Michael Douglas

Birthday: 25 September 1944, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA

Birth Name: Michael Kirk Douglas

Height: 178 cm

An actor with over forty years of experience in theatre, film, and television, Michael Douglas branched out into independent feature production in 1975 with the Academy Award-winning One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975). Since then, as a producer and as an actor-producer, he has shown an uncanny knack for choosing projects that reflect changing trends and public concerns. Over the years, he has been involved in such controversial and politically influential motion pictures as One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), The China Syndrome (1979) and Traffic (2000), and such popular films as Fatal Attraction (1987) and Romancing the Stone (1984).Michael Douglas was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, to actors Diana Douglas (Diana Love Dill) and Kirk Douglas (born Issur Danielovitch). His paternal grandparents were Belarusian Jewish immigrants, while his mother was born in Bermuda, the daughter of a local Attorney General, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Melville Dill; Diana's family had long been established in both Bermuda and the United States. Douglas's parents divorced when he was six, and he went to live with his mother and her new husband. Only seeing Kirk on holidays, Michael attended Eaglebrook school in Deerfield, Massachusetts, where he was about a year younger than all of his classmates.Douglas attended the elite preparatory Choate School and spent his summers with his father on movie sets. Although accepted at Yale, Douglas attended the University of California, Santa Barbara. Deciding he wanted to be an actor in his teenage years, Michael often asked his father about getting a "foot in the door". Kirk was strongly opposed to Michael pursuing an acting career, saying that it was an industry with many downs and few ups, and that he wanted all four of his sons to stay out of it. Michael, however, was persistent, and made his film debut in his father's film Cast a Giant Shadow (1966).After receiving his B.A. degree in 1968, Douglas moved to New York City to continue his dramatic training, studying at the American Place Theatre with Wynn Handman, and at the Neighborhood Playhouse, where he appeared in workshop productions of Pirandello's Six Characters in Search of an Author (1976) and Thornton Wilder's Happy Journey (1963). A few months after he arrived in New York, Douglas got his first big break, when he was cast in the pivotal role of the free-spirited scientist who compromises his liberal views to accept a lucrative job with a high-tech chemical corporation in the CBS Playhouse production of Ellen M. Violett's drama, The Experiment, which was televised nationwide on February 25, 1969.Douglas' convincing portrayal won him the leading role in the adaptation of John Weston's controversial novel, Hail, Hero! (1969), which was the initial project of CBS's newly organized theatrical film production company, Cinema Center Films. Douglas starred as a well-meaning, almost saintly young pacifist determined not only to justify his beliefs to his conservative parents but also to test them under fire in the jungles of Indochina. His second feature, Adam at Six A.M. (1970) concerned a young man's search for his roots. Douglas next appeared in the film version of Ron Cowen's play Summertree (1971), produced by 'Kirk Douglas'' Bryna Company, and then Napoleon and Samantha (1972), a sentimental children's melodrama from the Walt Disney studio.In between film assignments, he worked in summer stock and off-Broadway productions, among them "City Scenes", Frank Gagliano's surrealistic vignettes of contemporary life in New York, John Patrick Shanley's short-lived romance "Love is a Time of Day" and George Tabori's "Pinkville", in which he played a young innocent brutalized by his military training. He also appeared in the made-for-television thriller, "When Michael Calls", broadcast by ABC-TV on February 5, 1972 and in episodes of the popular series "Medical Center" and "The FBI".Impressed by Douglas' performance in a segment of The F.B.I. (1965), producer 'Quinn Martin' signed the actor for the part of Karl Malden's sidekick in the police series "The Streets of San Francisco", which premiered September of 1972 and became one of ABC's highest-rated prime-time programs in the mid-1970s. Douglas earned three successive Emmy Award nominations for his performance and he directed two episodes of the series.During the annual breaks in the shooting schedule for The Streets of _San Francisco (1972)_, Douglas devoted most of his time to his film production company, Big Stick Productions, Ltd., which produced several short subjects in the early 1970s. Long interested in producing a film version of Ken Kesey's grimly humorous novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), Douglas purchased the movie rights from his father and began looking for financial backing. After a number of major motion picture studios turned him down, Douglas formed a partnership with Saul Zaentz, a record industry executive, and the two set about recruiting the cast and crew. Douglas still had a year to go on his contract for "The Streets of San Francisco", but the producers agreed to write his character out of the story so that he could concentrate on filming "Cuckoo's Nest".A critical and commercial success, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor and Best Actress, and went on to gross more than $180 million at the box office. Douglas suddenly found himself in demand as an independent producer. One of the many scripts submitted to him for consideration was Mike Gray's chilling account of the attempted cover-up of an accident at a nuclear power plant. Attracted by the combination of social relevance and suspense, Douglas immediately bought the property. Deemed not commercial by most investors, Douglas teamed up with Jane Fonda and her own motion picture production company, IPC Films.A Michael Douglas-IPC Films co-production, The China Syndrome (1979) starred Jack Lemmon, Jane Fonda, and 'Michael Douglas' and received Academy Award nominations for Lemmon and Fonda, as well as for Best Screenplay. The National Board of Review named the film one of the best films of the year.Despite his success as a producer, Douglas resumed his acting career in the late 1970s, starring in Michael Crichton's medical thriller Coma (1978) with Genevieve Bujold, Claudia Weill's feminist comedy It's My Turn (1980) starring Jill Clayburgh, and Peter Hyams' gripping tale of modern-day vigilante justice, "The Star Chamber" (1983). Douglas also starred in Running (1979), as a compulsive quitter who sacrifices everything to take one last shot at the Olympics, and as Zach the dictatorial director/choreographer in Richard Attenborough's screen version of the Broadway's longest running musical A Chorus Line (1985).Douglas' career as an actor/producer came together again in 1984 with the release of the tongue-in-cheek romantic fantasy "Romancing the Stone". Douglas had begun developing the project several years earlier, and with Kathleen Turner as Joan Wilder, the dowdy writer of gothic romances, Danny DeVito as the feisty comic foil Ralphie and Douglas as Jack Colton, the reluctant soldier of fortune, "Romancing" was a resounding hit and grossed more than $100 million at the box office. Douglas was named Producer of the Year in 1984 by the National Association of Theater Owners. Douglas, Turner and DeVito reteamed in 1985 for the successful sequel The Jewel of the Nile (1985).It took Douglas nearly two years to convince Columbia Pictures executives to approve the production of Starman (1984), an unlikely tale of romance between an extraterrestrial, played by 'Jeff Bridges', and a young widow, played by Karen Allen. Starman (1984) was the sleeper hit of the 1984 Christmas season and earned an Oscar nomination for Best Actor for 'Jeff Bridges'. In 1986 Douglas created a television series based on the film for ABC which starred 'Robert Hays'.After a lengthy break from acting, Douglas returned to the screen in 1987 appearing in two of the year's biggest hits. He starred opposite Glenn Close in the phenomenally successful psychological thriller, "Fatal Attraction", which was followed by his performance as ruthless corporate raider Gordon Gekko in 'Oliver Stone''s Wall Street (1987), earning him the Academy Award for Best Actor.Douglas next starred in Ridley Scott's thriller Black Rain (1989) and then teamed up again with 'Kathleen Turner' and Danny DeVito in the black comedy The War of the Roses (1989) which was released in 1989.In 1988 Douglas formed Stonebridge Entertainment, Inc. which produced Flatliners (1990), directed by Joel Schumacher and starred Kiefer Sutherland, 'Julia Roberts', 'Kevin Bacon' and 'William Baldwin' and Radio Flyer (1992) starring Lorraine Bracco and directed by Richard Donner. Douglas followed with David Seltzer's adaptation of Susan Issac's best-selling novel, "Shining Through", opposite Melanie Griffith. In 1992 he starred with Sharon Stone in the erotic thriller from 'Paul Verhoeven' Basic Instinct (1992), one of the year's top grossing films.Douglas gave one of his most powerful performances opposite Robert Duvall in Joel Schumacher's controversial drama Falling Down (1993). That year he also produced the hit comedy "Made in America" starring Whoopi Goldberg, Ted Danson and Will Smith. In 1994/95 he starred with Demi Moore in Barry Levinson's "Disclosure,." based on the best seller by Michael Crichton. In 1995 Douglas portrayed the title role in Rob Reiner's romantic comedy The American President (1995) opposite Annette Bening, and in 1997, starred in The Game (1997) directed by David Fincher and co-starring 'Sean Penn'.Douglas formed Douglas/Reuther Productions with partner Steven Reuther in May 1994. The company, under the banner of Constellation Films, produced, The Ghost and the Darkness (1996), starring Douglas and Val Kilmer, and John Grisham's The Rainmaker (1997), based on John Grisham's best selling novel, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Matt Damon,Claire Danes, Danny DeVito, Jon Voight, Mickey Rourke, Mary Kay Place, Virginia Madsen, Andrew Shue, 'Teresa Wright', Johnny Whitworth and 'Randy Travis'.Michael Douglas and Steve Reuther also produced John Woo's action thriller Face/Off (1997) starring 'John Travolta' and Nicolas Cage, which proved to be one of '97's major hits.In 1998, ' Michael Douglas' starred with Gwyneth Paltrow and Viggo Mortensen in the mystery thriller A Perfect Murder (1998), and formed a new production company, 2000 was a milestone year for Douglas. "Wonder Boys" opened in February 2000 to much critical acclaim. Directed by Curtis Hanson and co-starring Tobey Maguire, Frances McDormand, Robert Downey Jr. and 'Katie Holmes', Douglas starred in the film as troubled college professor