Posted on 07/07/2004 12:15:08 AM PDT by LibWhacker
NEW YORK (AFP) - Actor Eric Douglas, a member of Hollywood's Oscar-winning Douglas acting dynasty, was found dead in a New York apartment, according to news reports.
The 46-year-old son of Kirk Douglas and half-brother of Michael Douglas had battled against drug and alcohol addiction for years and had frequent brushes with the law as he lived in the shadow of his famous relatives.
The actor and stand-up comedian was found dead on the floor of the living room of his Manhattan apartment after someone hailed a passing police car, New York City Police reportedly said.
There were no signs of foul play, E-Online quoted police spokeswoman Jennara Everleth as saying, but the death would be treated as a homicide until the medical examiner completes an autopsy.
Eric Douglas, who had celebrated his 46th birthday last month, was Kirk Douglas' son by his second wife, the former Anne Buydens, and the Hollywood icon and the "Spartacus" star's fourth child.
Eric Douglas had minor roles in such films as "Delta Force 3: The Killing Game" (1991) and 1986's "The Golden Child," but never achieved the fame and success of his superstar dad and "Fatal Attraction" and "Basic Instinct" star brother Michael.
Last year, entertainment industry bible Daily Variety reported that Eric Douglas coped with "severe disabilities" and was "unable to work" as the result of an apparent prescription-drug-induced cardiac arrest in 1999.
He pleaded guilty to cocaine possession in 1997, a year after he spent a night in jail after crashing a car in an alleged drink-driving episode. Also in 1996, he spent a month in jail for disrupting a commercial airline flight.
Kirk Douglas, 87, won an honorary Oscar in 1995, and is best known for his role in Stanley Kubrick's 1960 Roman Empire epic "Spartacus."
Michael Douglas, who is married to Catherine Zeta-Jones, won a best actor statuette for 1987's "Wall Street," as well as another Oscar as the producer of best picture winner, "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" (1975).
Living in the shadow of a famous father and equally famous half-brother didn't exactly allow Eric to shine. No wonder he decided to cut his own life short.
bttt
there are very few actors/actresses that match up to the greats from the 40's, 50's, 60's and even 70's......
the only reason some people are "famous" is because someone pulled strings....period...
Coming from a cancer survivor........there is nothing bad enough that we face that should lead to suicide.
Hey, wow... does this mean he'll quit his day job?
Oh shi'ite. So hate me. Where was his gig?
Ya think they'd take another Hollywood A-hole liberal like me?
You know, when we actors get desparate, we need to kiss ass to the powers that be and just say the most outrageous things like... G. W.. Bush is a (well, I don't know but pedophile or Nazi would work here).
Come on schmuck... I really need the money.
Hire me! I'm sick of waiting tables. I'll tow the the RAT liberal line!
Hire me now you friggin Nazi Republican A-Hole!!!!!
Alchohol and drug addiction most likely was a part of it. Regardless, I feel bad for the Douglas family. There's a special spark in them. What it is, I don't know. It seems to involve testosterone. God rest his soul.
"...we need to kiss ass to the powers that be and just say the most outrageous things like... G. W.. Bush is a..."
Good point. If he were a flaming lib, it would have made it easier for him, although it's possible he was a lib. Regardless, there is something special about the Douglas family. They aren't perfect, of course. But there's a rarified understanding in their hearts for the warrior spirit. I don't know what things their agents made them say, but what they think and feel shines out. FReegards....
you sound like a bitter old fart, someone dies and you bash the family member....christ, Id hate to see what you would say if Douglas's neice was raped
It must be tough living in the shadow of more successful family members but he could have put his time to good use rather than dissipating himself. We all have talents, however humble.
My Sympathy to Kirk and his family. Its hard losing a child.
That said:
There is nothing more special about the Douglas family and their acting ability than there is about a family who leaves the used car lot to their son. Nepotism is rampant in Hollywood, acting is not that tough, even Sean Penn can do fairly well. I saw Sean Penn play the part of a retard and he was made for the part.
I have a simple policy. If the star of a movie is the son or daughter of another movie star or other industry insider, I will avoid the movie. I do not believe in Lamarkian genetics. There is no reason to assume that the child of a movie star will be any better in a role than some schmoe pulled off the street.
You look at the current pack of the daughters-of-so-and-so and the son-of-has-been, and you realize why Hollywood is being crushed under it's own weight.
I may have missed a few good movies based on my above-mentioned policy. But I have avoided an awful lot of dreck as well. This goes doubly for the Douglas boys.
Oh, and somebody better post a picture of Catherine Zeta Jones. The association is close enough to trigger the Dowd Rule...
"Micheal Douglas is a light-weight, similar to pretty boy Alex Baldwin"
Aside from whatever acting abilities he may possess, Douglas has been a brilliant producer. Movies like One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest would never have seen the light of day had it not been for him.
"I have a simple policy. If the star of a movie is the son or daughter of another movie star or other industry insider, I will avoid the movie. I do not believe in Lamarkian genetics. There is no reason to assume that the child of a movie star will be any better in a role than some schmoe pulled off the street."
Do you actually believe one word of this nonsense?
"There is nothing more special about the Douglas family and their acting ability than there is about a family who leaves the used car lot to their son."
Aside from the fact that Douglas has given great pleasure to many millions and has also helped many thousands with his work for charity.
"Nepotism is rampant in Hollywood, acting is not that tough, even Sean Penn can do fairly well. I saw Sean Penn play the part of a retard and he was made for the part."
Michael Douglas is one of the very few children of movie stars to hit the big-time. Most, like his brother, fall by the wayside. Audiences don't give a damn about such things.
And sure, there is a certain amount of nepotism, like every profession; but someone can open a door, but the rest is up to the person who walked through it.
It's obvious that the little green-eyed monster has gotten to more than one person on this thread.
Is it something in the water or what? I've noticed on most of the internet forums that I peruse that all of a sudden, people have forgotten how to spell "Michael"!
christ, Id hate to see what you would say if Douglas's neice was raped---I'd say clinton did it..... just a guess, but it is strange how hollywood is all relatives now. If you aint related to someone you aint working.
Of course I do. I actually believe almost half the things I post on this forum. Look at some of the otherwise unemployable children of industry insiders Hollywood has foisted on us over the years. Hollywood used to attract the best people from all over the United States. Now they select from a much smaller pool for much of the work.
With rare exception, when you see an actor with real talent and charisma, you find out he or she is from the stix, and advanced through talent, hard work, and sheer force of will. When you see an actor and wonder what he or she is doing in that role, you find out he or she is the scion of so-and-so.
Now I understand nepotism and the natural parental desire to give one's children a leg up in the world, but it ultimately degrades the product. One of the things that is dragging Hollywood down is the fact that so many key positions are filled with substandard talent. That's fine for the parent and delightful for the child, but just don't expect me to drop ten bucks to see the result.
He had a famous name and that opened the first door (same thing with John Wayne's, Bob Mitchum's, Anthony Quinn's kids and where are they?) but he made his own career and it is decidedly not light-weight.
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