1-MINUTE RESUME FOR MICHAEL DOUGLAS
Being born into a famous acting family didn't necessarily help Douglas in the beginning. Though he starred in the cop series
The Streets of San Francisco from 1972-76 and won an Oscar for producing 1975's
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, his career stagnated until 1984's
Romancing the Stone he eventually earned leading-man status at age 40. His claim to fame is being unafraid to take on any role no matter how sleazy; the characters he creates are often arrogant yet likable, amoral yet charismatic, i.e. his ice-cold corporate raider Gordon Gekko in
Wall Street (Oscar No. 2 for Best Actor), his adulterous husband in
Fatal Attraction, his romantic widower in
The American President.
5 Things:
1. After a ski accident, he took up golf; he also likes to smoke cigars and collect fine wine.
2. 1996 was a rough year for Douglas: his younger brother Eric was arrested for a DUI (he's also been arrested twice for disrupting behavior on airplanes); his son Cameron entered rehab; his father Kirk suffered a stroke; he proceeded to divorce his first wife, Diandra.
3. Before his attempt at acting at age 21, he had flunked out of school and worked at a gas station.
4. He's involved in a number of organizations including the Anti-Gun Coalition of America, Cease Fire and the Artists Rights Foundation.
5. He owns a hotel in Bermuda, the Ariel Sands Beach Club.
Quote:
On being the most successful of Kirk Douglas's sons: "I am the alpha son, and the first child in any family tends to be the dominant one. I think it also helped that I was a '60s hippie. Growing up, I wasn't obsessed with money and success. It was a wonderful, magical time to grow up. I didn't feel pressured to succeed and therefore I was never intimidated by failure."
The Express Daily News, Sept. 7, 1997
Family:
Wife: Catherine Zeta-Jones, actress, married Nov. 18, 2000
Wife: Diandra Luker, married March 20, 1977, divorced June 2000
Daughter: (with Zeta-Jones) Carys Zeta Douglas, born 2003
Son: (with Zeta-Jones) Dylan Michael, born 2000
Son: (with Luker) Cameron Morrell, born 1978
Awards:
2004: Golden Globe: Cecil B. DeMille Award
2001: Golden Globe nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture Drama,
Wonder Boys1996: Golden Globe nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture (Comedy/Musical),
The American President1990: Golden Globe nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture (Comedy/Musical),
The War of the Roses1988: Academy Award: Best Actor in a Leading Role,
Wall Street; Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture (Drama),
Wall Street1976: Academy Award: Best Picture,
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (shared with Saul Zaentz)
1975: Golden Globe nomination: Best TV Actor (Drama),
The Streets of San Francisco1970: Golden Globe nomination: Most Promising Newcomer (Male),
Hail, Hero!
Recent Films:
Trumbo - (2008) - Actor
King of California - (2007) - Actor
You, Me and Dupree - (2006) - Actor
The Sentinel - (2006) - Actor, Producer
Tell Them Who You Are - (2005) - Featured
View all films
Sites for Michael Douglas
http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/set/5907/
http://www.westlord.com/michael-douglas/