Michael Douglas

I do think of myself as a bit of a loner, a bit of an independent. I'm one of those people who, when they're sick, like to curl up and remove myself. I don't like a lot of people around. There is nothing you can do to help.

Michael Kirk Douglas (born September 25, 1944) is an American actor and producer, who has received numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, five Golden Globe Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, the Cecil B. DeMille Award, and the AFI Life Achievement Award.

Quotes

• People have this idea that I'm part of show business royalty. I cherish the relationship I had with my father, and I'd love to fulfill the fantasy. But when I was young, he was a working actor and hadn't quite made it yet.
  • As quoted in "Michael Douglas Will Never Stop Working" in AARP (25 March 2021)

• A work ethic. Courtesy to your fellow human beings. And kindness. Which are traits you have to work at and rehearse. Particularly compassion — I feel a certain responsibility to conduct myself as somebody who has been blessed and fortunate simply because I was born a white male. And also to teach them to be good citizens of the planet. I'm conscious of us all being in this together.
  • On what he wants from his children and grandchildren to learn from him in "Michael Douglas Will Never Stop Working" in AARP (25 March 2021)

• I read the script, and I think, 'That's a good movie, and that's a really good movie, moves me, makes me laugh, this and that.' I don't worry about the part. Then I'm looking who's around me? Who's the director? Who's the cast? And I would much rather have a little part in a good movie than a big part in a crappy movie.
  • As quoted in "'I Don't Worry About The Part': Michael Douglas Reflects On 50 Years Of Making Movies" in WBUR (3 December 2018)

• This year, 2020, is the worst year of my life. I was born in 1944, so I took no part in the Second World War. But this is one of the worst things I can imagine. The pandemic affects everyone, regardless of their financial status. The only hope I have is that it brings us all a little closer. But it is a tragedy, and it indicates which countries have strong governments and those which do not. I hope that it will prepare us for the next time.
  • As quoted in "The Big Interview" in Majorca Daily Bulletin (20 September 2020)

• You rack your brain. You take it personally in the beginning, you start blaming yourself. My career came before my family. My marriage was not great, and so you do hide yourself in your work. I should have focused more on my family. But that's hard to say when you're in the midst of your career, when you are in your own mind stepping out of your father's shadow, trying to create a life of your own.
  • On the repercussions of his son Cameron's drug addiction in "'My career came before my family': Michael Douglas blamed himself for son Cameron's addiction" in USA Today (23 October 2019)

A lot of actors get concerned about their own image, even going so far as to rewrite a movie to best serve that image. All I want to do is be in good movies.

• I said it as Gordon Gekko, but I don’t believe that greed is good. The size of fortunes in finance have increased. It’s an accumulation of our political system over the past 30 years; the amount of money that’s invested in certain politicians, so the politician is not responsible to his constituency, but to the people who financially supported him. What you’re seeing now is the result of years of choosing the person who has the best financial connections. I’m sure Gordon Gekko would have been friends with Donald Trump. I’ve known Donald fairly well over the years, in New York. They would probably play golf together!
  • As quoted in "Michael Douglas on greed and the value of listening" in Gentleman's Journal

• The Cold War's end pushed disarmament down most leaders' agendas. It's a sophisticated issue, which I think is one reason why it is not so hands-on to many people. It's not visceral. It's not like a starving child.
  • As quoted in "Michael Douglas: How I Capitalize on My Celebrity for a Good Cause" in The Hollywood Reporter (14 August 2014)

• Cancer didn't bring me to my knees, it brought me to my feet.
  • As quoted in "Hanks, Roberts among stars on ‘Stand up to Cancer’" in The Spokesman-Review (8 September 2012)

• I'm impressed with the people from Chicago. Hollywood is hype, New York is talk​, Chicago is work.
  • As quoted in "Tree's 'Trap Genius' Is Here: Let's Party with the Hardest Working Man in Hip-Hop" in VICE (24 February 2015)

• If your work isn't exciting, doesn't stir the emotions, where's the challenge? Where's the progress if you always play it safe?
  • As quoted in "The Unstoppable Michael Douglas" in The Christian Science Monitor (15 October 1996)

• I'm a risk-taker. Most of my career has not been a joyful experience, but it has been challenging. I like the dangers.
  • As quoted in "Michael Douglas: ‘I’m an optimistic guy I am going to beat this’" in The Palm Beach Post (16 September 2010)

• Do you know what absolute happiness is? For me, it is to wake up my kids in the morning - these little pieces of innocence - to wake them and find they're so happy to see me! It is unequivocal love, no question about it.

• It's difficult for me to meet women because my crowd is much older. I know that for some of the young women I do meet, a relationship with me can be envisioned as a benefit to their career.