Centenarian Douglas sometimes ‘sad’
At 100 years old, star misses old friends, but still considers himself ‘very lucky’
At 100 years old, actor Kirk Douglas has outlived many of his peers in Hollywood and many of his friends.
Douglas reminisced on the time that has passed, but also the struggle of aging.
“I never, ever thought I would live to be 100. That’s shocked me, really. And it’s sad, too,” he said. “I miss Burt Lancaster — we fought a lot, and I miss him a lot. And John Wayne, even though he was a Republican and I was a Democrat.”
His son, actor Michael Douglas, has become a great friend and “visits the old man often,” staying at his father’s guest house a few days every month.
“I am so proud of Michael because he never followed my advice. I wanted him to be a doctor or lawyer, and the first time I saw him in a play I told him he was terrible. But then I saw him a second time and I said: ‘You were wonderful!’
“And I think he is very good in everything he’s done.”
Douglas was married to actress Diana Webster from 1943 to 1951. The pair had children Michael and Joel. Douglas later married his second wife, actress Anne Buydens, 97, with whom he had children Peter and Eric.
“Michael didn’t like me much after his mother and I got divorced. It was only when he started acting that we became close,” the actor said.
The pair even went on to star and work together on multiple films, and have become known for their closeness.
Douglas also recently published his 12th book, Kirk and Anne: Letters of Love, Laughter, and a Lifetime in Hollywood, a collection of letters between the couple during their marriage, proclaiming himself a “very, very lucky” man.