Photos: Remembering Kirk Douglas, 1916-2020
Actor Kirk Douglas died Wednesday, Feb. 5 at age 103. Here's a look back at his life and career in photos.
Jan. 23, 1947
Two of the cinema city’s brightest young players, Kirk and Diana Douglas, pose with their son, Joel, for his first portrait sitting, Sept. 9, 1947 in Hollywood, Los Angeles. The youngster was born on Jan. 23, 1947.
March 1, 1947
Actor Kirk Douglas with dimple in his cheek on March 1, 1947. (AP Photo)
Feb. 23, 1948
Actress Diana Douglas goes on a night out to celebrate the completion of "The Sign of the Ram" with her husband, Kirk Douglas, on Feb. 23, 1948.
June 23, 1949
Kirk Douglas escorts Patricia Neal to the world premiere of "The Fountainhead" at Warner Bros. Hollywood Theater on June 23, 1949. (AP Photo)
July 12, 1949
Harry James, left, whose trumpet playing rates among the best, here shows Kirk Douglas how to toot for the movie cameras on July 12, 1949 in Hollywood, Calif.
May 7, 1949
Actor Kirk Douglas dances with Marilyn Maxwell at the Stork Club in New York City May 7, 1949. (AP Photo)
March 14, 1952
Actress Rita Hayworth with Kirk Douglas at Ciro’s Night Club, on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, California, USA on March 14, 1952.
June 11, 1953
Silvana Mangano costumed for role in picture with Kirk Douglas, during filming of "Ulysses," on June 11, 1953. (AP Photo/James Pringle)
June 11, 1953
Actor Kirk Douglas in character as the title character in the Film "Ulysses" June 11, 1953. (AP Photo/Jim Pringle)
June 17, 1953
Actor Kirk Douglas and film star Anna Maria Pierangeli show together at Rome's night spot The Hostaria dell' Orso, June 17, 1953.
July 12, 1953
Umberto Silvestri, left, in his part as Polyphemos, seems to be getting the worst of it from Kirk Douglas in the part of "Ulysses" in their wrestling scene in the film by the same name on July 12, 1953 in Rome. (AP Photo/Jim Pringle)
July 16, 1953
Kirk Douglas lifts a sheep used in one of the scenes for "Ulysses," now being produced in Italy with the American actor in the role of Homer's hero on July 16, 1953. He's shown in the cave of the one-eyed giant Polyphemus from which he escapes by hiding beneath one of the wooly characters. (AP Photo/Jim Pringle)
Aug. 30, 1953
Actor Kirk Douglas, with beard, on a motorlaunch in Venice after arrival by rail from Rome, Aug. 30, 1953. Kirk Douglas arrived for the showing of Hollywood's "The Bad and The Beautiful" which will be shown at a film festival. Gondola in the background. (AP Photo/Walter Attenni)
Dec. 15, 1953
American actor Kirk Douglas is greeted by his sons, Joel, left, 6, and Michael, 9, after arrival from Europe at Idlewild airport, Queens, New York City, USA on Dec. 15, 1953. Douglas, returning from 14 months of overseas filmmaking, planned to spend Christmas with his sons who lived with their mother, Diana Dill, who was divorced from Douglas. (AP Photo)
May 29, 1954
Actor Kirk Douglas, 37, and his bride, Anne Buydens, 31, of Paris, France, are shown after their marriage in Las Vegas, Nev., May 29, 1954. Douglas met Buydens last year in the French capital while making a picture for which she was publicity representative. It is the second marriage for both. (AP Photo)
June 8, 1955
Actor Kirk Douglas and his former wife, Diana, go over their lines for a scene in "The Indian Fighter" being made on location near Bend, Ore, June 8, 1955. (AP Photo)
Aug. 14, 1955
Actor Kirk Douglas, bearded for the role as artist Vincent Van Gogh stands between actresses Marlene Dietrich, left, and Gina Lollobrigida as they rehearse for August Night Gala ay Monte Carlo on Aug. 14, 1955. (AP Photo)
1956
Kirk Douglas portrays artist Vincent Van Gogh in the 1956 movie "Lust For Life." The role gained him an Academy Award nomination for best actor. (AP Photo)
July 9, 1957
Hollywood actors Tony Curtis, lower, and Kirk Douglas enjoy a game of leapfrog during a break from filming at the Hardanger Fjord, Norway on July 9, 1957, where they are currently shooting the film “The Vikings.” Tony’s wife, Janet Leigh, and Ernest Borgnine also have starring roles in the picture. (AP Photo)
1957
Kirk Douglas is shown here near Munich, Germany, in the 1957 film "Paths of Glory."
