Following yesterday’s sad news (via The Hollywood Reporter) that Oscar nominee Kirk Douglas passed away at age 103, Hollywood flooded social media with tributes to the icon, including from his son and actor Michael Douglas, which you can read below.
Douglas was best known for his work in Spartacus, Paths of Glory, Ace in the Hole, The Vikings, Lust for Life, Champion, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, The Man From Snowy River, Tough Guys, Greedy, The Bad and the Beautiful, and It Runs in the Family (which starred three generations of Douglas’s including Kirk’s son Michael Douglas, and Michael’s son Cameron Douglas. Diana Douglas, Michael’s mother and Kirk’s ex-wife, also starred).
Douglas also did a memorable guest voice on The Simpsons in 1996, and also appeared in an episode of Tales From the Crypt called “Yellow,” which was directed by Robert Zemeckis and featured his late son Eric, who died in 2004.
One of his biggest historical contributions was effectively ending the Hollywood blacklist by insisting Dalton Trumbo be credited as the writer of the Stanley Kubrick-directed Spartacus. Douglas wrote a book about making the film titled I Am Spartacus! Making a Film, Breaking the Blacklist. Spartacus, with a budget of $12 million, was the most expensive movie ever made at the time when the movie launched in 1960, and Douglas was known for wielding immense power on the set.
“I wanted to be an actor ever since I was a kid in the second grade. I did a play, and my mother made a black apron, and I played a shoemaker. After the performance, [my father] gave me my first Oscar: an ice cream cone.” -Kirk Douglas
Goodbye to a Hollywood legend. pic.twitter.com/vnu1Hkb2FA
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) February 5, 2020
KIrk Douglas will always be an icon in the pantheon of Hollywood. He put himself on the line to break the blacklist. My love goes out to my friend Michael and the whole family.
— Rob Reiner (@robreiner) February 5, 2020
Legendary actor Kirk Douglas has passed on today at the age of 103. An Academy Award winning actor and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Douglas was a champion for many just causes and lived a long and storied life. He was adored and beloved, and he shall be missed.
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) February 5, 2020
Kirk Douglas was one of the greatest actors of all time. A few years ago Deb & I went around for tea. It was one of the most wonderful afternoons we’ve ever spent. Kirk shared amazing stories. He was funny, self deprecating, giving & brutally honest. In a word … LEGEND. pic.twitter.com/Q4u88U821h
— Hugh Jackman (@RealHughJackman) February 6, 2020
Condolences to the family of Kirk Douglas. What an incredible icon he was in this industry!
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) February 5, 2020
Summer, 2001
Backstage after performance of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.
Kirk Douglas was the first to play RP McMurphy.
Was so honored he saw the show.
Thank you for all the great films over the years sir.
May you Rest In Peace.
God bless pic.twitter.com/5R1QJdy47w— Gary Sinise (@GarySinise) February 6, 2020
Kirk Douglas, one of the most famous actors of all time and father to actor Michael Douglas, has died. He was 103. Rest in Peace. pic.twitter.com/oZOSOWxHMk
— Golden Globe Awards (@goldenglobes) February 5, 2020
Very sad to hear Kirk Douglas has passed away…
He not only was an amazing actor but also producer. He also helped people like Dalton Trumbo come back after the blacklist, & did so much w/ charities.
He helped make Hollywood, quite frankly, Hollywood.
Glad he made it to 103! pic.twitter.com/Sqj9VRUi68
— Grace Randolph (@GraceRandolph) February 5, 2020
One of my favorite moments in any movie ever is the dialogue exchange from ACE IN THE HOLE…
“We’re all in the same boat.”
“I’m in the boat. You’re in the water.”
RIP Kirk Douglas— BenDavid Grabinski (@bdgrabinski) February 5, 2020
The Hollywood legend, Kirk Douglas has died aged 103. Here are some more clips from his various interviews on the BBC over the years. pic.twitter.com/0CcXlttElp
— BBC Archive (@BBCArchive) February 6, 2020
(Photo by Silver Screen Collection/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
