Hollywood legend Kirk Douglas passes away at 103

Legendary Hollywood superstar Kirk Douglas passed away on Wednesday in Los Angeles. He was aged 103. Douglas, a son of Russian immigrants who rose to play Spartacus and other legendary roles during Hollywood’s Golden Era was one of the last surviving leading men of Hollywood’s Golden Age.

Born in New York in 1916, he rose to prominence during Hollywood’s “golden age”, earning his first Oscar nomination for the 1949 boxing story Champion. He was also the father of Oscar-winning actor Michael Douglas.

Michael said in a statement on Instagram “It is with tremendous sadness that my brothers and I announce that Kirk Douglas left us today.To the world, he was a legend, an actor from the golden age of movies… but to me and my brothers Joel and Peter he was simply Dad.

Check out his post here;

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It is with tremendous sadness that my brothers and I announce that Kirk Douglas left us today at the age of 103. To the world he was a legend, an actor from the golden age of movies who lived well into his golden years, a humanitarian whose commitment to justice and the causes he believed in set a standard for all of us to aspire to. But to me and my brothers Joel and Peter he was simply Dad, to Catherine, a wonderful father-in-law, to his grandchildren and great grandchild their loving grandfather, and to his wife Anne, a wonderful husband. Kirk's life was well lived, and he leaves a legacy in film that will endure for generations to come, and a history as a renowned philanthropist who worked to aid the public and bring peace to the planet. Let me end with the words I told him on his last birthday and which will always remain true. Dad- I love you so much and I am so proud to be your son. #KirkDouglas

A post shared by Michael Douglas (@michaelkirkdouglas) on Feb 5, 2020 at 3:33pm PST

Kirk Douglas starred in more than 75 movies throughout his career and was best known for his role in the 1960 gladiator film “Spartacus.” Douglas walked away from a helicopter crash in 1991 and suffered a severe stroke in 1996 but, ever the battler, he refused to give in.

Nominated three times for best actor by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences — for Champion (1949), The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) and Lust for Life (1956) — Douglas was the recipient of an honorary Oscar in 1996.

He retired in 2004 after working in more than 80 films.

Also Read: Catherine Zeta-Jones shares Kirk Douglas’ relationship advice to son Michael Douglas