April 1959
Actor Kirk Douglas, left, in the title role as a Roman slave and gladiator, battles Woody Strode in the role of gladiator Draba in a scene from "Spartacus" filmed in Hollywood, Ca., April 1959. (AP Photo)
Oct. 14, 1961
Actress Elizabeth Taylor dances with actor Kirk Douglas during a party she and Eddie Fisher gave in honor of Douglas at a hotel in Rome, Italy Oct. 14, 1961. The gathering marked the first anniversary of Douglas' film "Spartacus." (AP Photo)
May 22, 1962
Dressed in western style to conform with the boomtown theme, Kirk Douglas does an agile twist with an unidentified partner on May 22, 1962, while others in the back, including Bob Hope, join the dancing.
Aug. 14, 1962
Film beauties Julie Newmar, Leslie Parrish and Mitzi Gaynor, left to right, gag it up at the studio on Aug. 14, 1962 in Hollywood with actor Kirk Douglas. They're all stars in a movie called "Three on a Match." The plot had Douglas playing the part of a lawyer, hired at a lavish fee to marry off the three daughters of a wealthy woman. The three beauties play the parts of the daughters. (AP Photo)
Nov. 11, 1964
Kirk Douglas and his wife Anne are pictured during a three-day visit to the Greece, at the Acropolis, Nov. 11, 1964. (AP Photo)
February 1965
American actor Kirk Douglas, left, and British actor Richard Harris crouch under snow-covered railway wagons before an attack, during filming of “Heroes of Telemark” on location at Rjukan in Norway in February 1965.
Aug. 26, 1965
Kirk Douglas, meet Angie Dickinson in film “Cast a Giant Shadow” in an undated photo. (AP Photo) Hollywood actor Kirk Douglas and actress Angie Dickinson in a scene in film "Cast a Giant Shadow" which is being shot in Rome's Cinecitta (Film City) studios in Italy, under the direction of Melville Shavelson on Aug. 26, 1965. (AP Photo/Gianni Foggia)
March 29, 1966
Actor Kirk Douglas (right) and his 19-year-old son, Joel, arrive for the New York City premiere of "Cast a Giant Shadow," March 29, 1966.
March 9, 1967
Actor Kirk Douglas is seen with his son Peter Douglas watching the filming of a scene for the new movie “The Way West” on March 9, 1967, which stars Kirk Douglas, Robert Mitchum and Richard Widmark. The film tells the story of a covered wagon train which braved the new route from Missouri to Oregon in 1843. (AP Photo)
Oct. 3, 1969
Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir meets actor Kirk Douglas, one of many Hollywood stars in a reception line at a Los Angeles dinner in her honor, Oct. 3, 1969. The dinner was the final event of her two day visit to Southern California. (AP Photo)
April 17, 1970
Mustachioed actor Kirk Douglas stands with American Actress Jo Ann Pflug at a film festival party on April 17, 1970, in Cannes, France. Douglas is a member of the jury at the 1970 Cannes Film Festival. (AP Photo)
May 11, 1970
American actor and film festival jury Kirk Douglas, left, and Italian actress Monica Vitti shown at the 23rd Film Festival party May 11, 1970 in Cannes. (AP Photo/Jean-Jacques Levy)
1976
The name Kirk Douglas, has been a household word for many years and his son Michael is making a name of his own. Michael is pictured with his father, Kirk Douglas, at a New York social function shown in a 1976 photo. Michael produced the Oscar winning "One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest." (AP Photo)
1977
American actor Kirk Douglas in 1977. (AP Photo)
April 3, 1978
Actor Kirk Douglas with actress Raquel Welch at the 50th Academy Awards in Los Angeles, Calif., April 3, 1978. (AP Photo/John Korty)
May 4, 1980
Actor Kirk Douglas, right, master of ceremonies, presents the "Man of the Year" award to former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, left, during a black tie dinner of the New York Friars Club, Saturday, May 4, 1980. Some 1,000 attended the dinner of the theatrical fraternal organization. (AP Photo)
May 23, 1980
President of jury at the Cannes Film Festival American actor Kirk Douglas is shown at the Cannes film festival on May 23, 1980 in Cannes. (AP Photo/Levy)
Jan. 16, 1981
President Jimmy Carter congratulates actor Kirk Douglas on being one of the recipients of the Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, during ceremonies at the White House in Washington on Jan. 16, 1981. A military aide is at left. (AP Photo/Ira Schwarz)
Feb. 11, 1981
Actor Kirk Douglas raises his hand as he takes the oath during a Nevada Gaming Control Board hearing on Frank Sinatra’s request for a Nevada gaming license in Las Vegas, Nevada, Feb. 11, 1981. Douglas and other influential friends of Sinatra praised the character of Sinatra as they took the stand. Sinatra was seeking a Nevada gaming license as a “key employee” at Caesars Palace. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
July 17, 1982
Actor Kirk Douglas at Charlton Heston Tennis Tournament at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif., with the city limits of Los Angeles, July 17, 1982. (AP Photo/Doug Pizac)
Nov. 16, 1982
Actor Kirk Douglas poses at Beverly Hills, Calif. on Nov. 16, 1982. (AP Photo/Wally Fong)
March 25, 1985
Actors Burt Lancaster, left, and Kirk Douglas are shown during the Academy Awards in Los Angeles, Ca., March 25, 1985. (AP Photo)
Sept. 18, 1985
Actor Kirk Douglas testifies before the House Aging Committee in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 1985. (AP Photo)
Jan. 25, 1986
Actor Kirk Douglas and actress Barbara Stanwyck at the Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles, Calif., Jan. 25, 1986. (AP Photo)
Jan. 9, 1987
Honorees Sophia Loren and Kirk Douglas, right, are joined by singer Michael Jackson at the American Cinema Award gala on Jan. 9, 1987, at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills,California.
