Skip to content
Primary Navigation

Hollywood Life

  • Home
  • News
    • All News
    • Celebrity News
    • World News
    • Exclusives
    • Politics
    • Celebrity Babies
    • Celebrity Weddings
    • Pics
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Sports
    • Sex & Relationships
    • Award Shows
    • Holidays
  • Beauty
    • All Beauty
    • Fragrance
    • Hair Care
    • Health
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Skin Care
    • Makeovers
  • Fashion
    • All Fashion
    • Red Carpet
    • Shopping
    • Diet & Fitness
    • Award Shows
    • Makeovers
    • Celebrity Weddings
  • Shopping
    • All Shopping
    • Gift Guide
    • Shop The Look
    • DNA Complete – Best DNA Test
    • Reviews
Trending Navigation Trending
  • TV
  • Exclusives
  • Celebrity Babies
  • Latest Photos
Search

NewsExpand Menu

  • Celebrity News
  • World News
  • Exclusives
  • Politics
  • Celebrity Babies
  • Celebrity Weddings
  • Pics

EntertainmentExpand Menu

  • TV
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Sports
  • Sex & Relationships
  • Award Shows
  • Holidays

BeautyExpand Menu

  • Fragrance
  • Hair Care
  • Health
  • Makeup
  • Nails
  • Skincare
  • Makeover

FashionExpand Menu

  • Red Carpet
  • Shopping
  • Diet & Fitness
  • Award Shows
  • Makeovers
  • Celebrity Weddings

ShoppingExpand Menu

  • Reviews
  • Gift Guides
  • Shop The Look
  • DNA Complete - Best DNA Test

TrendingExpand Menu

  • TV
  • Exclusives
  • Celebrity Babies
  • Latest Photos

Celebrity BiosExpand Menu

  • Taylor Swift
  • Rihanna
  • Selena Gomez
  • Kim Kardashian
  • Kylie Jenner
  • Kendall Jenner
  • Justin Bieber
  • Miley Cyrus
  • Gigi Hadid
  • Khloe Kardashian
  • Jennifer Lopez
  • Angelina Jolie
  • Harry Styles
  • Kourtney Kardashian
  • ALL CELEBRITY BIOS
Follow Us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
Alerts & Newsletters
© 2025 Hollywood Life Media, LLC.

Kirk Douglas

Kirk Douglas Celebrity Profile
AP Images

Details

Also Known As:
Izzy Demsky
Date of Birth:
December 9, 1916
Height:
5' 9"
Hometown:
Amsterdam

Bio:
Kirk Douglas (born Issur Danielovitch on December 9, 1916 in Amsterdam, NY) is an American actor, producer, director and author. Kirk grew up in an impoverished home with Russian Jewish immigrant parents and six sisters. He enlisted in the US Navy in 1941 after the US entered WW2, but was medically discharged for injuries in 1944. He returned to NYC and found work in radio, theater and commercials, doing a number of soap operas. His first film was in 1946 with Barbara Stanwyck called The Strange Love Of Martha Ivers. Kirk developed a character type of a tough guy, established in his eighth film Champion (1949) when he played a selfish boxer. For the role, he received his first Oscar nom and the film received 6 nominations over all. He broke out of the studio contract system and formed his own movie company, Bryna Productions. Throughout the 50s and 60s, Kirk blew up as a major box-office star. He starred in his first western in 1951, Along the Great Divide, but his personal favorite performance was in Lonely Are The Brave (1962). Kirk went on to be nominated for his roles in The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) and Lust For Life (1956). Between 1970 and 2008, Kirk made nearly 40 movies, including The Final Countdown, Tough Guys and The Secret. Since suffering a stroke in 1996, Kirk has taken up blogging and reduced his appearances.

Best Known For:
Kirk Douglas is best known for his leading role as a boxing hero in Champion. He is one of the last surviving stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Personal Life:
Kirk was married to Diana Dill on Nov. 2, 1943; they divorced in 1951. The couple had two sons, actor Michael Douglas and producer Joel Douglas. He then met Belgium producer Anne Buydens and the two married in 1954. They had two sons: producer Peter Douglas and actor Eric Douglas, who died in 2004 from a drug overdose. In 1991, Kirk was injured in a plane crash. Two people were killed. The crash prompted Kirk to search for meaning, which lead him to embrace his conservative Judaism. He documented his search in his book Climbing The Mountain: My Search for Meaning (2001). He has since become an integral part in Jewish and Zionist philanthropy. Kirk received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Jimmy Carter in 1981 after flying to Cairo to talk peace with Egyptian President Anwar Sadat. After suffering a severe stroke in 1996, which impaired his ability to speak, Kirk wrote another book, My Stroke Of Luck. Just two months after his stroke, Kirk was abled to verbally thank the audience and accept an honorary Academy Award.

Most Read

Does Emmanuel Macron Have Children With Wife Brigitte?

Does Emmanuel Macron Have Children With Wife Brigitte?

Bryan Kohberger’s Family: Everything to Know About His Parents & Sisters

bryan kohberger

Julian McMahon’s Wife: Meet Kelly Paniagua McMahon & His Ex-Wives

Julian McMahon's Wife: Meet Kelly Paniagua McMahon & His Ex-Wives

Lyndon Byers’ Health: Inside the Late Hockey Player’s Final Years Before Death

Lyndon Byers' Health: Inside the Late Hockey Player's Final Years

Kelly Osbourne Net Worth 2025: How Much Money She Has Today

Kelly Osbourne Net Worth 2025: How Much Money She Has Today

Latest Kirk Douglas

Michael and Kirk Douglas
See Message

Michael Douglas Jokes Dad Kirk ‘Picked A Good Time To Check Out’ 1 Year After His Death At 103

Michael Douglas is remembering his iconic actor dad Kirk on the one year anniversary of his passing at 103. He joked about the timing of his death, coming one month before COVID lockdowns.

February 5, 2021
Kirk Douglas
Breaking News

Kirk Douglas: 5 Things To Know About The Hollywood Legend Who Has Died At 103

Kirk Douglas was one of the last surviving members of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Learn more about the legendary actor who died on Feb. 5 at 103 years old.

February 5, 2020
Michael Douglas, Kirk Douglas
See Message

Michael Douglas & Catherine Zeta-Jones Pay Tribute To ‘Legend’ & Dad Kirk After His Death

Michael Douglas and wife Catherine Zeta-Jones spoke out about his legendary father Kirk Douglas, who passed away on Feb. 5, in heartbreaking statements they posted to Instagram.

February 5, 2020
Kirk Douglas Dead
Breaking News

Kirk Douglas Dead: Hollywood Icon, Father Of Michael Douglas Dies At Age 103

One of the last stars of the Golden Age of Hollywood has fallen. Kirk Douglas, the father of Michael Douglas and star of iconic films like ‘Spartacus’ and ‘Lust For Life,’ has died at age 103.

February 5, 2020

    About Us

    • About Us
    • Mission
    • Writer Bios
    • Advertise With Us
    • Scoops & Corrections
    • Contact Us

    Legal

    • Privacy Policy
    • California Privacy Rights
    • AdChoices
    • Terms of Use
    • Data Policy
    • Fulfillment Policy
    • Do Not Sell My Personal Information

    News

    • Celebrity News
    • Exclusives
    • World News
    • Politics
    • Celebrity Babies
    • Shopping Reviews

    Connect

    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • TikTok
    • DNA Expand
    • DNA Complete - Best DNA Genetic Testing for Health & Ancestry
© Copyright 2025 Hollywood Life Media, LLC.
Powered by WordPress.com VIP
Do not sell or share my personal information
Privacy Settings