Kirk Douglas

Kirk Douglas

Acting
Born 1916-12-09 - Died 2020-02-05Amsterdam, New York, USA

Biography

Kirk Douglas (born Issur Danielovitch; December 9, 1916 – February 5, 2020) was an American actor, producer, director and author. He grew up as Izzy Demsky and legally changed his name to Kirk Douglas before entering the United States Navy during World War II. During his career, Douglas appeared in more than 90 movies and was known for his explosive acting style. He became an international star for his leading role as an unscrupulous boxing hero in Champion (1949), which brought him his first nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor. Other early films include Young Man with a Horn (1950), Ace in the Hole (1951), and Detective Story (1951), a film for which he received a Golden Globe nomination as Best Actor in a Drama. He received a second Oscar nomination for his role in The Bad and the Beautiful (1952), and his third nomination for portraying Vincent van Gogh in Lust for Life (1956), which landed him a second Golden Globe nomination. In 1955, Douglas established Bryna Productions, which produced films as varied as Paths of Glory (1957) and Spartacus (1960). He took the lead roles in both films. Douglas has been praised for helping to break the Hollywood blacklist by having Dalton Trumbo write Spartacus with an official on-screen credit. In 1963 Douglas starred in the Broadway play One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, a story that he purchased and later gave to his son Michael Douglas, who turned it into an Oscar-winning film. As an actor and philanthropist, Douglas received an Oscar for Lifetime Achievement, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. As an author, he wrote ten novels and memoirs. He is No. 17 on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest male screen legends of classic Hollywood cinema. Kirk Douglas died at age 103.

Movies (138)

Spartacus
7.5

Spartacus

1960Movie7.5
Oscar
6.4

Oscar

1991Movie6.4
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
7.1

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

1954Movie7.1
Paths of Glory
8.3

Paths of Glory

1957Movie8.3
Ulysses
6.5

Ulysses

1954Movie6.5
Kubrick by Kubrick
7.3

Kubrick by Kubrick

2020Movie7.3
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
7.0

Gunfight at the O.K. Corral

1957Movie7.0
Out of the Past
7.7

Out of the Past

1947Movie7.7
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid
6.6

Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid

1982Movie6.6
Seven Days in May
7.4

Seven Days in May

1964Movie7.4
Saturn 3
5.3

Saturn 3

1980Movie5.3
Greedy
6.2

Greedy

1994Movie6.2
In Harm's Way
6.6

In Harm's Way

1965Movie6.6
The Heroes of Telemark
6.9

The Heroes of Telemark

1965Movie6.9
The War Wagon
6.8

The War Wagon

1967Movie6.8
The Final Countdown
6.6

The Final Countdown

1980Movie6.6
The Vikings
7.0

The Vikings

1958Movie7.0
Is Paris Burning?
7.2

Is Paris Burning?

1966Movie7.2
The Man from Snowy River
7.0

The Man from Snowy River

1982Movie7.0
A Century of Cinema
8.3

A Century of Cinema

1994Movie8.3
Posse
6.0

Posse

1975Movie6.0
Last Train from Gun Hill
7.1

Last Train from Gun Hill

1959Movie7.1
The Villain
5.7

The Villain

1979Movie5.7
The Bad and the Beautiful
7.3

The Bad and the Beautiful

1952Movie7.3
There Was a Crooked Man...
6.8

There Was a Crooked Man...