Grady Tripp. Michael was nominated for a Golden Globe and a BAFTA Film award for his performance."Traffic" was released by USA Films on December 22, 2000 in New York and Los Angeles went nationwide in January 2001. Douglas played the role of Robert Wakefield, a newly appointed drug czar confronted by the drug war both at home and abroad. Directed by Steven Soderbergh and co-starring Don Cheadle, Benicio del Toro, Amy Irving, Dennis Quaid and Catherine Zeta-Jones, "Traffic" was named Best Picture by New York Film Critics, won Best Ensemble Cast at the SAG Awards, won four Academy Awards (Best Screenplay, Best Editing, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actor for Benicio del Toro) and has been recognized over on over 175 top ten lists.In 2001, Douglas produced and played a small role in USA Films' outrageous comedy "One Night at McCool's" starring Liv Tyler, Matt Dillon, John Goodman, Paul Reiser, and was directed by Harald Zwart. "McCool's" was the first film by Douglas' company Furthur Films. Also in 2001, Douglas starred in "Don't Say A Word" for 20th Century Fox. The psychological thriller, directed by Gary Fleder, also starred Sean Bean, Famke Janseen and Brittany Murphy.In 2002, Douglas appeared in a guest role on the hit NBC comedy "Will & Grace", and received an Emmy Nomination for his performance.Douglas starred in two films in 2003. MGM/BVI released the family drama "It Runs in the Family", which Douglas produced and starred with his father Kirk Douglas, his mother Diana Douglas and his son Cameron Douglas, Rory Culkin and Bernadette Peters. He also starred in the Warner Bros. comedy "The-In Laws", with Albert Brooks, Candice Bergen Ryan Reynolds.In 2004 Douglas, along with his father Kirk, filmed the intimate HBO documentary "A Father, A Son... Once Upon a Time in Hollywood". Directed by award-winning filmmaker Lee Grant, the documentary examines the professional and personal lives of both men, and the impacts they each made on the motion picture industry.In summer 2005, Douglas produced and starred in "The Sentinel", which was released by 20th Century Fox in spring 2006. Based on the Gerald Petievich novel and directed by Clark Johnson, "The Sentinel" is a political thriller set in the intriguing world of the Secret Service. Douglas stars with Keifer Sutherland, Eva Longoria and Kim Bassinger. Douglas filmed "You, Me & Dupree", starring with Owen Wilson, Kate Hudson and Matt Dillon. The comedy is direct by Anthony and Joe Russo, and was released by Universal Pictures during the summer of 2006. In 2007 he made "King of California", co-starring Evan Rachel Wood and is written and directed by Michael Cahill, and produced by Alexander Payne and Michael London.Michael had two films released in early '09, "Beyond A Reasonable Doubt" directed by Peter Hyams and "Ghosts of Girlfriend's Past" starring Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner directed by Mark Waters. He followed with the drama "Solitary Man" directed by Brian Koppelman and David Levien, co-starring Susan Sarandon, Danny DeVito, Mary Louise-Parker, and Jenna Fischer, produced by Paul Schiff and Steven Soderbergh and in Fall '10 starred in "Wall Street 2 - Money Never Sleeps" reprising his Oscar winning role as Gordon Gekko and once again was nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance. Again directed by Oliver Stone, he co-starred with Shia Labeouf, Cary Mulligan, Josh Brolin, Frank Langella and Susan Sarandon.Douglas had a cameo role in Steven Soderbergh's action thriller "Haywire." "Behind the Candelabra" based on the life of musical '70's/80's icon Liberace and his partner Scott Thorson, directed by Steven Soderbergh costarring Matt Damon, premiered on HBO in May 2013. Douglas won an Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG Award as Best Actor in a television movie or mini series for his performance as the famed entertainer. He followed with the buddy comedy "Last Vegas" directed by John Turtletaub co-starring Robert DeNiro, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Kline and the romantic comedy "And So It Goes" co-starring Diane Keaton directed by Rob Reiner.Douglas recently starred in and producing the thriller "Beyond The Reach" directed by Jean-Baptiste Leonetti costarring Jeremy Irvine and portrays Dr. Hank Pym in Marvel's "Ant Man" opposite Paul Rudd. It will be his first venture into the realm of comic book action adventure. Most recently he completed a spy thriller "Unlocked" co-starring Noomi Rapace, Orlando Bloom, John Malkovich and is directed by Michael Apted. In 1998 Douglas was made a United Nations Messenger of Peace by Kofi Annan. His main concentrations are nuclear non-proliferation and the control of small arms. He is on the Board of Ploughshares Foundation and The Nuclear Threat Initiative.Michael Douglas was recipient of the 2009 AFI Lifetime Achievement as well as the Producers Guild Award that year. In Spring '10 he received the New York Film Society's Charlie Chaplin Award.Douglas has hosted 11 years of "Michael Douglas and Friends" Celebrity Golf Event which has raised over $6 million for the Motion Picture and Television Fund. Douglas is very passionate about the organization, and each year he asks his fellow actors and to come out and show that "we are an industry that takes care of own".Douglas is married to Catherine Zeta-Jones. The couple has one son, Dylan, and one daughter, Carys. Douglas also has one son, Cameron, from a previous marriage. Show less «

