Nicole Zabaleta
Movie star Kirk Douglas celebrates his 101 years of success on the big screen, Remembered for films like ‘Spartacus'(1960) or ‘The Bad and the Beautiful’ (1952). He has a combined age of almost two centuries, but he’s still radiant as ever. Let’s take a walk down memory lane and talk a little about what he has accomplished.
His real name is Issur Danielovitch Demsky. He was born in Amsterdam, New York on December 9th, 1916. He’s an actor and producer from the film industry’s Golden Age. The roles that rocketed him to fame where his interpretation of the painter Vincent van Gogh in ‘Lust for Life’ (1956) and ‘Spartacus’ (1960). For his renowned career, he received an honorary Oscar in 1996.
Where it all started
His parents lived selling food and lumber in the streets of New York, but they didn’t earn enough money to live. So, Kirk Douglas had to start working at a young age. At 17 he enters to St. Lawrence University, being accepted in exchange for working as a gardener. He successfully graduated with the Bachelor of Arts degree. After graduating from the university he obtained a scholarship at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York.
He enlisted in the military forces of the United States and then returns to New York after a while to dedicate himself to acting fulltime. He worked with Walt Disney, on various projects throughout his career and had a singular vocation.
He was nominated not one but three times for Oscar Academy
He was a candidate three times for an Oscar Academy Award, although he never succeeded in winning since he had leftist tendencies. However, he was awarded in 1996 with an honorary Oscar.
This actor marked his performance with a distinctive strength of his performances. He gave each film a special touch. Douglas gave the best of himself in roles that required a powerful presence. The actor intervened in comedy as in dramas and has embodied characters hard to interpret. He is one of the oldest actors alive today. On February 13th, he luckily survived a helicopter accident in which two people died. In 1994 he suffered a mild thrombosis that caused serious psychomotor problems. And in 1996 he suffered a stroke that deprived him of speech and left him practically immobile. But this is not a disadvantage for Douglas to intervene in events since he’s always being accompanied by his son Michael Douglas.
Douglas is unstoppable
In 1981 the President Jimmy Carter gave him the Presidential Medal of Freedom for “working as an emperor of goodwill” and “sharing with others his love for film and country.”
The Hollywood legend was happy and healthy when he came out with 98-year-old wife posing for the photos. Speaking about the couple’s marriage in an interview with Closer Weekley for his 101st birthday, Kirk said: “I was lucky enough to find my soulmate 63 years ago. I think our wonderful marriage and our golden-night-time chats. They have helped me survive all things “
The Golden 100th birthday
On Kirk’s 100th birthday, it was celebrated with a party in which Steven Spielberg expressed his great admiration for the legend of the big screen with an effusive speech. ‘I used to think 100 was a number that was the impossible dream,’. He then preceded to explaining how impressed he was with ‘what you have done with your life’.
After reminding Douglas that he was an honorary member of the Spielberg family. ‘I wanted to come here and say I’ve been shooting movies and television shows for 47 years now and I’ve worked with the best of them and you’re the only movie star I ever met‘. He continued with: ‘there is something that you have that no one else ever had … When you watch Kirk’s performance in anything, in anything he’s ever done, you can not take your eyes off of him. It’s not possible to look away from him. ‘ And he concluded by saying that: “you’re a miracle man”.
We have here one of the stars that prevail in the Hollywood industry form such a long time. It’s impossible not to adore this great actor. Kirk Douglas caught us with so many memorable characters during his lifelong career. All the best for him on his birthday and to continue being another 100 years, sharing with his beautiful family and being to remind us that no mishaps have to be abandoned until reaching the top. Thanks for everything Kirk! Still rocking on your 101!