1970Movie6.8
I Walk Alone
6.6

I Walk Alone

1947Movie6.6
Lust for Life
7.2

Lust for Life

1956Movie7.2
A Letter to Three Wives
7.2

A Letter to Three Wives

1949Movie7.2
The Fury
6.3

The Fury

1978Movie6.3
Tough Guys
6.0

Tough Guys

1986Movie6.0
Barbara Stanwyck: Straight Down the Line
7.7

Barbara Stanwyck: Straight Down the Line

1997Movie7.7
The Arrangement
6.5

The Arrangement

1969Movie6.5
The Big Trees
5.6

The Big Trees

1952Movie5.6
Detective Story
7.0

Detective Story

1951Movie7.0
Ace in the Hole
7.8

Ace in the Hole

1951Movie7.8
Morceaux de Cannes
2.0

Morceaux de Cannes

2021Movie2.0
Charlie Chaplin, The Genius of Liberty
8.0

Charlie Chaplin, The Genius of Liberty

2020Movie8.0
Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen
7.5

Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen

2012Movie7.5
Trumbo
6.7

Trumbo

2007Movie6.7
The Way West
6.1

The Way West

1967Movie6.1
The Glass Menagerie
5.7

The Glass Menagerie

1950Movie5.7
The Last Sunset
6.8

The Last Sunset

1961Movie6.8
Mike Wallace Is Here
6.5

Mike Wallace Is Here

2019Movie6.5
My Dear Secretary
6.1

My Dear Secretary

1948Movie6.1
The List of Adrian Messenger
6.7

The List of Adrian Messenger

1963Movie6.7
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
2.0

Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers

1985Movie2.0
The Indian Fighter
6.3

The Indian Fighter

1955Movie6.3
Cast a Giant Shadow
6.3

Cast a Giant Shadow

1966Movie6.3
Diamonds
5.1

Diamonds

1999Movie5.1
Holocaust 2000
5.8

Holocaust 2000

1977Movie5.8
The Secret
9.0

The Secret

1992Movie9.0
A Lovely Way to Die
4.8

A Lovely Way to Die

1968Movie4.8
Two Weeks in Another Town
5.9

Two Weeks in Another Town

1962Movie5.9
The Devil's Disciple
6.6

The Devil's Disciple

1959Movie6.6
Lonely are the Brave
7.4

Lonely are the Brave

1962Movie7.4
The Untameable Kirk Douglas
6.0

The Untameable Kirk Douglas

2017Movie6.0
Champion
6.7

Champion

1949Movie6.7
Man Without a Star
6.4

Man Without a Star

1955Movie6.4
Eddie Macon's Run
5.9

Eddie Macon's Run

1983Movie5.9
The Brotherhood
6.1

The Brotherhood

1968Movie6.1
Victory at Entebbe
5.1

Victory at Entebbe

1976Movie5.1
Completely Cuckoo
5.7

Completely Cuckoo

1997Movie5.7
Young Man with a Horn
6.4

Young Man with a Horn

1950Movie6.4
The Story of Three Loves
6.0

The Story of Three Loves

1953Movie6.0
It Runs in the Family
6.0

It Runs in the Family

2003Movie6.0
A Gunfight
5.8

A Gunfight

1971Movie5.8
Illusion
7.7

Illusion

2004Movie7.7
Along the Great Divide
7.4

Along the Great Divide

1951Movie7.4
Van Gogh: Darkness into Light
7.0

Van Gogh: Darkness into Light

1957Movie7.0
Top Secret Affair
4.9

Top Secret Affair

1957Movie4.9
The Strange Love of Martha Ivers
7.1

The Strange Love of Martha Ivers

1946Movie7.1
Two-Fisted Tales
5.1

Two-Fisted Tales

1992Movie5.1
For Love or Money
6.1

For Love or Money

1963Movie6.1
J'ai tout donné
9.3

J'ai tout donné

1972Movie9.3
Catch Me a Spy
5.0

Catch Me a Spy

1971Movie5.0
From Roger Moore with Love
8.0

From Roger Moore with Love

2024Movie8.0
Lana Turner... a Daughter's Memoir
7.3

Lana Turner... a Daughter's Memoir

2001Movie7.3
Once Is Not Enough
5.2

Once Is Not Enough

1975Movie5.2
Looney Tunes 50th Anniversary
7.2

Looney Tunes 50th Anniversary

1986Movie7.2
Inherit the Wind
7.3

Inherit the Wind

1988Movie7.3
James Bond: The First 21 Years
6.7

James Bond: The First 21 Years

1983Movie6.7
Act of Love
6.9

Act of Love

1953Movie6.9
Kirk Douglas

Kirk Douglas

1972Movie
FBI contre Hollywood
5.0

FBI contre Hollywood

2001Movie5.0
Home Movies
5.4

Home Movies

1980Movie5.4
Amos
7.2

Amos

1985Movie7.2
Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff
6.6

Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff

2010Movie6.6
Mike Tyson vs Trevor Berbick
5.0

Mike Tyson vs Trevor Berbick

