Kirk Douglas was an iconic American actor, producer, author, and philanthropist who made an indelible mark on the American cultural landscape. Born Issur Danielovitch on December 9, 1916, in Amsterdam, New York, Douglas was the son of Jewish immigrants from what is now Belarus. He grew up in poverty but, through a combination of determination, hard work, and a wrestling scholarship, was able to attend St. Lawrence University. While at St. Lawrence, Douglas excelled in acting and public speaking, gaining recognition from his professors, who encouraged him to pursue drama professionally. Their support led him to secure a scholarship to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, where he studied alongside future stars like Lauren Bacall.
After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, Douglas made his Broadway debut in the play Spring Again in 1941. Though it was a minor role, it marked the beginning of his professional acting career. Douglas also appeared in other Broadway productions, including The Three Sisters and Alice in Arms. His stage experience helped him develop the powerful screen presence that later defined his film career and led to his casting in his first film, The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946), alongside Barbara Stanwyck.
Douglas appeared in over 90 films throughout his career that spanned six decades. He was also a producer, founding his own production company, Bryna Productions. Films produced through that company include Paths of Glory (1957), The Vikings (1958), Spartacus (1960), Town Without Pity (1961), Lonely Are the Brave (1962), Seven Days in May (1964), The Brotherhood (1968), Scalawag (1973), and Posse (1975).
Kirk Douglas was also a prolific author. In addition to his Hollywood career, he wrote several books, including memoirs, novels, and reflections on his life and experiences. Some of his notable works include:
“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.”
– Michael Douglas
During the Red Scare of the late 1940s and 1950s, Hollywood was deeply affected by McCarthyism and the Hollywood blacklist, which targeted writers, directors, and actors suspected of having Communist ties. Unlike some Hollywood figures who remained silent or cooperated with HUAC by naming suspected Communists, Douglas refused to participate in blacklisting and spoke out against it, believing that the Red Scare was damaging to artistic freedom and personal liberties.
His decision to hire blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo—one of the “Hollywood Ten” who had been jailed for refusing to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee—for Spartacus, the iconic film he both produced and starred in.His insistence that Trumbo receive full screen credit under his real name, was widely seen as a turning point in ending the blacklist. That turning point was further solidified when President John F. Kennedy crossed a picket line to see Spartacus, signaling his political support for Douglas’ bravery.
Kirk Douglas’ bold stance remains one of his most significant contributions to Hollywood beyond acting, cementing his legacy not only as a star but as a defender of artistic freedom and justice.
The Douglas Foundation
310-274-5294
kimmorey@douglasfoundation.org