I am not selfish enough to slow down. I hurt myself because I'm such a team player. I'm great to wor...Show more »

I am not selfish enough to slow down. I hurt myself because I'm such a team player. I'm great to work with; I'm always looking out for other actor and making it work. Show less «

Revenge is a very good motivation if you can direct it. It's healthy. Very healthy.

[on researching his characters] With Black Rain (1989) I spent a lot of time with homicide detective...Show more »

[on researching his characters] With Black Rain (1989) I spent a lot of time with homicide detectives, and I spent a lot of time with different brokers on Wall Street (1987). It helps get the rhythm of the piece and the tone, and how overplayed or underplayed it might be. That's also the magic of movies: You get to hang out and live these different lives. I think a certain amount of that helps the verisimilitude. Show less «

I admire Albert Finney very much, his performances always look so effortless. And of course, my good...Show more »

I admire Albert Finney very much, his performances always look so effortless. And of course, my good friend Jack Nicholson, who lives life to the full, and who never ever does things by halves. He's a real hero! Show less «

I do pictures for myself, because I figure if I like them, some other crazy people out there might l...Show more »

I do pictures for myself, because I figure if I like them, some other crazy people out there might like them, too. You know, once you've gained your confidence and done some bizarre, strange films with some roles that have been successful, it gives you the confidence to go out there and take more chances. Show less «

... in your career you can count on one hand the really good part. In "Wall Street" I had the best p...Show more »

... in your career you can count on one hand the really good part. In "Wall Street" I had the best part I ever had. Show less «

(2001, on why he and Catherine Zeta-Jones sold photos of their newborn baby) It seems odd, I guess, ...Show more »

(2001, on why he and Catherine Zeta-Jones sold photos of their newborn baby) It seems odd, I guess, for the United States. But Catherine is an international star and, in England, the paparazzi become like bounty hunters and go to extraordinary extremes to take a photograph they can sell. When you spend your whole life protecting your name and likeness, how do you deal with these people? I've been really open about it, saying, Look, you want to take a photograph of me and sell it? We'll split the money, and I'll give my half to charity. When we were going to have a baby, we knew a bounty hunt would happen. So when we were contacted by a magazine about their doing a layout, paying us for it, then syndicating the photos - a fairly common practice in Europe as opposed to here - we simply saw it as a way to build financial security for our new son and control what was going to be a madhouse. I'd rather do that than have some guy harassing us, though that happens anyway. Show less «

King of California (2007) was just, I thought, a really great, fresh, original kind of script. I lov...Show more »

King of California (2007) was just, I thought, a really great, fresh, original kind of script. I loved the tone, the mix of tragedy, comedy and drama, and that it was a good part. Kind of a challenge, and I was excited to work on it. Show less «

(2001, on why he thinks Black Rain (1989) didn't do better at the box office) It was hard to know wh...Show more »

(2001, on why he thinks Black Rain (1989) didn't do better at the box office) It was hard to know who to root for. And people here were uncomfortable with race stuff and talking about the bomb. There was a critic, who'll remain nameless, who called it a racist film. I called him up and asked, "Have you ever been to Japan?". He said no and I said, "Then what the hell are you talking about?". The Japanese loved it. I loved it - I thought it rocked from top to bottom. Show less «

[on Saul Zaentz] Saul is a wonderful mixture - he's a street-smart guy from Jersey who has impeccabl...Show more »

[on Saul Zaentz] Saul is a wonderful mixture - he's a street-smart guy from Jersey who has impeccable taste. There are a lot of people in this town who pretend to have both toughness and good taste, but with Saul it isn't pretense. His power comes from his joy and enthusiasm for a project. Show less «

I'm impressed with the people from Chicago. Hollywood is hype, New York is talk, Chicago is work.

