Admitted he made The Big Trees (1952) for nothing just to get out of his contract with Warner Bros. He later said, "It was a terrible movie.".
After his son Michael Douglas was fired from the stage production of the play "Summer Tree", Kirk bought the stage and film rights to the story and gave it to Michael to star in.
Appeared in a stage production of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and later bought the film rights. He didn't make a movie of it and eventually turned the rights over to his son Michael Douglas, who was able to secure financing and produce the film, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975).
Attended the premiere of Basic Instinct (1992).
Attended the state funeral of former President Ronald Reagan, Gov. with Charlton Heston, Tom Selleck and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, on June 11, 2004.
Best of friends with Karl Malden (who was also very close with his son Michael Douglas), with whom he co-starred on "The Streets of San Francisco" (1972). After he died, Douglas remarked that their acquaintance was the longest he had with anyone in his life, lasting 70 years.
Born Issur Danielovitch to father Jacob Danielovitch, and mother Bryna, from Russia, who came to America in 1912.
Confirmed his retirement from acting after making Illusion (2004).
Earned $50,000 for saying the only English word at the end of a 1980s Japanese TV commercial: "Coffee".
Father-in-law of Catherine Zeta-Jones.
Fell out with his close friend, former President Jimmy Carter, over Carter's 2006 book "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid".
Former father-in-law of Diandra Douglas.
Gave up his two- to three-pack-a-day cigarette habit in 1950 after his father died from lung cancer at the age of 72.
Granddaughter Carys Zeta Douglas born April 21, 2003.
Grandfather of 7 children: Cameron Douglas (b. 13 December 1978), Dylan Michael Douglas (b. 8 August 2000), Carys Zeta Douglas (b. 20 April 2003) (children of his son Michael Douglas), Kelsey (b. 1992), Tyler (b. 1996), Ryan (b. 2000) and Jason (b. 2003) (children of his son Peter Douglas)
Had a pacemaker fitted following a heart attack in a restaurant in August 1986.
He and Burt Lancaster acted together in 7 movies: Victory at Entebbe (1976) (TV), Tough Guys (1986), Seven Days in May (1964), The List of Adrian Messenger (1963), I Walk Alone (1948), Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957) and The Devil's Disciple (1959).
He and his wife Anne Douglas renewed their wedding vows in California around the 50th anniversary of their 1954 marriage. They reaffirmed their vows before 300 friends and family members at the famous Greystone Estate in Beverly Hills. Guests included Dan Aykroyd, Lauren Bacall, Nancy Davis and Tony Curtis. Douglas walked into the traditional Jewish ceremony to the tune of "I'm In The Mood For Love" and later sang a tune he'd written for the occasion, "Please Stay In Love With Me".
He had both knees replaced in 2005, against the advice of his doctors. The operation was a success.