1986Movie5.0
The Big Sky
6.6

The Big Sky

1952Movie6.6
The Walls of Jericho
5.6

The Walls of Jericho

1948Movie5.6
All-Time Movie Greats

All-Time Movie Greats

1988Movie
Town Without Pity
6.9

Town Without Pity

1961Movie6.9
Rowan & Martin at the Movies
4.5

Rowan & Martin at the Movies

1968Movie4.5
Stanley Kubrick in Focus
5.3

Stanley Kubrick in Focus

2012Movie5.3
The Light at the Edge of the World
6.0

The Light at the Edge of the World

1971Movie6.0
Strangers When We Meet
6.4

Strangers When We Meet

1960Movie6.4
Mourning Becomes Electra
6.1

Mourning Becomes Electra

1947Movie6.1
Draw!
6.5

Draw!

1984Movie6.5
Monsters of the Deep

Monsters of the Deep

Movie
The Universal Story
8.0

The Universal Story

1996Movie8.0
My Life As Roger Moore

My Life As Roger Moore

Movie
The Juggler
6.8

The Juggler

1953Movie6.8
Making of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
2.0

Making of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

2009Movie2.0
Tales from the Crypt: The Robert Zemeckis Collection
8.7

Tales from the Crypt: The Robert Zemeckis Collection

1999Movie8.7
The Racers
6.7

The Racers

1955Movie6.7
Walt Disney's Where Do the Stories Come From?

Walt Disney's Where Do the Stories Come From?

1956Movie
A Father… A Son… Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
6.4

A Father… A Son… Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

2005Movie6.4
Scalawag
5.9

Scalawag

1973Movie5.9
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest: The Shocking Truth

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest: The Shocking Truth

2018Movie
If You're Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast
7.1

If You're Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast

2017Movie7.1
The Master Touch
6.0

The Master Touch

1972Movie6.0
Welcome to Veraz
4.5

Welcome to Veraz

1991Movie4.5
The Racing Experience
7.0

The Racing Experience

1988Movie7.0
The Hook
6.2

The Hook

1963Movie6.2
Mel Blanc: The Man of a Thousand Voices
6.0

Mel Blanc: The Man of a Thousand Voices

2008Movie6.0
Brigitte Bardot: The Icon of France

Brigitte Bardot: The Icon of France

2009Movie
Let Poland Be Poland

Let Poland Be Poland

1982Movie
Discovering: Robert Mitchum

Discovering: Robert Mitchum

2014Movie
Mousey
5.2

Mousey

1974Movie5.2
Salute to Lady Liberty

Salute to Lady Liberty

1984Movie
The Heroes of Telemark: Location report from Norway

The Heroes of Telemark: Location report from Norway

2003Movie
Operation Undersea
2.0

Operation Undersea

1954Movie2.0
Empire State Building Murders

Empire State Building Murders

2008Movie
The Special London Bridge Special
8.0

The Special London Bridge Special

1972Movie8.0
The Disneyland Story
9.0

The Disneyland Story

1954Movie9.0
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
6.3

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

1973Movie6.3
Kirk Douglas: Before I Forget
7.3

Kirk Douglas: Before I Forget

2009Movie7.3
Remembrance Of Love
8.0

Remembrance Of Love

1982Movie8.0
Hollywood au pied du terril

Hollywood au pied du terril

2014Movie
Johnny Cash: American Rebel
8.2

Johnny Cash: American Rebel

2015Movie8.2
Movie Tough Guys
10.0

Movie Tough Guys

1991Movie10.0
Vincent van Gogh Superstar
6.5

Vincent van Gogh Superstar

2019Movie6.5
Disney's Sing-Along Songs: Under the Sea
8.1

Disney's Sing-Along Songs: Under the Sea

1990Movie8.1
I Am Spartacus: A Conversation with Kirk Douglas

I Am Spartacus: A Conversation with Kirk Douglas

2015Movie
The Lies Boys Tell
6.3

The Lies Boys Tell

1994Movie6.3
The Making of A Movie

The Making of A Movie

1965Movie
Kirk Douglas
5.6

Kirk Douglas

1966Movie5.6
A Day in the Country: Impressionism and the French Landscape

A Day in the Country: Impressionism and the French Landscape

1984Movie

TV Shows (50)