June 21, 1989
Pope John Paul II shakes hands with American actor Kirk Douglas during a private audience on June 21, 1989 at the Vatican City, Italy. The actor was in Italy to be awarded the Merit of Achievement for his distinguished careers. At center is Douglas' wife Anne. (AP Photo)
October 1990
Actor Kirk Douglas shown in October 1990. (AP Photo)
Feb. 14, 1991
Actor Kirk Douglas, and wife Anne, with their son Eric, seen aboard a medical helicopter as he leaves a Santa Paula, Calif., hospital, Feb. 14, 1991. Douglas was injured in a midair collision with voice artist Noel Blanc, and Michael Carra, a Beverly Hills police officer, when their helicopter collided with a stunt plane over Santa Paula Airport's runway. Two men aboard the plane were killed. (AP Photo/ Mark Terrill)
March 1992
Actor Kirk Douglas is shown in March 1992 in Los Angles, Calif. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
March 1992
Actor Kirk Douglas is shown in March 1992 in Los Angles, Calif. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
May 8, 1995
American actor Kirk Douglas is applauded by Italian actress Claudia Cardinale as he lifts his "TV cat" award at the National Theater in Milan Monday night, May 8, 1995. The special platinum International TV award was given to Douglas for his extraordinary career achievements. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
March 25, 1996
Kirk Douglas accepts the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 68th Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles, Monday, March 25, 1996. (AP Photo/Eric Draper)
Jan. 21, 1999
Actor Kirk Douglas poses at his Beverly Hills, Calif., home Jan. 21, 1999. Douglas, who fought the Hollywood blacklist and won, is among Hollywood performers who helped define stardom in the 20th century. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
May 24, 2000
Actor Kirk Douglas is surrounded by Lynda Ryan, left, and Boogie Tillmon, right, among other students of the newly dedicated Kirk Douglas High School in the Northridge section of Los Angeles, Wednesday, May 24, 2000. The dedication marked the first time a school in Los Angeles history was named after a living person. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Feb. 15, 2001
U.S. actor Kirk Douglas poses for the media after a conference in Berlin on Thursady, Feb. 15, 2001. The Berlin film festival "Berlinale" will feature a retroperspective of 84-year-old Douglas who will also receive the Golden Bear prize for his life's work. (AP Phpto/Markus Schreiber)
Feb. 16, 2001
Actor Kirk Douglas arrives at the town hall in Berlin in this Feb. 16, 2001, photo. Douglas has asked that the Indian Hills Theater in Omaha, Neb., be spared the wrecking ball. Methodist Health System recently purchased the theater, which closed last September, with plans of demolishing it for a parking lot. "The world does not need another parking lot," Douglas wrote in a letter to Methodist officials. (AP Photo/Jockel Finck)
Nov. 28, 2001
Actor Kirk Douglas poses for a photo during an interview at his home in Beverly Hills, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2001. Douglas, who turned 85 December 9, writes in his eighth book "My Stroke of Luck," about his attack and recuperation noting the suicidal depression that afflicted him when a stroke left him unable to speak five years ago. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
April 7, 2003
Actors Michael Douglas, left, and his father, Kirk, pose for a photograph at the senior Douglas' home in Beverly Hills, Calif., April 7, 2003. They starred together for the first time in "It Runs In the Family," playing a perpetually bickering father and son. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
April 7, 2003
Actor Kirk Douglas, left, and his son Michael Douglas, stars of the new film "It Runs in the Family," pose together before a special screening of the film in Los Angeles, Monday, April 7, 2003. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
July 30, 2006
Actor Kirk Douglas arrives at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival's fundraiser honoring Douglas with the inaugural Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film, Sunday, July 30, 2006 in Goleta, Calif. (AP Photo/Michael A. Mariant)
March 29, 2007
Actor Kirk Douglas, 90, smiles during an interview at his residence in Beverly Hills, Calif., March 29, 2007. Douglas has just published his ninth book, "Let's Face It." (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Sept. 6, 2007
Kirk and Michael Douglas wave as the walk off stage at the opening of the American Association of Retired Persons' Llife at Fifty Plus national event and expo at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center in Boston, Thursday Sept. 6, 2007. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Sept. 8, 2007
