Acclaim for Kirk, 101, as he steals the show
THE Golden Globes ceremony was heavily focused on women – but one man brought the house down.
At 101, Kirk Douglas attracted the most rapturous applause of the night at the awards’ 75th ceremony.
Accompanied by his daughter-in-law, Welsh star Catherine Zeta-Jones, Douglas took to the stage in a wheelchair to present an award and received a standing ovation.
Catherine, 48, wife of Douglas’s actor son Michael, paid tribute to her father-inlaw’s career.
She said: “In 1991 my father-in-law, this living Hollywood legend Kirk, was recognised by the Writers’ Guild Of America for his role in ending the Hollywood blacklist.”
That blacklist saw entertainment professionals denied work because they were accused of having Communist ties.
She reminded the audience how Douglas had hired Dalton Trumbo to write the Hollywood epic Spartacus and insisted his name appear as writer.
The veteran star then responded to her words, although in parts his speech was inaudible.
“Catherine,” he said. “You said it all. I would have made a speech but I don’t want to say it.”
He paused, before telling her with a smile: “I could never follow you”.
Born Issur Danielovitch, Douglas grew up in New York, the son of impoverished Russian immigrants.
After developing an interest in acting in high school he won a scholarship to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, in New York.
He went on to enjoy a sparkling movie career with credits including Ace in the Hole, The Bad And The Beautiful and Gunfight At The O.K. Corral.