring the latter with its Humanitarian Award in 2001.
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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 turns 100
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.
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Douglas, second from left, appears with his first wife, the late Diana Douglas, 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 turns 100
Douglas, second from left, appears with his first wife, the late Diana Douglas, 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.
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Douglas greets his daughter-in-law Catherine Zeta-Jones backstage at "A Little Night Music" on Broadway in 2009. She was starring in a revival of the Stephen Sondheim-Hugh Wheeler musical.
Photos: Kirk Douglas turns 100
Douglas greets his daughter-in-law Catherine Zeta-Jones backstage at "A Little Night Music" on Broadway in 2009. She was starring in a revival of the Stephen Sondheim-Hugh Wheeler musical.
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(CNN)Here's a look at the life of Kirk Douglas.

Personal:
Birth date: December 9, 1916
Birth place: Amsterdam, New York
Birth name: Issur Danielovitch Demsky
Father: Herschel "Harry" Danielovitch Demsky, a Russian Jewish immigrant
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    Mother: Bryna "Bertha" (Sanglel) Danielovitch Demsky, a Russian Jewish immigrant
    Marriages: Anne (Buydens) Douglas (May 29, 1954-present); 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
    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, has provided funding toward the building and refurbishing of more than 480 school playgrounds for the children of Los Angeles.
    Nominated for three Emmys and three Academy Awards. Recipient of 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, their 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.