In the wake of Kirk Douglas’s death on Wednesday at age 103, Hollywood came together on social media to share tributes to and memories of the late actor.
During his long career, Douglas starred in films including Spartacus, Champion and The Bad and the Beautiful. He received three Oscar nominations and won an honorary award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1996.
His son Michael Douglas said in a statement on Instagram, “It is with tremendous sadness that my brothers and I announce that Kirk Douglas left us today at the age of 103. To the world, he was a legend, an actor from the golden age of movies who lived well into his golden years, a humanitarian whose commitment to justice and the causes he believed in set a standard for all of us to aspire to.”
In a statement, Steven Spielberg expressed how “honored” he felt to have worked with the late actor. “Kirk retained his movie star charisma right to the end of his wonderful life and I’m honored to have been a small part of his last 45 years. I will miss his handwritten notes, letters and fatherly advice, and his wisdom and courage — even beyond such a breathtaking body of work — are enough to inspire me for the rest of mine,” he said.
SAG-AFTRA president Gabrielle Carteris released the following statement: “One of the last remaining legends of Hollywood’s golden age, Kirk Douglas was an extraordinary actor. He was also a powerful voice who helped end the blacklist in our industry. With his extensive body of work, he made an indelible mark on cinema. But as a true humanitarian, his lifelong dedication to quietly supporting worthy causes may have made an even greater impact. Kirk will be deeply missed and we send our condolences to his family, friends and fans.”
In a statement, Lee Purcell said: “It is with great sadness and respect that I reflect upon the passing of Kirk Douglas. When we worked together on the feature film EDDIE MACON’s RUN, it was a joyful and humbling experience to see Kirk, already the icon of icons for decades, come bounding onto the set each day brimming over with enthusiasm and energy. He set a fine example for everyone from cast to crew to execs. I have a lovely note he sent me just a couple of months ago on my office wall visible as I write this that I will always treasure. Bon Voyage, Kirk, you are a true mensch. My deepest condolences to Anne, Michael and the rest of the family.”
Bob Bergen (Voice of Porky Pig) said: “When I was a teenager I was in the audience for An Evening with Mel Blanc at Pepperdine in Malibu, which was introduced by Mr. Kirk Douglas. After the show I introduced myself to Mr. Douglas and told him I wanted to one day voice Porky Pig. He winked at me and said, “My neighbor Mel Blanc is Porky Pig. Those are pretty big hoofs to fill. But I wish ya luck, kid.” Several years later I met him at a charity function. I introduced myself as a voice actor. Before I could remind him of where we first met he said, “Hey, did ya fill those hoofs?” I was amazed at his memory, and his charm. And I am so grateful for his contribution to this industry.”
On Twitter, Rob Reiner also paid his respects to Douglas, whom he described as an “icon.” “Kirk Douglas will always be an icon in the pantheon of Hollywood. He put himself on the line to break the blacklist. My love goes out to my friend Michael and the whole family,” he wrote.
Ed Asner also took to Twitter to express his condolences: “I will always be in awe. May your memory forever be a blessing.”
