Kirk Douglas passed away at the age of 103

Douglas was born in 1916 in New York as a member of a Russian immigrant family who spoke Yiddish, and they gave him the name Isser Danilovich, the same sleep before his enlistment in the Navy in World War II. After the war, Douglas began a acting career – first on stage, then on the big screen, where he specialized in the roles of rugged and tough-guy, sometimes even nastier. However, in his real life he was a great humanist, a staunch supporter of the Democratic Party and a social activist. Among other things, he bravely stood by his colleagues who were hurt by the witch-hunt of those suspected of belonging to communism in the 1960s, and contributed to stopping their persecution.

Douglas’s major roles during his career in the 1950s and 1960s include two splendid works by Stanley Kubrick – “The Paths of Fame,” an anti-war film that was shelved in Israel at the time so as not to hurt France’s sentiments, and “Spartacus.” It also starred in “Ace in the Hole” which is considered one of Billy Wilder’s best films and one of the most poignant anti-media texts ever. He was not nominated for an Oscar, but he did receive nominations for his “Champions,” “Bad and Beautiful” and “Passion for Life,” in which he played Vincent Van Gogh. The actor did not win the figurine on these three occasions, but in 1996 he was honored with a special Oscar for life.

In addition to acting, Douglas also experimented with the production, and in 1963 purchased the rights to “The Cuckoo’s Nest” and adapted it into an unsuccessful show, but a decade later became an Oscar-winning cult film produced by his son Michael, who later cracked a acting career and became a star no less than his father. Douglas Sr. also directed two films in the 1970s, “Scalawag” and “Posse,” but these left no mark.

As is the case with many players his age, Douglas’s career has waned over the years, but could still be seen on the big and small screen. His most recent roles are notable appearances in the 1996 episode of “The Simpsons”, as well as starring in the particularly unsuccessful movie “Everything Goes On In The Family,” which is mainly remembered for appearing alongside his son Michael, his divorced Diana and grandson Cameron. Another grandson, Eric, passed away as a result of an overdose in 2004.

From an Israeli perspective, Douglas also remembers that they played a Holocaust survivor in “The Doer” of 1953, the first Hollywood film filmed in Israel, as well as the role of Gen. David Marcus in the 1966 “The Great Shadow”.

Douglas’s death came after he had already faced death in 1991, but was rescued from a plane crash, which led to him becoming religiously stronger, and he has long since expressed his Jewishness and spoken of as Israel’s right. Among other things, he sent a letter of protest to former President Jimmy Carter, who in the 1980s awarded him an honorary medal but in the 1990s infuriated him for his anti-Israeli statements. Also, Douglas was a guest of the Jerusalem Festival in 2000.

Steven Spielberg, who in 1996 gave Douglas an Oscar for a life project, eulogized him today – “He has kept his charisma until his last day. I was honored to be a small part of his life. To be my inspiration throughout my life. ” Director Rob Reiner added: “Kirk Douglas will always be an icon in the Hollywood pantheon. He lay down on the fence to break the blacklist in McCarthy’s time.” Jason Alexander wrote – “He was a legend as an actor and as a person, and he got better with each passing day.”