Kirk Douglas (1916-2020)

What a legend. Thought he was immortal.

Indeed, a legend. An extensive and illustrious career in cinema side, the things he would've seen in a century!

May his memory be a blessing.

103, hell of an innings.

Really loved Michael explaining a few years ago that Kirk had a iPad, and would sometimes get confused with the timezones. So Michael and CZJ would wake up because he's Skyped them during the night and Michael would ask: "are you just calling to see Catherine in her nightie?" The things you could get away with in your senior years.

Also loved that his Doctor told him that if he gets to 100, he can have a vodka martini- his favourite- on his birthday. Sure enough his Doctor, who was attending the celebration, checked his vitals, all was well and he was able to have a martini.

Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang wrote:

What a legend. Thought he was immortal.

He almost was!

Terrific in Lonely Are the Brave, which is one of the most depressing films ever made.

This really hurts the more I think about it. It seemed as if he would go on and on and on. What a legend and one of the first actors who ever truly impressed me as a kid. He had such a drive and passion for life that shows throughout his career and he became a darn good writer too. I'm currently re-reading The Ragman's Son which is excellent.

As an actor I think he is still supremely underrated and had a boundless range that is unified by each character having fascinating contradictions and weaknesses.

A career that includes Out of the Past, Paths of Glory, Spartacus, Lonely are the Brave, Bad and the Beautiful and then complete 180 degree turns like Martha Ivers, Detective Story, Champion...a force that could match Burt Lancaster in intensity which is why they both became great friends and each were successful independents who followed their own muse.
Look at the final scene of Seven Days in May where the two must meet again after the plot has run its course. It's such a small scene but is the entire point of the picture and possibly the most eloquent exchange Rod Serling ever wrote. No one else could have stood there against the force of Burt at that moment.

The piece de resistance is Ace in the Hole which is probably the most scathing and bitterly honest of all noir and possibly Billy Wilder's masterwork. Kirk's performance is astonishing in that you simply cannot ever get a true read on the guy but despite all his innate evil and self-centered mania you still actually kinda like him by the end.

One of my heroes. The first film I ever saw him in was Final Countdown. Since then became a firm fan. 103 is a fine, fine age to reach but it still took me by surprise. Seemed the man was going to live forever. I felt a stirring when reading Michael's statement. You can feel the hurt and the sorrow.

For me one of his best roles is in Lonely are the Brave or Detective Story. However, aside from Final Countdown, the only films of his on DVD I have are Heroes of Telemark and Cast a Giant Shadow. So, they'll get an airing.

For all his faults, all his dud films, the man was a legend and the last true great name of the Golden Age with us. The last proper era for Hollywood is now closed. There will never be another one again.

We still have a number of Golden Age actors with us, most notably Olivia de Havilland (103), Marsha Hunt (102) and Norman Lloyd (105). The door to the Golden Age is still wedged open, somewhat.

Only recently did I learn that Douglas voiced Chester J. Lampwick, the real creator of Itchy and Scratchy.
And that he had been born as Issur Danielovitch. A really charismatic movie legend. His finest work was with Kubrick imo.