American actor (1916–2020)
People connected to Kirk Douglas
He lasted a century and worked almost as long — one of the last stars who could credibly claim to have built Hollywood's Golden Age, not just lived in it. Douglas made his name playing men who burned too hot, then used the leverage to break a blacklist and launch a dynasty.
Born Issur Danielovitch in 1916, Douglas clawed out of poverty and into his film debut opposite Barbara Stanwyck in 1946. Champion three years later earned him his first Oscar nomination and established the template: explosive, unscrupulous, magnetic. Through the 1950s he racked up two more nominations — for The Bad and the Beautiful and for playing Vincent van Gogh in Lust for Life, which won him a Golden Globe — and became the 17th-greatest male star of Classic Hollywood according to AFI. At 32 he founded Bryna Productions and began steering his own course, hiring a young Stanley Kubrick for…
Sourced, dated quotes from Kirk Douglas
I find characters with a little evil in them much more interesting to play than the good guy. I'd rather play than .
I don't know if they have to care. I'm only concerned if they're interested in me. I don't care if you love me or hate me, but don't be indifferent to me.
I know Italians and I like them. A lot of my father's best friends were Italians. I responded to that in making the picture. I put a lot of warmth into that character.
I love champions. A champion has something special about him.
Compared to Thoreau, Saint Francis of Assisi was peanuts.
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