[on the sequel Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010)] There was a recession when the first movie ar...Show more »

[on the sequel Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010)] There was a recession when the first movie arrived in 1987. There's a recession now. Greed, which Gordon Gekko declared as being good, hasn't just survived but has thrived amid easy credit, sub-prime mortgages and an America that ignored the signs of an oncoming market collapse. We brought Oliver Stone a script. Stone, the son of a stockbroker, wanted to do it. Show less «

When you're making pictures out of heartfelt passion, it hurts when someone calls them a calculated ...Show more »

When you're making pictures out of heartfelt passion, it hurts when someone calls them a calculated business move. Show less «

(on dropping out of Cutthroat Island (1995)) I was fairly far down the road with that film, but I di...Show more »

(on dropping out of Cutthroat Island (1995)) I was fairly far down the road with that film, but I didn't pull out right before production - it was four or five months before. I just didn't feel comfortable doing a picture with the director married to the leading lady. After a couple of drafts, I didn't like where it was going. There was all this momentum to go ahead, but it didn't smell good. Show less «

[on watching Liberace on television] I never thought about the gayness. He just looked like he was h...Show more »

[on watching Liberace on television] I never thought about the gayness. He just looked like he was having so much fun. And that whole idea of talking directly to the audience, you just went along with him. He made you happy. Show less «

It's a much smaller minority of people who think they still have to stay in the closet. It's quite i...Show more »

It's a much smaller minority of people who think they still have to stay in the closet. It's quite interesting to see how fast it's all changed. Without naming names, I certainly think there are a couple of people out there who have not come out in the spirit of protecting their careers and livelihoods. It's probably a little bit more difficult going that way. I think that's true. Show less «

I was always shocked when so many people who saw Wall Street (1987) said I was the person who influe...Show more »

I was always shocked when so many people who saw Wall Street (1987) said I was the person who influenced them and inspired them to go into investment banking. I'd say: "I was the villain," and they would say: "No, no, no." They didn't see me that way, so it was all very seductive I guess. Show less «

The process of making a movie continues to amaze me. There is a certain magic that happens. And you ...Show more »

The process of making a movie continues to amaze me. There is a certain magic that happens. And you never know when it's going to be. But while a writer is alone with their word processor, or a painter is alone in a studio, or a musician is working on a song, movie making is a big kind of collaborative family. Certainly it starts with the written word, but then it becomes a collaborative art and that process never ceases to amaze me. It's almost mystical. It's something that is really alive and fresh. Show less «

[on wife Catherine Zeta-Jones] She is not only beautiful but also very deep and we understand each o...Show more »

[on wife Catherine Zeta-Jones] She is not only beautiful but also very deep and we understand each other extremely well. I love her above all. Catherine is the woman of my life. A dream. Show less «

Those British film certificates explained in full: "Oh, I get it, it's simple. PG means the hero get...Show more »

Those British film certificates explained in full: "Oh, I get it, it's simple. PG means the hero gets the girl, 15 means that the villain gets the girl, and 18 means everybody gets the girl.". Show less «

[on Behind the Candelabra (2013)] I think the studios, in their infinite wisdom, even with Matt [Mat...Show more »

[on Behind the Candelabra (2013)] I think the studios, in their infinite wisdom, even with Matt [Matt Damon], myself and Soderbergh attached, thought it would only attract a gay audience. And with the cost of marketing movies and making them, they didn't want to take that risk. I see it as the studios' loss. Show less «

I was there the night John Lennon was shot, three blocks away. It left a lasting impression on me. I...Show more »

I was there the night John Lennon was shot, three blocks away. It left a lasting impression on me. It motivated me to do whatever I could to lobby for small-arms control. Show less «

Not going public with having cancer was not much of an option, even if I had objected. When you are ...Show more »

Not going public with having cancer was not much of an option, even if I had objected. When you are a celebrity, nothing remains secret for very long. If it helps bring attention, then that is a major upside to this whole thing. Millions of families are going through the same thing my family and I are now going through. If I can bring any relief or encouragement to those suffering, that's the good news. Show less «

[on Karl Malden]: He was fantastic. He just had a tremendous discipline, tremendous ethics. He insis...Show more »

[on Karl Malden]: He was fantastic. He just had a tremendous discipline, tremendous ethics. He insisted that next's week's script would be there when we were shooting that week's script. Every time between setups, between breaks, we'd go in the trailer and run lines for the next's week's show. That's the kind of discipline, training I got from Karl. Show less «

On Basic Instinct 2 (2006): Yes, they asked me to do it a while ago, I thought we had done it very e...Show more »

On Basic Instinct 2 (2006): Yes, they asked me to do it a while ago, I thought we had done it very effectively. Paul Verhoeven is a pretty good director. I haven't seen the sequel. I've only done one sequel in my life, The Jewel of the Nile (1985), from Romancing the Stone (1984). Besides, there were age issues, you know? Sharon still looks fabulous. The script was pretty good. Good for her, she's in her late forties and there are not a lot of parts around. The first one was probably the best picture of her career - it certainly made her career and she was great in it. Show less «

When my daughter Carys wants to get married I'll be as rough with the guy as Catherine's [wife Cathe...Show more »

When my daughter Carys wants to get married I'll be as rough with the guy as Catherine's [wife Catherine Zeta-Jones] dad was when he checked me out. He gave me the once over and then some. Show less «

I'm not a big filmophile. I don't watch movies a lot for a hobby. I spend all my time watching sport...Show more »