Catherine Zeta-Jones sits between Kirk Douglas, left, and her husband, Michael Douglas, during the semifinal match betweeen Novak Djokovic of Serbia and David Ferrer of Spain at the US Open tennis tournament in New York, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2007. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Oct. 3, 2007
Actor Kirk Douglas arrives at AFI's 40th Anniversary Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2007, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Oct. 3, 2007
Actor Kirk Douglas arrives at AFI's 40th Anniversary Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2007, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Nov. 15, 2007
Actor John Travolta, right, stands with fellow actor Kirk Douglas following the presentation of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival's Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film to Travolta, Thursday, Nov. 15, 2007 in Santa Barbara, Calif. (AP Photo/Michael A. Mariant)
Nov. 15, 2007
Actor Kirk Douglas arrives at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival's Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film Thursday, Nov. 15, 2007 in Santa Barbara, Calif. (AP Photo/Michael A. Mariant
Nov. 21. 2007
Actors Kirk Douglas, left, and Harrison Ford share a moment in the serving line as celebrities and volunteers turn out to help the Los Angeles Mission serve an early Thanksgiving turkey dinner to hundreds of men, women and children who live in Los Angeles' Skid Row Wednesday, Nov. 21. 2007. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
May 28, 2008
Actor Kirk Douglas tries-out a playground slide at Lillian Elementary School in Los Angeles on Wednesday, May 28, 2008, after he and his wife donated their 400th playground renovation to schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District.
May 28, 2008
Kirk Douglas slaps hands with kindergarten student Carolina Gonzales, 6, during an event to dedicate his 400th playground at Lillian Elementary in Los Angeles, Wednesday, May 28, 2008. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Oct. 22, 2009
Director Quentin Taratino poses with actor Kirk Douglas following receipt of the Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in Santa Barbara, Calif., Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009. (AP Photo/Michael A. Mariant)
May 24, 2010
Kirk Douglas arrives to the Film Society of Lincoln Center's 37th Chaplin Award Gala honoring Michael Douglas in New York, Monday, May 24, 2010. (AP Photo/Charles Sykes)
Feb. 10, 2011
Kirk Douglas and his wife Anne arrive at the annual "An Unforgettable Evening" event benefiting the Entertainment Industry Foundation's Women's Cancer Research Fund, in Beverly Hills, Calif., Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Feb. 27, 2011
In this Feb. 27, 2011 file photo, actor Kirk Douglas presents the award for best supporting actress during the 83rd Academy Awards in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles.
Oct. 13, 2011
Kirk Douglas left, and Actor Michael Douglas, poses with the Award for Excellence from Kirk Douglas at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival black-tie gala fundraiser at the Biltmore in Santa Barbara, Calif., on Oct. 13, 2011. (AP Photo/Phil Klein)
Nov. 21, 2011
Actor Michael Douglas, right, introduces his father, honoree Kirk Douglas at the "Children At Heart" gala dinner at Pier Sixty on Monday, Nov. 21, 2011 in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini)
Feb. 24 2013
Actor Kirk Douglas arrives at the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscars Viewing and After Party, Sunday, Feb. 24 2013 at the Sunset Plaza Hotel in West Hollywood, Calif. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Feb. 24 2013
From left, actor Kirk Douglas and Anne Douglas arrive at the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscars Viewing and After Party on Sunday, Feb. 24 2013 at the Sunset Plaza Hotel in West Hollywood, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Feb. 24 2013
Actor Kirk Douglas arrives at the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscars Viewing and After Party on Sunday, Feb. 24 2013 at the Sunset Plaza Hotel in West Hollywood, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Dec. 5, 2014
In this Friday, Dec. 5, 2014 photo, Kirk Douglas poses for a portrait in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Kirk Douglas, the muscular actor with the dimpled chin who starred in "Spartacus," "Lust for Life" and dozens of other films and helped fatally weaken the Hollywood blacklist, has died at 103.