Kirk Douglas

Actor (2), Icon (2), Chin (2), American (1), Old (1), Male (1), Producer (1), Westerns (1), Stroke (1), Goodwill Ambassador (1), Born 1916 (1), Cleft-chin (1), Russian-Jewish (1), Spartacus (1), Hunky (1)

Kirk Douglas's

Stats

Birth Name: Issur Danielovitch Demsky

Age: 93, born 9 December 1916

Country of origin: United States

Height: 5' 8"

Relationship Status: Married

Partner: Anne Buydens

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	43 votes Actors who went to war (24 items) by Grand Assault Published 11 months ago 8 comments 18 votes His Classic Cigarette (25 items) by Patrik Braga Published 2 weeks, 2 days ago 5 comments 18 votes The Simpsons' Special Guests (360 items) by diabolical dr voodoo Published 9 months, 3 weeks ago 3 comments 16 votes Hollywood Marriages that last (9 items) by Nonfictionguy Published 9 months, 2 weeks ago 4 comments 12 votes Tough Guys (61 items) by coroner Published 1 year, 1 month ago View all lists

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About

Cleft-chinned, steely-eyed and virile star of international cinema who rose from being "the ragman's son" (the name give to his best-selling 1988 autobiography) of Russian-Jewish ancestry to become a bona fide superstar, Kirk Douglas was actually born Issur Danielovitch Demsky in Amsterdam, New York, in 1916. Although growing up in a poor ghetto, Douglas was a fine student and a keen athlete and wrestled competitively during his time at St. Lawrence University. However, he soon identif Cleft-chinned, steely-eyed and virile star of international cinema who rose from being "the ragman's son" (the name give to his best-selling 1988 autobiography) of Russian-Jewish ancestry to become a bona fide superstar, Kirk Douglas was actually born Issur Danielovitch Demsky in Amsterdam, New York, in 1916. Although growing up in a poor ghetto, Douglas was a fine student and a keen athlete and wrestled competitively during his time at St. Lawrence University. However, he soon identified an acting scholarship as a way out of his meager existence, and was sufficiently talented to gain entry into the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He only appeared in a handful of minor Broadway productions before joining the US Navy in 1941, and then after the end of hostilities in 1945, returned to the theater and some radio work. On the insistence of ex-classmate Lauren Bacall movie producer Hal B. Wallis screen-tested Douglas and cast him in the lead role in The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946). His performance received rave reviews and further work quickly followed, including an appearance in the low-key drama I Walk Alone (1948), the first time he worked alongside fellow future screen legend Burt Lancaster. Such was the strong chemistry between the two that they appeared in seven films together, including the dynamic western Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957), the John Frankenheimer political thriller Seven Days in May (1964) and their final pairing in the gangster comedy Tough Guys (1986). Douglas once said about his good friend: "I've finally gotten away from Burt Lancaster. My luck has changed for the better. I've got nice-looking girls in my films now".

After appearing in "I Walk Alone", Douglas scored his first Oscar nomination playing the untrustworthy and opportunistic boxer Midge Kelly in the gripping Champion (1949). The quality of his work continued to garner the attention of critics and he was again nominated for Oscars for his role as a film producer in The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) and as tortured painter Vincent van Gogh in Lust for Life (1956), both directed by Vincente Minnelli. In 1955 Douglas launched his own production company, Bryna Productions, the company behind two pivotal film roles in his career. The first was as French army officer Col. Dax in director Stanley Kubrick's brilliant anti-war epic Paths of Glory (1957). Douglas reunited with Kubrick for yet another epic, the magnificent Spartacus (1960). The film also marked a key turning point in the life of screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, who had been blacklisted during the McCarthy "Red Scare" hysteria in the 1950s. At Douglas' insistence Trumbo was given on-screen credit for his contributions, which began the dissolution of the infamous blacklisting policies begun almost a decade previously that had destroyed so many careers and lives.

Douglas remained busy throughout the 1960s, starring in many films,. He played a rebellious modern-day cowboy in Lonely Are the Brave (1962), acted alongside John Wayne in the World War II story In Harm's Way (1965), again with The Duke in a drama about the Israeli fight for independence, Cast a Giant Shadow (1966), and once more with Wayne in the tongue-in-cheek western The War Wagon (1967). Additionally, in 1963 he starred in an onstage production of Ken Kesey's "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest", but despite his keen interest, no Hollywood studio could be convinced to bring the story to the screen. However, the rights remained with the Douglas clan, and Kirk's talented son Michael Douglas finally filmed the tale in 1975, starring Jack Nicholson. Into the 1970s Douglas wasn't as busy as previous years; however, he starred in some unusual vehicles, including alongside a young Arnold Schwarzenegger in the loopy western comedy The Villain (1979), then with Farrah Fawcett in the sci-fi thriller Saturn 3 (1980) and then he traveled to Australia for the horse opera/drama The Man from Snowy River (1982).

