When Catherine Zeta-Jones married Michael Douglas in November 2000, it was she who entered into a family with a storied Hollywood lineage. Zeta-Jones, born to a seamstress and a small factory owner, had a very different background compared to Michael, whose parents were the renowned Classic Hollywood figure Kirk Douglas and Diana Dill. Despite their disparate upbringings, Michael found himself fitting in well with his new in-laws. Zeta-Jones\u2019 parents, David and Patricia Jones, were initially surprised by her choice of partner.<\/p>\n
In a 2010 interview with The Guardian, Michael, who is the same age as his in-laws, shared, \u201cI wasn\u2019t quite the son-in-law her parents had envisioned!\u201d However, they quickly grew fond of him. He humorously mentioned, \u201cI do like to wind up Catherine\u2019s father and call him Pops.\u201d During the upbringing of Michael and Zeta-Jones\u2019 children, Dylan and Carys, the family would visit David and Patricia in Wales each summer. These visits offered the children a chance to experience life beyond the glitz and glamour of Hollywood and allowed Michael and Zeta-Jones some quality time alone.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe grandparents have a very nice house up there, but they do normal stuff in Mumbles and it gives us a chance to do something romantic,\u201d Michael mentioned. His positive relationship with the in-laws was reciprocated. When Michael and Zeta-Jones took a break in 2013, his mother expressed her closeness to the couple, stating, \u201cI knew they would work it out,\u201d when they reconciled the following year. Kirk Douglas held similar sentiments.<\/p>\n
Catherine Zeta-Jones had a special place in her heart for Kirk Douglas and affectionately referred to him by a pet name. In a December 2019 Instagram post, she celebrated Kirk\u2019s 103rd birthday with a heartfelt message. Beyond their personal connection, Zeta-Jones admired Douglas for the positive changes he brought about in Hollywood. When presenting a Golden Globe award with Douglas in January 2018, Zeta-Jones highlighted his role in ending the Hollywood Blacklist in 1960, emphasizing his decision to credit blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo for his work on \u2018Spartacus\u2019. Douglas reciprocated this respect, expressing, \u201cI want to say a speech, but I don\u2019t want to say it because I could never follow you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Following Kirk\u2019s passing in February 2020, Zeta-Jones openly displayed her affection for him on social media. She shared a black-and-white photo of them together on Instagram with the caption, \u201cTo my darling Kirk, I shall love you for the rest of my life. I miss you already. Sleep tight.\u201d Even after his passing, she continued to express her appreciation, commemorating what would have been his 104th birthday in a December 2020 Instagram post.<\/p>\n
Michael Douglas, a big admirer of Kirk Douglas, experienced both mutual admiration and some professional tensions due to their shared industry. In the 1970s, Michael sought his father\u2019s permission to acquire the rights to \u201cOne Flew Over the Cuckoo\u2019s Nest,\u201d a project Kirk had previously turned into a play with himself in the lead role. Michael secured the rights, but ultimately, Jack Nicholson played the lead in the 1975 film, earning an Oscar for his performance.<\/p>\n
In retrospect, Michael acknowledged his father\u2019s initial disappointment, stating, \u201cIn his version, \u2018Yeah, sure, Michael gets the project, takes a year, sets it all up and doesn\u2019t cast me in the part!'\u201d Despite this, Michael believed that director Milo\u0161 Forman thought the role called for a younger actor. Over time, Kirk forgave the situation and remained supportive of his son. Michael always knew he could rely on his father, especially during the early years when Kirk dealt with fame and the aftermath of his divorce from Diana Dill. Michael expressed, \u201cWe always knew he was there.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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