LEGENDARY American actor Kirk Douglas has died at the age of 103 on February 5, 2020. He is survived by second wife Anne Buydens, 100, and three sons.
The centenarian is well known for his role as Spartacus, a 1960s Stanley Kubrick film that won four Oscars, and became part of the pop culture lexicon.
Born in 1916, to Jewish Russian immigrants, Kirk was the father of Oscar-winning actor Michael Douglas, who rose to prominence during Hollywoodโs Golden Age.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Kirk was himself nominated for an Oscar three times for films like `For Champion’ (1949) โ about a boxing champion, `The Bad and The Beautiful’ (1952), and `Lust for Life’ (1956). He eventually won an honorary award in 1996 in recognition of his 50 years in the industry.
After the news of his death, fans gathered at his star set at the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Kirk and his wife have donated millions of dollars to charitable causes and helped built hundreds of school playgrounds. His philosophy was: โbefore you die, try to do something for other people.”
TRIBUTES
Several notable personalities also paid tribute to him. Actor Gregg Donovan told AFP, โhe was one of the last Hollywood legends of the Golden era. Thatโs it. Not a superstar, a legend. Itโs devastating. I mean, I know he lived to 103. God bless him.โ
Mark Hamill said: โKirk Douglas was one of the biggest stars of all time and a brilliant actor with an unforgettable, blazing charisma. He will also be remembered for putting his career on the line by defying the Hollywood Blacklist, hiring writer Dalton Trumbo for the classic Spartacus.โ
Michael Douglas said: โTo the world, he was a legend, and to us, he was just dadโฆ Kirk’s life was well-lived, and he leaves a legacy in films that will endure for generations to come.โ
May his soul R.I.P.