I'm not a big filmophile. I don't watch movies a lot for a hobby. I spend all my time watching sporting events. Because, opposed to movies, you can never tell how they're going to end. Show less «

When you are a second-generation success, you are provided for. And that certainly was a big opportu...Show more »

When you are a second-generation success, you are provided for. And that certainly was a big opportunity. But you don't have that "rags-to-riches" story, which is always a much more dramatic story to plot. Your success is not one that is as easily accepted by the people outside. Or they don't really have an appreciation of what you have accomplished. As a producer, my successes came fairly early in my career; as an actor, they came much later. Winning the Academy Award for Wall Street (1987) really helped me to finally overcome that "second generation" thing. It's hard for people, no matter how generous and gracious they are, to really allow you any slack. They say, "Oh, it must have been hard to be Kirk Douglas' son", but they don't really want to accept it. You grow up in this business and all that means is that you don't get the joy of succeeding. If you succeed, it's expected. If you look around you can see that there are hardly any second-generation people that have succeeded at all. It's a minefield of disasters, of broken careers and self-destruction out there. The public's perception is that you didn't have to do anything. So if you succeed, it's just assumed. If you don't get success, you're an asshole like everybody else. Show less «

[on Behind the Candelabra (2013)] I just want to commend Matt because I don't think I would have had...Show more »

[on Behind the Candelabra (2013)] I just want to commend Matt because I don't think I would have had the courage at that point in my career to take this on. Show less «

Unlike your average profession, acting usually comes in concentrated doses. When you're an actor, it...Show more »

Unlike your average profession, acting usually comes in concentrated doses. When you're an actor, it's anywhere from two and a half to five months of intense work and then it's done. That's the hardest part of film acting. There is no audience response, so you really don't get any immediate satisfaction. What I really love is the feeling of nailing something. You nail the scene. Most of the time you don't shoot movies in continuity, you only do things in parts, so nailing a scene is really a rewarding sensation. Show less «

As soon as I met Catherine [Catherine Zeta-Jones] I told her I wanted to have babies with her, and t...Show more »

As soon as I met Catherine [Catherine Zeta-Jones] I told her I wanted to have babies with her, and the moment I found out that she had the same birthday as me - tadaah! Then when I discovered she loved golf, I realized all my fantasies had come true. I've lucked out at this time in my life. I just lucked out. I'm so impressed by her intelligence, sense of humor and work ethic. Show less «

Wonder Boys (2000) was a huge disappointment personally. I loved the movie and we didn't even get cr...Show more »

Wonder Boys (2000) was a huge disappointment personally. I loved the movie and we didn't even get critically acknowledged as far as awards go. I thought it was a fucking disgrace. I'll be honest - it really hurt my confidence. It was a punch in the gut. In fact, it was my father who helped me through it. His favorite movie is Lonely Are the Brave (1962). Nobody saw that when it came out, nobody's seen it since. My father's disappointment in that movie helped me get over mine. Show less «

[on his career and his favorite films] I always say you work as hard on your failures as your succes...Show more »

[on his career and his favorite films] I always say you work as hard on your failures as your successes. I like my track record, I like my batting average. I got a real good batting average. A lot of movies. Not a lot of grand-slam home-runs, lot of singles, doubles, triples. Lot of hits, you know? Small but kind of ultimately worked out. Kind of fiduciary responsibilities and budgets. The ones that stick out are the ones nobody wanted to make, from Falling Down (1993) to Fatal Attraction (1987), things like that. Or ones that were so bizarre. The War of the Roses (1989), Wonder Boys (2000). Show less «

[1980] The exciting thing about making movies today is that everything is up for grabs. And you had ...Show more »

[1980] The exciting thing about making movies today is that everything is up for grabs. And you had better grab. Show less «

Having a little girl is incredible. I tell you it's an insight. I think guys who have sisters have a...Show more »

Having a little girl is incredible. I tell you it's an insight. I think guys who have sisters have a big advantage, understanding the female psyche. Show less «

(on his bout with cancer) It's been five years and I feel really good. But you have a new appreciati...Show more »

(on his bout with cancer) It's been five years and I feel really good. But you have a new appreciation. I'm more motivated, more responsible. My younger kids could be my grandchildren. I want to be here awhile. Show less «

It's hard in my business to find new friends because you're always suspect of what their motives mig...Show more »

It's hard in my business to find new friends because you're always suspect of what their motives might be. And while I don't like that about myself, I tend to get a little more cautious about making new friends. The people that you knew either when you were starting out in your career or in college didn't take your success as part of the equation of your friendship. They are the ones you love and trust. I would like to be more open about meeting people, but it's hard. Show less «

There's something going on with young American actors - both men and women - because the Brits and A...Show more »

