Kirk Douglas Quotes

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Kirk Douglas

Profession : Actor

Birth : December 9, 1916

I didn't start out to be a movie star. I started out to be an actor.

Kirk Douglas

My first job was on Broadway. Then I went into the Navy. When I came out of the Navy, I went back to Broadway and a friend of mine, Lauren Bacall, was in Hollywood filming with Humphrey Bogart. She told one of her producers I was great in my play, and he saw it and cast me in 'The Strange Love of Martha Ivers'.

Kirk Douglas

I think religion has caused so much catastrophe in the world.

Kirk Douglas

I was living in a terrible time when people were being accused of being communists, and they attacked the movie industry, especially the writers. People couldn't work if they were on the blacklist. The studios banned them. It was the most onerous period in movie history. I don't think we have ever had a period so dark as that.

Kirk Douglas

I was not a very good Jew. I never practised what Judaism tells you to do, to teach your kids all about Judaism.

Kirk Douglas

My four sons all knew I was a Jew, but they were allowed to be whatever they wanted to be. The only thing important to me was that they be good people who help other people, because all religion should try to make you a better person and a more caring person. Whenever religion does that for you, it's a good religion.

Kirk Douglas

I'm an actor; I have made my living by acting, and I almost think I owe it to the public to express my feelings and not as a character on a screen but as myself.

Kirk Douglas

I studied Judaism a lot. I studied religion in general, and I have never imposed my Judaism on my kids. They are what they want to be. I think... you must care for others. That's the correct religion, I think.

Kirk Douglas

I didn't think I was so tough until I did 'Champion'; then I was a tough guy.

Kirk Douglas

It's tough to make a movie about movies... We're all too close to it. But 'The Bad and the Beautiful' was very good.

Kirk Douglas

Cancer does give you a new rejuvenation. I know what it's like to be down. I lost a couple of good friends - Larry Hagman and Nick Ashford - who had the same type of cancer that I did, and that makes you think.

Kirk Douglas

I was conscious of my father's fame from the time I was 6.

Kirk Douglas

God bless Dad, he came to every one of my shows. I was bad, and I had horrible stage fright. My dad was so relieved - he'd say, 'You were terrible; this kid is not going to be an actor.' Finally, I did a play and he said, 'Son - you were really good.'

Kirk Douglas

Being second generation in Hollywood is complicated: Success is expected, and yet the track record of the second generation is not great. Only a small group of us, like Jane Fonda, have succeeded.

Kirk Douglas