Kirk Douglas 1916-2020

Kirk Douglas, the three-time Oscar-nominated actor who played gladiators, cowboys and boxers in more than 80 movies, including Spartacus and Gunfight at the OK Corral, has died at the age of 103

1916: Born Dec 9, in Amsterdam, New York, as Issur Danielovitch Demsky, son of Russian Jewish immigrants

1949: Tough guy image established in breakthrough movie, Champion

1956-57: Notable movies include Lust for Life and Paths of Glory

1960: Star and executive producer of Spartacus. Breaks Hollywood blacklist by crediting screenwriter Dalton Trumbo

1976: Israeli hostage drama, Victory at Entebbe, one of seven movies with Burt Lancaster

1988: Publishes best-selling autobiography, The Ragman’s Son, which chronicles his impoverished childhood

1996: Receives Honorary Academy Award just two weeks after suffering stroke

Other awards: Include Presidential Medal of Freedom (1981) and France’s Legion d’Honneur (1985)
               

Source: Reuters 
Illustration: Bob Hoare
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