Announced on "Late Show with David Letterman" (1993) that he had Stage IV throat cancer and that he has started radiation and chemotherapy. [August 31, 2010]
As of 2002, he and Sir Laurence Olivier are the only two people in history to win Oscars for both Best Picture and Best Actor (although Olivier won them simultaneously for the same film).
Attended Eaglebrook School in Deerfield, MA.
Brazilian soccer star Maicon was supposed to be named after Michael Douglas. His father was a huge fan of Kirk Douglas and wanted to name his own son after Kirk's son. However he could not read or write and a clerk spelled Michael as Maicon. His full name is Maicon Douglas Sisenando.
Daughter Carys Zeta Douglas with Catherine Zeta-Jones; Carys was born the 20th April of 2003, at Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, New Jersey.
Father of Cameron Douglas.
Five days after completing Black Rain (1989/I), he started filming The War of the Roses (1989).
Friends with New York Jets owner Woody Johnson.
Graduate of Choate Rosemary Hall.
Graduated from the University of California.
Graduated with a B.A. from U.C. Santa Barbara (1968) as did singer Jack Johnson and actor Ossie Beck.
Has a tumor in his throat and will undergo weeks of radiation and chemotherapy, but expected to make a full recovery [August 16, 2010].
Has two sons: Cameron Morrell (b. 13 December 1978), with Diandra Luker, and Dylan Michael (b. 8 August 2000), with Catherine Zeta-Jones.
Has worked with three actors who share roles with his father. Kirk Douglas played Doc Holliday in Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957). Val Kilmer played the part in Tombstone (1993) and then appeared with Michael in The Ghost and the Darkness (1996). Dennis Quaid also played Holliday in Wyatt Earp (1994) and appeared with Michael in Traffic (2000). Kirk played Ulysses (Odysseus) in Ulysses (1954), based on The Odyssey. Michael appeared in Don't Say a Word (2001) with Sean Bean, who played Odysseus in Troy (2004).
He and The China Syndrome (1979) co-stars Jane Fonda and Jack Lemmon have all won Oscars for leading roles. Douglas won for Wall Street (1987), Fonda for Klute (1971), and Lemmon for Save the Tiger (1973).
He endorsed Rep.Richard Gephardt (D-MO) in the 2004 Democratic primaries.
He has been active in handgun control since John Lennon's murder in December 1980.
He was inducted into the 2012 New Jersey Hall of Fame for his contributions to Arts and Entertainment.
He was nominated for the 2011 New Jersey Hall of Fame for his contributions to the Arts and Entertainment.
His paternal grandparents (Jacob Danielovitch and Bryna) immigrated from Russia to America in 1912.