Unknown to many, Kirk has long been involved in humanitarian causes and has been a Goodwill Ambassador for the US State Department since 1963. His efforts were rewarded in 1981 with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and in 1983 with the Jefferson Award. Furthermore, the French honored him with the Chevalier of the Legion of Honor. More recognition followed for his work with the American Cinema Award (1987), the German Golden Kamera Award (1987), The National Board of Reviews Career Achievement Award (1989), an honorary Academy Award (1995), Recipient of the American Film Institute's Lifetime Achievement Award (1999) and the UCLA Medal of Honor (2002). Despite a helicopter crash and a stroke suffered in the 1990s, he remains active and continues to appear in front of the camera. ... (more)

Most popular movies

1. Spartacus

305 Watched

2. Paths of Glory

8.5

184 Watched

3. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

6.8

98 Watched

4. Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid

6.6

78 Watched

5. Out of the Past

7.9

54 Watched

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Top rated movies

1. Paths of Glory

8.5

184 Watched

2. Ace in the Hole

8.3

50 Watched

3. The Bad and the Beautiful

8.1

17 Watched

4. The Strange Love of Martha Ivers

10 Watched

5. Out of the Past

7.9

54 Watched

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Most popular TV shows

1. The Oprah Winfrey Show

4.9

163 Watched

2. The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

5.8

72 Watched

3. Entertainment Tonight

3.9

41 Watched

4. The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

5.6

13 Watched

5. Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

7.5

13 Watched

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Top rated TV shows

1. Biography

7.9

10 Watched

2. Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

7.5

13 Watched

3. The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

5.8

72 Watched

4. The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

5.6

13 Watched

5. The Oprah Winfrey Show

4.9

163 Watched

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Ratings of Kirk Douglas

8.1/10
50 global ratings

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Kirk Douglas

90 years of living, loving, and learning

The Vikings invade Hadleigh Castle PART 1 of 4. (KIRK DOUGLAS)

assembled, including the following:- KIRK DOUGLAS, BURT LANCASTER, STEVE MCQUEEN, CHARLTON HESTON, JOHN WAYNE, TONY CURT...

Whats my line? - Kirk Douglas

1953 - 54

Kirk Douglas Interview - Parkinson - BBC

Kirk Douglas talks about his stroke, the advice of his son Michael, and the impact his loss of speech has had on his act...

Kirk Douglas "A Whale Of A Tale"

Recorded 1954.From the move "20000 Leagues Under The Sea"It was then and still is a great movie with a song to match.A f...

Sylvester Stallone Takes A Punch From Kirk Douglas

Sylvester Stallone talks about taking some punches while performing a scenw with Kirk Douglas at the 19th AFI Life Achie...

Kirk Douglas & Anthony Quinn - Lust For Life (1956)

Academy Awards-Best Supporting Actor--Anthony Quinn Golden Globes-Best Actor--Kirk Douglas Vincent Van Gogh is the arche...

Lonely Are The Brave-An Interview with Kirk Douglas Pt1

Kirk Douglas discusses the making of his favorite film, "Lonely Are The Brave" in a documentary by Steven J Rosen

Kirk Douglas On Michael Douglas

Kirk Douglas speaks at the 37th AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute To Michael Douglas. CONNECT WITH AFI: AFI.com http

Kirk Douglas & Bernard Herrmann

Clip from David Miller's Magnificent western. With a Berny Herrmann score.

Richard Harris Thanks Kirk Douglas For His Career

Richard Harris tells an amusing story about Kirk Douglas's role in his being cast in CAMELOT at the 19th AFI Life Achiev...

Karl Malden On A Young Kirk Douglas

Karl Malden talks about knowing Kirk Douglas for many years and working with his son, Michael Douglas, on the TV series ...

Tom Cruise On Kirk Douglas & SPARTACUS

Tom Cruise speaks that the 19th AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute To Kirk Douglas. CONNECT WITH AFI: AFI.com http fa...

Kirk Douglas Tribute

Here is a song performed by the great Ed Ames, chosen to illustrate the fabulous figure of Kirk Douglas. Kirk Douglas (b...

Kirk Douglas and Johnny Cash shoot out

Scene from a western film, "A Gunfight". Kirk Douglas and Johnny Cash have a showdown to the death in an arena. I also h...

Kirk Douglas Accepts AFI Life Achievement Award

Kirk Douglas accepts the 19th AFI Life Achievement Award in 1991. CONNECT WITH AFI: AFI.com http facebook.com

Kirk Douglas Solo (The Roots), Hip Hop Kemp 2008

Awesome Kirk Douglas solo @ Hip Hop Kemp 2008, Hradec Kralove, CZ

Dana Carvey Jumping Train Cars With Kirk Douglas

Dana Carvey talks about working with Kirk Douglas on TOUGH GUYS at the 19th AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute To Kir...

Kirk Douglas Speech at 2008 Ambassadors for Humanity Event

Honoree Kirk Douglas delivers a speech at the 2008 Ambassadors for Humanity Event.

Elisabeth Mascorro Stylist /Make Up Artist- Music by Gavin Friday

Behind the scenes Shoot. Music by Gavin Friday. Directed and edited By Kirk Douglas Kellier. AKA... KDK. Studio Provided...

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