Birthdate
September 25, 1944
Birthplace
New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States
Nationality
United States
Professions
Actor, Producer, Assistant film editor, Director, Gofer, Gas station attendant
Companions
Brenda Vaccaro, Catherine Zeta-Jones
Actor and producer Michael Douglas enjoyed great success by avoiding the heroic leading-man archetype by creating smart, flawed, sympathetically human characters. His popularity grew through several star-making hits, including "Romancing the Stone" (1984), "Fatal Attraction" (1987) and "Basic Instinct" (1992) and held strong as he portrayed midlife professionals at a crossroads in "Wall Street" (1987) and "Wonder Boys" (2000). Douglas rarely dominated a movie like his famous father Kirk Douglas had during his 1950s heyday, and, though his $20-million price tag might have suggested otherwise, the younger Douglas remained more of a complementary player who allowed a collection of strong actors to drive a film. In addition to his movie-star status, Douglas was well known as a film producer, garnering a Best Picture Oscar for his first outing, "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" (1975), and maintaining his reputation with films including "The China Syndrome" (1979) and "The Rainmaker" (1997). The respected and well-liked actor raised eyebrows, however, when he married the much-younger screen beauty Catherine Zeta-Jones, with whom he later co-starred in the drug war drama "Traffic" (2000). Douglas' professional output decreased at the start of the new millennium, marked by lesser efforts such as the remake of "The In-Laws" (2003), but it was a succession of tragic events - the fatal overdose of half-brother Eric; the conviction of son Cameron for drug dealing; and Douglas himself being diagnosed with throat cancer - that cast a pall on the venerable star's personal life. Exhibiting the strength of character he had become known for, Douglas resurrected his most famous character, Gordon Gekko, in "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps" (2010), garnering critical praise and reminding the world that Douglas was still a force to be reckoned with.Michael Douglas was born on Sept. 25, 1944, to budding actors Kirk Douglas and Diana Dill. The couple was divorced when Douglas was five years old and he was raised by his mother and stepfather, William Darrid, in New York and his mother's homeland of Bermuda. Douglas and his father had a tumultuous relationship and saw little of each other while the son and his brothers were growing up. After graduating from the tony private school, Choate, in Connecticut, Douglas went on to the University of California in Santa Barbara, where the beach environment and political stirrings transformed the "uptight" teen into a self-proclaimed "hippie." On the brink of flunking out, Douglas was forced to declare a major and reluctantly chose theater. Anticipating that stage fright might hinder his career, Douglas reconnected with his father and learned some behind-the-scenes skills as an assistant director on Kirk's "The Heroes of Telmark" (1965) and "Cast a Giant Shadow" (1966). Reportedly, the elder Douglas was not encouraged by his offspring's acting potential after seeing him in a college production of "As You Like It," however Douglas did get his theater degree in 1968 and moved to New York where he continued training at the Neighborhood Playhouse with Sanford Meisner. After getting his feet wet in off-Broadway and regional theater productions, a deal to appear in "CBS Playhouse" (CBS, 1967-1970) brought Douglas to Los Angeles. In early TV roles, he often portrayed idealistic youths confronting the issues of the day in offerings like "Hail, Hero" (1969), "Adam at 6 A.M." (1970) and "Summertree" (1971). He significantly upped his profile as the college-educated, idealistic partner of veteran detective (Karl Malden) on the TV cop drama "The Streets of San Francisco" (ABC, 1972-1980). The show not only polished Douglas' acting chops enough to earn him three consecutive Emmys, it exposed him to every aspect of production. Douglas fell in love with the process and eventually began to direct episodes starring his idol, Malden. Douglas left the show in 1976 to pursue the opportunity to produce his first feature, Milos Form
Actor Credits
Producer Credits
