A star for the ages
Film icon Kirk Douglas spent 103 years on this Earth and he made the most of every moment.
THE BEGINNING of Kirk Douglas’s life was as dramatic as his Hollywood career that spanned seven decades. Born to penniless immigrants after his father fled conscription into the Russian Tsar’s army in 1916, Issur Danielovitch Demsky grew up selling snacks to mill workers to earn money for food. He put himself through drama college by working as a professional wrestler and adopted the name Kirk Douglas.
Legend has it that his classmate, Lauren Bacall, was responsible for his big break, mentioning him to a director while Kirk was appearing in stage productions after an injury cut his WWII naval service short. His on-screen charisma was undeniable and he went on to light up the screen in more than 80 films. Spartacus is certainly his most famous role, but he also won acclaim for his portrayal of Vincent Van Gogh and was nominated for the Best Actor Academy Award three times, though he never won. His eight-year marriage to his drama college sweetheart, Diana Dill, produced two sons, Michael, who would also become a revered actor, and Joel, a film producer. He had two more sons, Eric and Peter.
In his later years, Kirk produced, wrote and threw himself into philanthropy. In tribute, Michael Douglas wrote: “To the world he was a legend… but to me and my brothers he was simply Dad. Kirk’s life was well-lived, and he leaves a legacy in film that will endure for generations.”