Michael Douglas Celebrates Easter With Throwback Photo With Late Father Kirk Douglas

During Easter 1953, eight-year-old Michael Douglas posed with his dad, Kirk Douglas, who was filming in Paris at the time. The late Kirk posed with his sons, Michael and Joel, at the Orly airport to mark their time together, especially since their divorce from their mother, Diana. Check out the recently unearthed photo here.

Michael often reminisces about his childhood with famous parents, especially his mother, who died in 2015. “She struggled as a single mum, working in soap operas and on and off Broadway,” he told The Guardian. “Then she made a wonderful choice in her next husband, a lovely man, another actor, called Bill Darrid. They married when I was 12.”

Michael Douglas on growing up in Hollywood

Michael often credits his late father for inspiring him, particularly as an entertainer, though his stepfather Bill contributed to his upbringing as well. “Bill was an extraordinary guy, the most important male influence through my teenage years. To his credit, Kirk always referred to him as my surrogate father,” Michael reflected. “Stepparents often get a bad press. But it isn’t always true.”

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After Kirk passed in 2020, The Sentinel star penned a heartfelt tribute saying, “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.”

While grieving his famous dad’s death, Michael noted that 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.”

“To me and my brothers Joel and Peter, he was simply Dad,” he added, adding that his life was “well lived.”

Michael, who turns 80 in September, is a father to Cameron, Dylan-Michael, and Carys. After decades in Hollywood, Michael claims his family is more important as he relishes “the joy of raising kids.” “My career was the most important thing in my life, followed by marriage and children…and it’s completely reversed now. I never anticipated starting a family,” he admitted years ago.