Kirk Douglas Age, Height, Weight, Boyfriend, Net Worth 2026

Kirk Douglas in a dark suit and light gray tie sits in an empty teal theater, hands clasped, with a gentle smile. — Kirk Douglas Age, Height, Weight, Boyfriend, Net Worth 2026

Kirk Douglas (born Issur Danielovitch; December 9, 1916 – February 5, 2020) was an American actor, producer, director, author, and philanthropist. Kirrk Douglas was born Issur Danielovitch on December 9, 1916, in Amsterdam, New York, United States. He was the son of poor Jewish immigrants from Chavusy, Mogilev Region, in the Russian Empire. He grew up in extreme poverty with six sisters. He changed his name to Kirk Douglas while in high school.

He attended Amsterdam High School, where he excelled in drama and wrestling. He won a scholarship to St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York, graduating in 1939 with a degree in English and dramatics. He later studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City on a scholarship, supporting himself as a janitor, wrestler, and usher during his studies.

Table of Contents

Personal Details

Full Name	Issur Danielovitch (later Kirk Douglas)
Nickname	Kirk
Profession	Actor, Producer, Director, Author, Philanthropist
Date of Birth	9 December 1916
Date of Death	5 February 2020
Age at Death	103
Birthplace	Amsterdam, New York, USA
Nationality	American
Religion	Jewish (non-practicing in adulthood)
Zodiac Sign	Sagittarius
Friends	Carolina Cortez
Height	5’9″ (175 cm)
Marital Status	Married twice (Diana Dill 1943–1951; Anne Buydens 1954–2020)

Career

Kirk Douglas made his Broadway debut in 1941 and his film debut in The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946). He achieved stardom with Champion (1949), earning his first Oscar nomination. He starred in major films of the 1950s and 1960s including Ace in the Hole (1951), The Bad and the Beautiful (1952), 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954), Lust for Life (1956), Paths of Glory (1957), Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957), Spartacus (1960), Lonely Are the Brave (1962), Seven Days in May (1964), and In Harm’s Way (1965).

He founded his own production company, Bryna Productions, in 1955 and produced Paths of Glory and Spartacus. His insistence on crediting blacklisted writer Dalton Trumbo for Spartacus helped break the Hollywood blacklist. He continued acting into his 90s, with his final film role in Empire State (2018) at age 101.

He also wrote several memoirs (The Ragman’s Son 1988, Climbing the Mountain 1997, I Am Spartacus! 2012) and novels. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1981 and the AFI Life Achievement Award in 1996.

Personal Life

Kirk Douglas was married twice:

Diana Dill (1943–1951) — two sons: actor Michael Douglas (born 1944) and producer Joel Douglas (born 1947)
Anne Buydens (married 1954 until his death in 2020) — two sons: producer Peter Douglas (born 1955) and actor Eric Douglas (1958–2004)

He had seven grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. He was known for his philanthropy, donating millions to causes including children’s hospitals, Jewish causes, and St. Lawrence University (where he funded scholarships and a theatre). He suffered a severe stroke in 1996 but continued working. He remained married to Anne for 66 years until his death in 2020 at age 103.

Kirk Douglas Net Worth (at time of death & legacy)

At the time of his death in 2020, Kirk Douglas’s net worth was estimated at $60 million USD.

FAQs

What is Kirk Douglas most famous for?

Kirk Douglas is best known for starring in classic films like Spartacus (1960), Paths of Glory (1957), Lust for Life (1956), and Champion (1949), as well as breaking the Hollywood blacklist by crediting Dalton Trumbo on Spartacus.