"Final Countdown"
Posted on 07/26/2014 1:02:29 PM PDT by BenLurkin
BEVERLY HILLS (CBSLA.com) — Their story is the stuff of Hollywood romance.
Legendary actor Kirk Douglas, 97, has been married to his wife, Anne, for 60 years, and in an interview with CBS2’s Pat Harvey, he shares the enchanting stories and secrets to keeping the romance burning.
The pair met in Paris while Kirk was playing the role of Vincent van Gogh in “Lust For Life,” and Anne Buydens was handling the PR for the movie.
Anne, 84, said she played hard-to-get. The two became friends, but she eventually fell for Kirk’s charms.
The couple married in Las Vegas the following year in 1954.
Kirk, who already had two sons — Oscar-winning actor Michael and Joel — with his first wife Dianna Dill, went on to have two more — Peter and Eric — with Anne.
Their union has endured the test of time, but not without the occasional argument.
“We argued a lot. But I will tell you about a big argument,” Kirk said.
The scene opens in March 1958, when the Douglases were living next door to Elizabeth Taylor and her husband Mike Todd in Palm Springs. Todd asked Douglas to join him on his private plane on a trip to New York.
“And he said ‘yes,’ and as soon as they left, I said to Kirk, ‘I don’t want you to go,’ ” Anne said.
“We had such a big argument and I finally said, ‘Oh, what the hell, I won’t go.’”
Taylor came down with a cold and didn’t end up going either.
Todd’s plane infamously crashed, and everyone aboard was killed.
“So, from then on, I never argued with her. She saved my life,” Kirk told Harvey.
“I have instincts, and I’ve been right too many times,” Anne said.
The couple has made it through their share of obstacles. In January 1996, Kirk suffered a stroke as he was getting a manicure at home.
He sustained lingering damage to his speech and struggled with depression. The actor credits Anne with pushing him to work with speech therapists.
Just a few months later, Kirk would accept an honorary Academy Award for lifetime achievement.
“I intended to just say thank you, but I saw 1,000 people. I felt I had to say something more, and I did,” he said.
The entertainment legend said he was proud to be a part of Hollywood for 50 years and dedicated the statue to Anne.
But what this actor, who’s appeared in more than 90 films, said he’s most proud of is the philanthropic work he and Anne have accomplished together. They hope it will be their legacy.
The Douglases have sold pieces from their art collection to rebuild 409 playgrounds in Los Angeles.
They’ve funded the Alzheimer wing at the Motion Picture Retirement Home and started the Anne Douglas Center at the Los Angeles Mission, which gives homeless women a second chance.
All in all, Anne and Kirk Douglas have given $50 million to five nonprofit groups over the years. One such recipient is the Kirk Douglas Theater in Culver City, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.
The couple’s generosity doesn’t end there, and it’s the bond that holds them together.
“Is there a formula [to staying together]?” Harvey asked them.
The actor responded with a smile: “Yes, there’s a formula. You have to fall in love.”
One of my all time favorite movie stars.
A great actor, may God continue to bless he and Anne.
Thanks for posting.
Congratulation Mr. Douglas and bride! My parents just celebrated 60 years, too.
One of my favorite Kirk Douglas movies was “In Harm’s Way” with co-star John Wayne. One can only imagine the arguments the liberal Douglas had with the conservative Wayne.
Just watched his movie as the us colonel who became the commander of the Israeli forces when the country was recognized after WWII - John Wayne and Sinatra made appearances
I watched that movie of his “Lonely are the brave” last week, what a great movie that was and I looked up on IMDB and they said it’s Kirks favorite movie of all the ones he made. I don’t know if it’s his best, but it was great.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056195/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_56
“We got us a mother-loving Navy war!” ;-)
"Final Countdown"
Maybe his memory is a little selective at 97. IIRC a younger Kirk Douglas stated in his autobiography and on television that monogamy is not a natural state for the human male.
Nice! MrD and I will celebrate 57 years in Dec. We don’t have all the accomplishments that the Douglas’s have, but we are devoted to each other.
Thank you, Mr. Kirk Douglas, for giving an entertaining, yet dignified interview. You didn’t start talking about each and every matter of bedroom activity, or think out loud about the changing anatomy of your spouse, the way your son Michael has felt compelled to do.
ping to posts 14, 15, and 16.
bump!
Wow, I hope and pray that the rumors about him and Natalie Wood are not true. I know he has made a statement that back then he had a chip on his shoulder. No doubt he is a great actor and has calm his womanizing down. Like I said I pray those rumors are not true.
Thanks, AW. Great pics.
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