There's something going on with young American actors - both men and women - because the Brits and Australians are taking many of the best American roles from them. Clearly, it breaks down on two fronts. In Britain they take their training seriously while in the States we're going through a sort of social media image conscious thing rather than formal training. Many actors are getting caught up in this image thing which is going on to affect their range. With the Aussies, particularly with the males it's the masculinity. In the US we have this relatively asexual or unisex area with sensitive young men and we don't have many Channing Tatums or Chris Pratts, while the Aussies do. It's a phenomena. There's a crisis in young American actors right now. Everyone's much more image conscious than they are about actually playing the part. Show less «

[on more films centering on seniors] Well, they're back in the theaters. We've done this full circle...Show more »

[on more films centering on seniors] Well, they're back in the theaters. We've done this full circle when movies were designed for kids, but now they all watch them on their iPads. The old folks want to get out of the house. Show less «

[on the death of Karl Malden in 2009]: It was Karl who, more than anyone, got me to understand that ...Show more »

[on the death of Karl Malden in 2009]: It was Karl who, more than anyone, got me to understand that an actor is just one part of a whole team that makes a TV series or movie work. And thanks to him, I learned about the dichotomy of standing alone in a craft where one must collaborate. Show less «

I do most of my preparation before the filming process starts. Your principal choices are done befor...Show more »

I do most of my preparation before the filming process starts. Your principal choices are done beforehand and then if you feel like you've nailed it, and you have adequate time, then you get to try something else. One of the biggest lessons I have learned as an actor is that it's all just celluloid, it's all disposable. They only use a little bit and you try to remind yourself of that so that you can take chances and burn film if you've got to. Make a fool of yourself. Do something that's not right. And that's the biggest risk and opportunity. Show less «

Times have changed and sex sells. Around 1990, I voluntarily went into rehab because I was drinking ...Show more »

Times have changed and sex sells. Around 1990, I voluntarily went into rehab because I was drinking too much and some smart-ass editor said, "Oh, another boring story about an actor going to rehab. Let's give him sex addiction." Then it became, "Self-confessed sex addict!". Show less «

[on his on- and off-screen chemistry with Karl Malden, who played Lt. Mike Stone]: I've had mentors....Show more »

[on his on- and off-screen chemistry with Karl Malden, who played Lt. Mike Stone]: I've had mentors. Karl Malden was clearly a mentor and one of the most important people in my professional career. He was a tremendous influence on me in so many areas - such as work ethic. But I think that's probably why I do all these grey characters, I don't see a lot of heroes around. Show less «

Kirk's career was constant, overwhelming. The guy didn't stop. Back then they were doing five movies...Show more »

Kirk's career was constant, overwhelming. The guy didn't stop. Back then they were doing five movies a year. My father did 90-plus films. He was Spartacus! I always admired his tenacity and stamina but he was intimidating to me as a child. Like a lot of actors, he was consumed with ambition and his career. He was also consumed with guilt because of the time he spent away from the family. It took him a long time to come to terms with it. But we get on very well now. Show less «

[on if he enjoys working on indie films] It's challenging, and as I say, it makes you go back to bei...Show more »

[on if he enjoys working on indie films] It's challenging, and as I say, it makes you go back to being much more instinctual and not overly planning or overly preparing. You do your homework before and just go, but it's really sort of where the pictures lie that you just wanna do. You try to mix it up, anyway. You always try to get a commercial picture or so-called "commercial" film in there from time to time, mixed up with an independent or a smaller or a character piece. So yeah, I'm pretty flexible. I enjoy it, I really do. It's something I like and am passionate about. Show less «

A lot of directors aren't really keen on working with an actor who's also a producer. As if they're ...Show more »

A lot of directors aren't really keen on working with an actor who's also a producer. As if they're talking to you, and they feel like your wheels are going in the back of your head. Show less «

One of the things I'm most proud about in "Fatal Attraction" is you start off with an audience not l...Show more »

One of the things I'm most proud about in "Fatal Attraction" is you start off with an audience not liking you. Show less «

Catherine was a tremendous surprise in my life. After my divorce I was puttering along quite well as...Show more »

Catherine was a tremendous surprise in my life. After my divorce I was puttering along quite well as a single guy and couldn't believe how honest you could be with ladies, as long as you didn't date two of them in the same town at the same time. They knew I was seeing other people. Then I got struck down, I was just bowled over by Catherine, I was smitten with her. The age difference has been irrelevant to us. Show less «

[on his decision to give the lead role in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) to Jack Nicholson i...Show more »

[on his decision to give the lead role in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) to Jack Nicholson instead of his father Kirk Douglas] My father has played up his disappointment with that pretty good. God bless him, he's 93. I finally said, "Dad, I worked six years getting this together..." I have to remind him, I shared part of my producing back-end (credit) with him, so he ended up making more money off that movie than he had in any other picture. Show less «

[Ruling out a post-series Streets of San Francisco reunion movie] Like any great thing, like a fine ...Show more »