The Simpsons
8.0

The Simpsons

1989Series8.0
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
7.5

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962Series7.5
Saturday Night Live
6.9

Saturday Night Live

1975Series6.9
Real Time with Bill Maher
6.1

Real Time with Bill Maher

2003Series6.1
The View
4.3

The View

1997Series4.3
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
5.6

LIVE with Kelly and Mark

1988Series5.6
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
7.3

Late Night with Conan O'Brien

1993Series7.3
Golden Globe Awards
7.0

Golden Globe Awards

1944Series7.0
The Merv Griffin Show
6.8

The Merv Griffin Show

1962Series6.8
The Lucy Show
7.0

The Lucy Show

1962Series7.0
Tales from the Crypt
8.0

Tales from the Crypt

1989Series8.0
Touched by an Angel
7.2

Touched by an Angel

1994Series7.2
Tony Awards

Tony Awards

1956Series
Wogan
5.3

Wogan

1982Series5.3
Film '72
5.1

Film '72

1971Series5.1
What's My Line?
7.0

What's My Line?

1950Series7.0
Apostrophes
8.5

Apostrophes

1975Series8.5
Spécial cinéma
9.5

Spécial cinéma

1974Series9.5
The Dick Cavett Show
6.8

The Dick Cavett Show

1968Series6.8
Tonight Starring Jack Paar
7.5

Tonight Starring Jack Paar

1957Series7.5
Champs-Elysées
6.8

Champs-Elysées

1982Series6.8
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
6.0

Les Rendez-vous du dimanche

1975Series6.0
The Oscars
7.0

The Oscars

1953Series7.0
The Ed Sullivan Show
6.8

The Ed Sullivan Show

1948Series6.8
The Colgate Comedy Hour
6.9

The Colgate Comedy Hour

1950Series6.9
People's Choice Awards
9.2

People's Choice Awards

1975Series9.2
Brisant
6.2

Brisant

1994Series6.2
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
6.8

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

1968Series6.8
Parkinson

Parkinson

1998Series
The Steve Allen Show
6.2

The Steve Allen Show

1956Series6.2
This Is Your Life
6.5

This Is Your Life

1952Series6.5
The Jack Benny Program
7.8

The Jack Benny Program

1950Series7.8
Basketball: A Love Story
7.3

Basketball: A Love Story

2018Series7.3
Goldene Kamera
5.7

Goldene Kamera

1984Series5.7
The Kennedy Center Honors
7.4

The Kennedy Center Honors

1978Series7.4
Cinépanorama
8.7

Cinépanorama

1956Series8.7
Der große Preis
7.3

Der große Preis

1974Series7.3
Cérémonie des César
4.6

Cérémonie des César

1976Series4.6
V.I.P. Schaukel
8.0

V.I.P. Schaukel

1971Series8.0
Verstehen Sie Spaß?
4.7

Verstehen Sie Spaß?

1980Series4.7
The George Gobel Show
7.8

The George Gobel Show

1954Series7.8
Clive Anderson All Talk
7.5

Clive Anderson All Talk

1996Series7.5
The American Film Institute Salute to ...
6.3

The American Film Institute Salute to ...

1973Series6.3
Scene by Scene
6.0

Scene by Scene

1997Series6.0
The Johnny Cash Show
6.5

The Johnny Cash Show

1969Series6.5
Arthur Hailey's The Moneychangers
4.0

Arthur Hailey's The Moneychangers

1976Series4.0
Pour le plaisir

Pour le plaisir

1964Series
Clive James' Postcard from
7.0

Clive James' Postcard from

1989Series7.0
Queenie
5.0

Queenie

1987Series5.0
Once Upon a Wheel
7.3

Once Upon a Wheel

1971Series7.3