Michael Douglas says he wrote his memoir 'One Helluva Life' to tell a real story, not just the highlight reel or box office numbers. The 82-year-old actor wanted to share the full picture, including painful parts, so his grandchildren could understand his journey.
Douglas recalls having no interest in acting early on, initially wanting to be a lawyer. A brochure showing a man with a surfboard and two women in two-piece bathing suits in 1963 inspired him to go to California, where he attended UC Santa Barbara and eventually declared a theater major.
He reflects on his career, from 'The Streets of San Francisco' to iconic roles like Gordon Gekko and producing 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,' and acknowledges the challenge of living up to his father Kirk Douglas’ legacy. Douglas also opens up about personal struggles, including his split from Catherine Zeta-Jones after 13 years, his son’s drug addiction, and his battle with throat cancer.
Despite his health challenges, Douglas says he is 'feeling great' and emphasizes the value of lived experience and taking chances in life. He describes his approach as flying without a net and facing things head-on, noting that life goes by quickly.
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
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