Legendary actor Kirk Douglas passes away aged 103

KIRK AND MICHAEL DOUGLAS

KIRK AND MICHAEL DOUGLAS

Legendary actor Kirk Douglas who became the last great star of Hollywood’s golden age passed away at the age of 103.

The actor starred in iconic films as 'Champion,' 'The Bad and the Beautiful,' 'Lust for Life,' 'Gunfight at the O.K. Corral,' 'Spartacus,' and 'Ulysess' to name a few.

KIRK DOUGLAS
*Kirk Douglas as 'Spartacus'

The stage and screen actor was well-known for a range of roles, which included a lead  in the 1960 classic Spartacus, in which he played the titular character. It was inspired by the life story of Spartacus himself and followed the events of the Third Seville War.

Douglas also starred in the 1954 film Ulysses, an Italian fantasy adventure film based on Homer’s epic poem Odyssey.

Born in New York in 1916, he rose to fame during Hollywood's "golden age", earning his first Oscar nomination for the 1949 boxing story 'Champion'.

He was also the father of Oscar-winning actor Michael Douglas, who announced the news in a statement posted on Instagram on Wednesday evening.

View this post 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. But to me and my brothers Joel and Peter he was simply Dad, to Catherine, a wonderful father-in-law, to his grandchildren and great grandchild their loving grandfather, and to his wife Anne, a wonderful husband. Kirk's life was well lived, and he leaves a legacy in film that will endure for generations to come, and a history as a renowned philanthropist who worked to aid the public and bring peace to the planet. Let me end with the words I told him on his last birthday and which will always remain true. Dad- I love you so much and I am so proud to be your son. #KirkDouglas

A post shared by Michael Douglas (@michaelkirkdouglas) on

Kirk Douglas
*Kirk & Ann Douglas visiting the Acropolis in 1964

“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 setting a standard for all of us to aspire to,” the statement said.

“But to me and my brothers Joel and Peter he was simply Dad, to Catherine, a wonderful father-in-law, to his grandchildren and great-grandchild their loving grandfather, and to his wife Anne, a wonderful husband.”

*Image of Michael and Kirk Douglas courtesy of The Epoch Times