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A photo of Kirk Douglas

Kirk Douglas 1916 - 2020

Issur Danielovitch was born on December 9, 1916 in Amsterdam, Montgomery County, New York United States, and had a sister Mary Tarcher. He married Diana Douglas on November 2, 1943 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California and they later divorced on February 23, 1951 in Los Angeles. They had children Michael Kirk Douglas and Joel Andrew Douglas. He would also marry Anne Douglas on May 29, 1954 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, and they were married until Issur's death on February 5, 2020 in Beverly Hills. They had children Peter Vincent Douglas and Eric Anthony Douglas.

Issur Danielovitch
Isador Demsky, Izzy, Izzy Demsky, Issur Danielovitch
Name
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Last residence
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December 9, 1916
Amsterdam, Montgomery County, New York, 12010, United States
Birth
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February 5, 2020
Beverly Hills, Los Angeles County, California, United States
Death
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Updated: November 7, 2022
Biography ID: 1422324 What's this
Kirk Douglas Issur Danielovitch (1916 - 2020)
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Issur Danielovitch's History: 1916 - 2020

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  • Introduction

    Born Issur Danielovitch, he went by "Izzy Demsky" before he changed his name to Kirk Douglas when he entered World War 2. He had two wives, four children, a film career that spanned several decades - and he lived 103 years! Kirk Douglas certainly made his mark in life. His film debut was in "The Strange Love of Martha Ivers", with Barbara Stanwyck, in 1946. Three Academy Award nominations, an Oscar for Lifetime Achievement, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, 10 novels and memoirs, and number 17 on the list of "greatest male screen legends of classic Hollywood cinema", he survived a helicopter crash in 1991 and a bad stroke in 1996. He was married to his second wife for 65 years (until his death).
  • 12/9
    1916

    Birthday

    December 9, 1916
    Birthdate
    Amsterdam, Montgomery County, New York 12010, United States
    Birthplace
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  • Ethnicity & Family History

    Jewish parents from Belarus (Russian Empire).

  • Nationality & Locations

    New York and Beverly Hills, Los Angeles California.

  • Early Life & Education

    Kirk's acting talents earned him a special scholarship to attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City.

  • Religious Beliefs

    Kirk was born and raised into a Jewish family. He was not particularly religious until in February 1991 when he was 74 years old and was in a helicopter that crashed into a small place above the Santa Paula Airport. He was injured, two people died, and two others were injured. This near-death experience led him to search for meaning in life and eventually led him to embrace Judaism.

  • Military Service

    Joined the U.S. Navy in 1941 shortly after the United States entered World War II. He served on the USS PC-1139 as a communications officer. He was discharged in 1944 after finding injuries sustained from the premature explosion of a depth charge.

  • Professional Career

    After serving in World War II Kirk returned to New York City and worked in radio, theater and commercials. His first big break on stage was when he took over a role played by Richard Widmark in 'Kiss and Tell (1943). A few years later, his friend Lauren Bacall introduced him to producer Hal B. Wallis who used Kirk to play in his film "The Strange Love of Martha Ivers" (1946). From then on Kirk appeared in numerous films through the early 2000s. He ended up filling many roles including actor, producer, director and author.

  • Personal Life & Family

    Kirk was particularly involved in philanthropy. He and his wife Anne donated to his former high school and college, numerous other schools, hospitals and non-profits in Southern California. The couple donated approximately $40 million to an Alzheimer's treatment facility in Woodland Hills and a number of playgrounds in Jerusalem and the Kirk Douglas Theater at the Aish Center across from the Western Wall.
  • 02/5
    2020

    Death

    February 5, 2020
    Death date
    kept private by family
    Cause of death
    Beverly Hills, Los Angeles County, California United States
    Death location
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  • 02/7
    2020

    Gravesite & Burial

    February 7, 2020
    Funeral date
    Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park & Mortuary 1218 Glendon Ave, in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California 90024, United States
    Burial location
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3 Memories, Stories & Photos about Issur

Kirk Douglas
Photo of Kathy Pinna Kathy Pinna
31.2k+ favorites
02/05/2020
Kirk Douglas
A photo of Kirk Douglas taken in 1950s Los Angeles. (His birth name was Issur Danielovitch and he was known as Izzy Demsky before his career as an actor in old Hollywood demanded a name change.)

A great actor, he was also a writer (10 books!) and father of 4 - one of whom is Michael Douglas (who looks just like him).