[Ruling out a post-series Streets of San Francisco reunion movie] Like any great thing, like a fine wine, it's better off left alone. Show less «

(on the 2008 crash) I lost 35 to 40 per cent of my net worth. I decided to just weather out the stor...Show more »

(on the 2008 crash) I lost 35 to 40 per cent of my net worth. I decided to just weather out the storm. I waited, didn't do anything and the next year we kind of came back to where we were the year before but I lost two years. Now I manage my own funds. I am much more conservative these days in my investments. Show less «

[1998] I create challenges by the roles I take. I'm sort of proud of the fact that I'm not really ty...Show more »

[1998] I create challenges by the roles I take. I'm sort of proud of the fact that I'm not really typecast. People are always trying to get a handle on what you do. With me, either it's my sex trilogy: Fatal Attraction (1987), Basic Instinct (1992) and Disclosure (1994) - or my businessman trilogy: Wall Street (1987), The Game (1997) and this picture I'm doing now called A Perfect Murder (1998). I've been fortunate that, within those categories, I've been able to choose different types of roles, and I am proud that the audience has been able to accept me in whatever type of role I play. They are not the typical "movie star" roles. They're more ambivalent characters. Sometimes they are morally depraved. They are not the outright positive type of images that you attribute to selecting a "star"-type role. And the pictures themselves are more oddball. I've been very fortunate in that area, too. I've taken chances and so far the audiences have basically condoned those choices. They have allowed me to do those different types of roles. I do pictures for myself, because I figure if I like them, some other crazy people out there might like them, too. You know, once you've gained your confidence and done some bizarre, strange films with some roles that have been successful, it gives you the confidence to go out there and take more chances. Show less «

My life does take a bit of work. I certainly know how much guys like Catherine [Catherine Zeta-Jones...Show more »

My life does take a bit of work. I certainly know how much guys like Catherine [Catherine Zeta-Jones], and well deserved. She's fantastic and beautiful inside and out, she's a talented, talented actress, really good mom and a heck of a wife. Show less «

From the moment I met Catherine [wife Catherine Zeta-Jones] and we formed our family, I was a new ma...Show more »

From the moment I met Catherine [wife Catherine Zeta-Jones] and we formed our family, I was a new man, very different from the one I used to be. This is the result of my everyday life with her, of the intense love we have for each other, of the great need for each other that we have, and of the great respect that we have for one another. There is a time when you become sarcastic, you lose the passion, and, when you are blessed again, and you have the fortune to love somebody the way I love my wife, you understand that you have to nurture your partner and not take everything for granted. What a marvelous gift! Show less «

[on Inside the Actors Studio (1994), answering an actor's question about whether to move from New Yo...Show more »

[on Inside the Actors Studio (1994), answering an actor's question about whether to move from New York City to Los Angeles] Don't go to L.A. unless there's work. It's one of the most frustrating and depressing places to be an actor. The problem is that it has no center. I would try to do something here first. Show less «

(2001, on his sex scene with Jeanne Tripplehorn in Basic Instinct (1992)) In a scene like that, what...Show more »

(2001, on his sex scene with Jeanne Tripplehorn in Basic Instinct (1992)) In a scene like that, what I try always to do is make the actress feel comfortable, let her know that I will be looking out for her. Okay, I'm going to touch your breast here. So there's none of that where she feels, Hey, what are you doing? It's sort of like doing fight sequences. You go through the beats. I'm going to go boom, kiss, kiss, rip. Then it's action and you do it. It's the most unspontaneous thing in the world. The difficulty of doing a sex scene is that sex is the one thing in movies that your entire audience knows about. Nobody in the audience has been killed and most haven't taken a bullet or been in any brutal fights. Lovemaking, everybody's an expert. Show less «

(2001, on wrapping Falling Down (1993) the same day the Rodney King riots began) You know, as we fin...Show more »

(2001, on wrapping Falling Down (1993) the same day the Rodney King riots began) You know, as we finished that film the riots were going on in L.A. I'll never forget the last day of shooting - that's literally when it all started. We were working in the Valley and, when we finished, I headed to the airport. It was a war zone. You could see dots of fires all over the place, all heading for the west side of town. I got my family on a plane - I didn't even know where it was going. Show less «

I don't know about Brad Pitt, leaving that beautiful wife to go hold orphans for Angelina [Angelina ...Show more »

I don't know about Brad Pitt, leaving that beautiful wife to go hold orphans for Angelina [Angelina Jolie]. I mean, how long is that going to last? I mean, don't ask me what happened with Renée Zellweger. I don't know how you get married for four months. And Julia [Julia Roberts] with Lyle [Lyle Lovett]. Show less «

Actors are paid to be selfish and self-involved.

Michael Douglas

Michael Douglas's FILMOGRAPHY

Michael Douglas'S roles

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