Michael Douglas Opens Up About Childhood Abuse by Father Kirk Douglas in New Memoir

Michael Douglas is sharing painful details about his childhood, revealing that his father, legendary actor Kirk Douglas, physically disciplined him when he was young and that he waited until after his father’s death to discuss the experiences publicly.

In his memoir, One Helluva Ride, Douglas writes about the complicated relationship he had with his father, one of Hollywood’s most celebrated stars.

Asked why he did not address the subject while Kirk Douglas was still alive, Michael Douglas said he was uncomfortable discussing the physical abuse he experienced growing up.

“He was of a generation that hit,” Douglas said, noting that corporal punishment was common during his childhood. He added that his father was a tough and demanding figure, while his mother also used physical discipline.

Douglas said those experiences shaped his relationship with his father well into adulthood and contributed to a lengthy process of forgiveness.

“That was also one of the reasons why it took a little time to warm up as we got older, and to forgive him,” he said.

Kirk Douglas, who died in 2020 at age 103, built a legendary Hollywood career with films such as Spartacus. Despite admiring his father’s strength and determination, Michael Douglas said growing up in his shadow was often difficult.

“I looked at Dad as just Superman,” he said. “He was so dynamic. He was so strong. He had such tenacity.”

At the same time, Douglas said he struggled with feelings of inadequacy and doubted he could ever live up to his father’s larger-than-life presence.

“I never thought I could be the man my father was,” he said. “It took me a long time to gain confidence.”

Douglas also acknowledged inheriting some of his father’s traits, including his ambition, perseverance and temper.

“I think I inherited my father’s tenacity, my father’s ambition and his rage,” he said.

Despite the challenges in their relationship, Douglas said time ultimately helped heal old wounds.

“Time heals. Hopefully. Life moves on,” he said.

The actor also recalled his father’s sense of humor about their complicated relationship. After Michael Douglas won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in Wall Street, he said his father joked, “I would have been nicer to you if I knew how successful you were going to be.”

Douglas said that, in later years, his father took pride in his accomplishments and viewed the success of future generations as a form of legacy and continuity.

The memoir also includes revelations about other periods of Douglas’ life, including a previously undisclosed romance with actress Kathleen Turner during the filming of Romancing the Stone. According to Douglas, the relationship began while he was separated from his first wife, Diandra Douglas, but ended after she visited the set with their son, Cameron.

The book offers a candid look at Douglas’ career, family relationships and the challenges he faced growing up as the son of one of Hollywood’s most famous actors.