RIP Kirk - or Izzy.
Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.
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Photo of Mary Neeley Mary Neeley
545 favorites
12/10/2020
My memory of Kirk Douglas was when my Jewish girlfriends talked about all the Jewish guys they thought were hot. I am not Jewish but there are TONS of Jewish guys I think are handsome. I never put Kirk Douglas on my list. This photo, though makes me rethink it. HOT DANG! THANKS FOR SHARING!
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Photo of Daniel Pinna Daniel Pinna
9.25k+ favorites
12/10/2020
Kirk Douglas Filmography
1946 The Strange Love of Martha Ivers Walter O'Neil
1947 Out of the Past Whit Sterling
Mourning Becomes Electra Peter Niles
1948 I Walk Alone Noll "Dink" Turner
The Walls of Jericho Tucker Wedge
My Dear Secretary Owen Waterbury
1949 A Letter to Three Wives George Phipps
Champion Michael "Midge" Kelly Nominated - Academy Award for Best Actor
1950 Young Man with a Horn Rick Martin
The Glass Menagerie Jim O'Connor
1951 Along the Great Divide Marshal Len Merrick
Ace in the Hole Chuck Tatum
Detective Story Detective Jim McLeod
1952 The Big Trees Jim Fallon
The Big Sky Jim Deakins
The Bad and the Beautiful Jonathan Shields Nominated - Academy Award for Best Actor
1953 The Story of Three Loves Pierre Narval (segment "Equilibrium")
The Juggler Hans Muller
Act of Love Robert Teller
1954 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Ned Land
1955 The Racers Gino Borgesa
Ulysses Odysseus aka Ulysses
Man Without a Star Dempsey Rae
The Indian Fighter Johnny Hawks
1956 Lust for Life Vincent van Gogh Nominated - Academy Award for Best Actor
1957 Top Secret Affair Maj. Gen. Melville A. Goodwin
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral Doc Holliday
Paths of Glory Colonel Dax
1958 The Vikings Einar
1959 Tales of the Vikings TV series (39 episodes)
Last Train from Gun Hill Matt Morgan
The Devil's Disciple Richard "Dick" Dudgeon
1960 Strangers When We Meet Larry Coe
Spartacus Spartacus Also co-executive producer
1961 Town Without Pity Major Garrett
The Last Sunset Brendan "Bren" O'Malley
1962 Lonely Are the Brave John W. "Jack" Burns
Two Weeks in Another Town Jack Andrus
1963 The Hook Sgt. P.J. Briscoe
The List of Adrian Messenger George Brougham, Vicar Atlee, Mr. Pythian, Arthur Henderson
For Love or Money Donald Kenneth "Deke" Gentry
1964 Seven Days in May Colonel Jiggs Casey
1965 In Harm's Way Commander Paul Eddington
The Heroes of Telemark Dr Rolf Pedersen
1966 Cast a Giant Shadow Col. Mickey Marcus
Is Paris Burning? Gen. George Patton
1967 The Way West Sen. William J. Tadlock
The War Wagon Lomax
1968 A Lovely Way to Die Jim Schuyler
The Brotherhood Frank Ginetta Also producer
The Legend of Silent Night Voice, Narrator TV movie
1969 The Arrangement Eddie Anderson
1970 There Was a Crooked Man... Paris Pitman Jr.
1971 To Catch a Spy Andrej
The Light at the Edge of the World Will Denton Also producer
A Gunfight Will Tenneray
Summertree Producer only
1972 The Master Touch Steve Wallace
The Special London Bridge Special The Indian Fighter TV movie
1973 Scalawag Peg Also director
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Musical TV movie
1974 Mousey George Anderson TV movie
1975 Posse Marshal Howard Nightingale Also director/producer/co-writer
Once Is Not Enough Mike Wayne
1976 Victory at Entebbe Hershel Vilnofsky TV movie
Arthur Hailey's the Moneychangers Alex Vandervoort TV mini-series (4 episodes)
1977 Holocaust 2000 Robert Caine aka Rain of Fire and The Chosen
1978 The Fury Peter Sandza
1979 The Villain Cactus Jack
1980 Saturn 3 Adam
Home Movies Dr. Tuttle "The Maestro"
The Final Countdown Capt. Matthew Yelland
1982 The Man from Snowy River Harrison/Spur
Remembrance of Love[3] Joe Rabin TV movie
1983 Eddie Macon's Run Marzack
1984 Draw! Harry H. Holland TV movie
1985 Amos[4] Amos Lasher TV movie
1986 Tough Guys Archie Long Also production consultant
1987 Queenie David Konig TV movie
1988 Inherit the Wind Matthew Harrison Brady TV movie
1991 Oscar Eduardo Provolone
Veraz/Welcome to Veraz[5] Quentin
Tales from the Crypt General Kalthrob TV series (1 episode: "Yellow")
1992 The Secret Grandpa Mike Dunmore TV movie
1994 Greedy Uncle Joe McTeague
Take Me Home Again Ed Reece TV movie
1996 The Simpsons Chester J. Lampwick Voice, TV series (1 episode: "The Day the Violence Died")
1999 Diamonds Harry Agensky
2000 Touched by an Angel Ross Burger TV series (1 episode: "Bar Mitzvah")
2003 It Runs in the Family Mitchell Gromberg His son Michael Douglas and grandson Cameron Douglas also appeared in the film
2004 Illusion Donald Baines
2008 Empire State Building Murders[6] Jim Kovalski TV movie; aka Meurtres à L'Empire State Building; final role
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Issur Danielovitch's Family Tree & Friends

Issur Danielovitch's Family Tree

Parent
Parent
Kirk Douglas
Kirk Douglas Dec 9, 1916 - Feb 5, 2020
Partner
Sibling
Child
Mary Tarcher May 25, 1901 - Apr 1980
Marriage

Diana Douglas

&

Kirk Douglas

November 2, 1943
Marriage date
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California United States
Marriage location
Divorce
Cause of Separation
February 23, 1951
Divorce date
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California United States
Divorce location
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Kirk Douglas
Kirk Douglas Dec 9, 1916 - Feb 5, 2020
Diana Douglas Jan 22, 1923 - Jul 3, 2015
Child
Michael Kirk Douglas born Sep 25, 1944
Joel Andrew Douglas born Jan 23, 1947
Marriage

Anne Douglas

&

Kirk Douglas

May 29, 1954
Marriage date
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California United States
Marriage location
Issur's Death
Cause of Separation
February 5, 2020
Issur's death date
Beverly Hills, Los Angeles County, California United States
Separation location
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Kirk Douglas
Kirk Douglas Dec 9, 1916 - Feb 5, 2020
Anne Douglas Apr 23, 1919 - Apr 29, 2021
Child
Eric Anthony Douglas Jun 21, 1958 - Jul 6, 2004
Peter Vincent Douglas born Nov 23, 1955
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Friendships

Issur's Friends

Friends of Issur Friends can be as close as family. Add Issur's family friends, and his friends from childhood through adulthood.
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7 Followers & Sources
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