Kirk Douglas Turns 100 — With Help From Son Michael and Catherine Zeta-Jones
It’s a special day for the Douglas family as patriarch Kirk turns 100.
The Spartacus star, who was given an honorary Academy Award in 1996 for his many accomplishments in the movie biz, hasn’t made public appearances in the past few years, and although he’s not on social media himself, he’s getting birthday wishes from his nearest and dearest. Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, of course, led the charge, paying tribute to “Dad” and “Pappy” — with the actress posting an especially cute video featuring Kirk the Dancing King.
Related: Kirk Douglas Turns 100: A Tribute to the Screen Legend and 6 Essential Movies
Michael kept his tribute short and sweet, writing, “Happy 100th Birthday Dad! Congratulations on this incredible milestone!” along with some movie stills of the centenarian. The distinctive dimple that he has on his chin, of course, was front and center. There were also a couple of shirtless shots from Spartacus and Champion.
CZJ, who has always had a close relationship with her father-in-law, posted a much more personal tribute — and you’ll probably need to watch it more than once like we did. It starts with title cards (“Happy birthday Kirk. 100 years old today. Love you Pappy”) and then a slew of public and personal photos tick by as David Bowie’s “Young Americans” plays.
A video posted by Catherine Zeta-Jones (@catherinezetajones) on Dec 9, 2016 at 7:55am PST
Some of our favorite moments from the video include Kirk dancing. In a tracksuit. Next to a dog. This is what the 100 points emoji was created for. It’s. The. Best.
Though this — with his grandson Dylan — is pretty amazing too. (Can he please be our honorary grandpa?)
And we bet he’d like us to share this one from Dylan’s bar mitzvah in 2014. After a near-death experience in 1991 — he survived a helicopter crash that killed two others — Douglas embraced his Jewish faith and even made a trip to pray at Jerusalem’s Western Wall. (Carys Douglas is also pictured.)
During an interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2010, Michael was asked about his relationship with his dad, who, because of his movie career, he didn’t see all that much of when he was a child. (He was largely raised by his mother, Diana Douglas, and her second husband, William Darrid, whom Michael called his “surrogate father.”)
“We’ve always gotten along,” Michael said of Kirk. However, “he dramatically changed when he was 70 when he had the helicopter accident. … He’s always sort of wondered: ‘How did I survive?’ And he really dramatically changed his life then. He began studying with a rabbi. Studying the Old Testament. He became a much more spiritual man.”
And family-centric, which the video shows, with serious, serious dance moves.