“Fame is as much about luck as it is about talent, perhaps more.” — Kirk Douglas
“It’s true that Hollywood is inclined to type you. When I first came here, I played the weak husband in ‘The Strange Love of Martha Ivers.’ I became an expert in playing weaklings, in pictures like ‘Out of the Past’ and ‘I Walk Alone.'” — Kirk Douglas
Source: 1955
Photo: The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946). With Barbara Stanwyck.
“I guess I’ve made around 70 pictures, of which 20 I’m proud of. If movies were baseball, that would be a good average.” — Kirk Douglas
Source: Bob Thomas (1985)
Photo: With Minnie Minoso
Dancing with Rita Hayworth at Ciro’s (8433 Sunset Blvd.), c. 1952.
“Of all the movies I’ve made, Lust for Life was the most painful. For a long time I didn’t want to see the movie. I think van Gogh would have been a very difficult man to know personally – everything came out of his guts. He didn’t know what he was. He didn’t know if he was a homosexual. So it was a challenge for me to play a part like that.” — Kirk Douglas
“As Einar, a very rough specimen of Norse warrior, I plunder, kill, snarl, fight and carry off various women – a great role for letting off steam. By the time we had finished shooting the picture I didn’t have a single bad trait left in me!” — Kirk Douglas
Source: 1958
Photo: The Vikings (1958)
“It took forever to get Kirk up on that cross, and when he was up there the assistant director called lunch and we all trooped off. We left Kirk alone up there for 20 minutes – but not any longer because he was our producer.” — Jean Simmons
Source: Source: Adrian Turner (1988)
Photo: Spartacus (1960)
“I don’t go out to make enemies, but I’m not afraid of doing so. I know that some people say, ‘ What a difficult guy Kirk Douglas is.’ My answer to that is: Did Joseph Mankiewicz say I was difficult? Did Elia Kazan, Billy Wilder, William Wyler, Howard Hawks and other directors I worked with? Maybe people who say that are the ones who weren’t doing their job. I admit I was too impatient in my younger years. But throughout my career in films, I never expected anyone to work harder than I do.” — Kirk Douglas
Source: Bob Thomas (1985)
Photo: Jim Smeal/WireImage. At Spago’s Restaurant – December 12, 1985.
“I Am Spartacus.” Artist: Alex Queral. 11″ Tall X 9″ wide. Acrylic on carved phone book.
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