Kirk Douglas celebrates 102nd birthday

Kirk Douglas receiving an Honorary Oscar®

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBF-0j1IPXw

Kirk Douglas talks about blacklisted SPARTACUS screenwriter Dalton Trumbo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nf9tW1G0oUo

Kirk Douglas's I AM SPARTACUS!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9vLKi490xY

Happy Birthday, Kirk Douglas!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rfo1xDN5bPY

Kirk Douglas celebrates 102nd birthday

Kirk Douglas | Transformation From 17 To 101 Years Old

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7mU7KR935M

Birthday: December 9, 1916

Nationality: American

Famous: Jewish Actors  Actors

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Also Known As: Issur Danielovitch Demsky, Issur Danielovitch, Izzy Demsky, Mr Kirk Douglas

Born In: Amsterdam, New York, U.S.

Famous As: Actor

Height: 1.75 M

Family: Spouse/Ex-: Anne Buydens, Diana Dill

Father: Herschel Danielovitch

Mother: Bryna Sanglel

Children: Eric Douglas, Joel Douglas, Michael Douglas, Peter Douglas

Religion: Conservative Judaism

Personality: ISTJ

City, States, Provinces & Districts: New Yorkers

Net Worth: $60 Million As Of Apr 18, 2017

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Kirk Douglas or Issur Danielovitch Demsky is an American actor, producer and director who rose from the ghettos to become a super star in American cinema. His parents were very poor Jewish immigrants from Chavusy, located in present day Belarus. Kirk was a very keen student and athlete. He was fond of acting and at a very young age realized that getting a scholarship for acting would be the road to salvation from his poor and wretched condition. He had enough talent to get enrolled at the ‘American Academy of Dramatic Arts’ which opened the door to fame and riches. He has acted in a large number of movies including serious works, thrillers, westerns and comedies. His gravelly voice, dimpled chin, steely and penetrating gaze helped him to play roles which were very compelling and brought him rave reviews. He has acted in seven films with Burt Lancaster who is another American film legend. He has acted in a variety of roles ranging from an opportunistic and untrustworthy character to a rebellious and unsavory character. He has acted in sci-fi thrillers and has been nominated for the Oscar many times.

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Childhood & Early Life

Kirk Douglas was born in Amsterdam, New York, USA, on December 9, 1916 to Herschel Danielovitch and Bryna Sanglel Danielovitch. Kirk grew up with six sisters.

During his early days he worked at different jobs to support himself and his family and wanted to become a professional actor.

After completing high school he was able to get a loan from the Dean of the St. Lawrence University to pay for his studies.

He got a scholarship for studying acting from New York’s ‘American Academy of Dramatic Arts’ which recognized his acting talent.

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Career

Kirk Douglas started his acting career with a handful of minor roles in various Broadway productions.

He joined the US Navy in 1941 during the Second World War and returned to acting in the theater after the end of the war in 1945.

In 1946 Hal B. Wallis gave Kirk the lead role in ‘The Strange Love of Martha Ivers’ which brought rave reviews.

In 1948 he acted in the low-key drama ‘I Walk Alone’ alongside Burt Lancaster for the first time.

He received his first nomination for the Oscar in 1949 for his role in ‘Champion’.

He acted in the film ‘Ace in the Hole’ in 1951. The ‘Bad and the Beautiful’ brought him his second Oscar nomination in 1952.

He started his own production company ‘Bryna Productions’ in 1955.

His third Oscar nomination came with the film ‘Lust for Life’ in 1956.

The film ‘Gunfight at the O.K. Corral’ in 1957 was another of his films with Burt Lancaster.

He acted in the anti-war epic ‘Paths of Glory’ in 1957 and the magnificent film ‘Spartacus’ in 1960 under the banner of Bryna Productions.

In 1962 he acted in the western ‘Lonely Are the Brave’ while in 1963 he appeared in the stage adaptation of ‘One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest’ which was made into a film in 1975 by his son Michael. In 1964 he acted in the political thriller ‘Seven Days in May’. He acted alongside John Wayne in the Second World War film ‘in Harm’s Way’ in 1965.

In 1966 he acted in the film ‘Cast a Giant Shadow’ based on the Israeli freedom struggle.

His second film with John Wayne was ‘The War Wagon’ in 1967

He paired up with Burt Lancaster for the last time in a gangster comedy called ‘Tough Guys’ in 1968.

He directed ‘Scalawag’ in 1973 and ‘Posse’ in 1975 but did not have much success at the box-office.

He starred alongside a young Arnold Schwarzenegger in the Western comedy film ‘The Villain’ in 1979.

His sci-fi film ‘Saturn 3’ with Farah Fawcett came out in 1980.