Wednesday, 5 February 2020

In memory of Kirk Douglas.Cartoon by Mark Antony Raines

Kirk Douglas (born Issur Danielovitch Demsky; December 9, 1916 – February 5, 2020) was an American actor, producer, director, and author. After an impoverished childhood with immigrant parents and six sisters, he made his film debut in The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946) with Barbara Stanwyck. Douglas soon developed into a leading box-office star throughout the 1950s, known for serious dramas, including westerns and war movies. During his career, he appeared in more than 90 movies. Douglas was known for his explosive acting style, which he displayed as a criminal defense attorney in Town Without Pity (1961).
Kirk Douglas
Kirk douglas photo signed.JPG
Douglas c. 1955
Born
Issur Danielovitch Demsky

December 9, 1916
DiedFebruary 5, 2020 (aged 103)
Other namesIzzy Demsky
Isador Demsky
EducationSt. Lawrence University
Occupation
  • Actor
  • producer
  • director
  • author
  • soldier
Years active1946–2008
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)
Diana Dill
(m. 1943; div. 1951)

Anne Buydens (m. 1954)
ChildrenMichael (b. 1944)
Joel (b. 1947)
Peter (b. 1955)
Eric (1958–2004)
Military career
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branchEmblem of the United States Navy.svg United States Navy
Years of service1941–1944
RankUS-O2 insignia.svg LTJG[1]
Battles/warsWorld War II
Signature
KirkDouglas.png
Douglas became an international star through positive reception for his leading role as an unscrupulous boxing hero in Champion (1949), which brought him his first nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor. His other early films include Young Man with a Horn (1950), playing opposite Lauren Bacall and Doris DayAce in the Hole opposite Jan Sterling (1951), and Detective Story (1951), for which he received a Golden Globe nomination as Best Actor in a Drama. He received a second Oscar nomination for his dramatic role in The Bad and the Beautiful (1952), opposite Lana Turner, and his third nomination for portraying Vincent van Gogh in Lust for Life (1956), which landed him a second Golden Globe nomination.

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