Kirk Douglas 100th birthday: A look back at his life and biggest movies in pictures
KIRK DOUGLAS celebrates his 100th birthday today, here is a look back at his colourful life and his most memorable Hollywood films.
Kirk Douglas won the American Film Institute's lifetime achievement award in 1991
Kirk Douglas as a boy
Born Issur Danielovitch, the actor was the son of poor Jewish immigrants living in Amsterdam in New York.
The author has often spoken about his transformation from “a ragman's son” to the feted Hollywood star and ladies' man.
The blurb for his autobiography, The Ragman’s Son, says: “He was the son of an illiterate immigrant Russian-Jewish ragpicker and junkman.
“Raised in poverty, longing for his father's approval, Issur Danielovitch went on to become a legendary Hollywood star.”
Kirk Douglas in his first hit Champion
The Jewish director and producer is among one of the last surviving stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood.
Douglas first shot to fame as an unscrupulous boxing hero who fights his own demons to achieve success in the 1949 film Champion.
His other early films included the Young Man with a Horn, the Bad and the Beautiful and Lust for Life, based on the life of Vincent van Gogh.
Douglas' colourful memoirs allude to the co-stars he bedded, such as Joan Crawford, Rita Hayworth and Marlene Dietrich.
Kirk Douglas became famous for his role in 1949 film Champion
Kirk Douglas is famous for his role in 1960 epic Spartacus
Kirk Douglas in Spartacus
Douglas is fondly remembered for his leading role of the Roman slave in the epic film Spartacus in 1960.
The actor collaborated with acclaimed director Stanley Kubrick on Spartacus and the anti-war film Paths of Glory.
Douglas’ newly established film company, Bryna Productions, produced both films as well as 17 others between 1955 and 1986.
He produced and starred in cult classic Lonely Are the Brave as well as appearing in broadway show One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.
Kirk Douglas and his son Michael Douglas
Kirk Douglas confuses son Michael for himself
Kirk Douglas as a father
Douglas is famous for being the father of Hollywood actor Michael Douglas and film producer Joel Douglas.
He had these sons with his first wife, Diana Dill, and went on to have two more sons - Peter and Eric - with his second wife Anne.
Peter still works as a producer but his younger brother Eric died from an accidental drug overdose at the age of 45.
Michael once said: “My dad is an icon. A legend. He’s a true movie star from an era when movie stars were looked at as our version of royalty, and Kirk earned that status."
Kirk Douglas and his beloved second wife Anne
Kirk Douglas as a husband
Douglas and his second wife Anne celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with a lavish party in Beverly Hills in 2014.
The Hollywood star first met Anne in Paris when she came in to help him with press and translation for the film the Act of Love.
“To this day, I write her love poems; to this day, she continues to give me tough love,” he wrote in the Los Angeles Times in 2014.
“Over the years, Anne has run my production company, raised our sons and encouraged me to join her in good works.”