Born: December 9, 1916 - Amsterdam, New York
Kirk
Douglas was born Issur Danielovitch Demsky. Douglas
was helped by actress Lauren Bacall in obtaining his
first screen role.
Cleft-chinned,
steely-eyed and virile star of international cinema
who rose from being "the ragman's son" (the
name give to his best-selling 1988 autobiography)
of Russian-Jewish ancestry to become a bona fide superstar.
Although growing up in a poor ghetto, Douglas was
a fine student and a keen athlete and wrestled competitively
during his time at St. Lawrence University. However,
he soon identified an acting scholarship as a way
out of his meager existence, and was sufficiently
talented to gain entry into the American Academy of
Dramatic Arts.
One
of a handful of bonfide acting icons with an continued
acting legacy through his son, Michael Douglas.
Marriages:
Anne Buydens (29 May 1954 - present) two sons
Diana Douglas (2 November 1943 - 1951) (divorced)
2 sons
Notiable
Awards:
3 Academy Awards Nomination | 3 Emmy Nominations |
4 Golden Globe Nominations / 2 Awards | 1 Screen Actor's
Guild LIfetime Achievement Award
Some
of his most notable film rolls include:
The
Glass Menagerie (1950) .... Jim O'Connor
20000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954) .... Ned
Land
Lust for Life (1956) .... Vincent Van Gogh
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957) .... Dr.
John 'Doc' Holliday
Spartacus (1960) .... Spartacus
The Man from Snowy River (1982) .... Harrison/Spur
