Kirk Douglas celebrates 100th birthday with his famous family (and a little vodka)
You only turn 100 years old once. And Hollywood legend Kirk Douglas celebrated in style at the Beverly Hills Hotel in front of 135 friends and family on Friday.
Here’s the low-down on the festivities for the star of Spartacus and Lust for Life.
The guests: Douglas was flanked at his table by Anne Douglas, his wife of over 62 years, his son Michael Douglas, his daughter-in-law Catherine Zeta-Jones and his grandchildren. People.com reported attendees included comedian Don Rickles, Dreamworks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg, director Steven Spielberg and Jeff Kanew – who directed Kirk and Burt Lancaster in the film Tough Guys.
The speeches: Son Michael Douglas praised his famous father.
“One of the things that I find most incredible about dad is the third act of his life,” said Douglas, according to the Associated Press. “After all he accomplished in his professional career and what he’s given for his country, at the point in his life where he’s faced adversity, losing a son, having a helicopter crash, having a stroke, and what he’s accomplished in this third act in his life, I find quite extraordinary.”
Kirk Douglas kept his remarks brief. “I wonder who he was talking about? He said some nice things about someone I don’t know,” he said, joking that Michael Douglas was chosen to organize the proceedings because “he has the most money.”
Rickles burn: Comic legend Rickles, 90, knocked Douglas’ good looks and physique, saying that he had to hear the “I’m Spartacus crap” every day.
Rickles did get choked up in the end of his speech, saying, “You are an outstanding man because you’ve been blessed with warmth and love and class, and... ah, forget it, you’re all of that and more.”
The cake: The dessert was chocolate cake from The Butter End with a gold bust of Kirk’s head on top, according to People. Zeta-Jones took the politically correct choice and lit 12 candles.
“I’m so glad there’s not 100!” she said, before leading the room to sing “Happy Birthday” with a string quartet accompaniment.
The present: The party ended at about 5 p.m. People reported that Kirk’s cardiologist, Dr. PK Shah, handed the actor an over-large glass of vodka that he’d promised Kirk he could have when he had turned 100. The doctor had forbidden the actor from drinking alcohol, but you only turn 100 once.