Kirk Douglas (born Issur Danielovitch; December 9, 1916 – February 5, 2020) was an American actor, producer, director, philanthropist and author. After an impoverished childhood with immigrant parents and six sisters, he made his film debut in The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946) with Barbara Stanwyck.
Douglas soon developed into a leading box-office star throughout the 1950s, known for serious dramas, including westerns and war films. During his career, he appeared in more than 90 films. Douglas was known for his explosive acting style, which he displayed as a criminal defense attorney in Town Without Pity (1961).
Frank Sinatra and Kirk Douglas' amazing kindness to John Wayne weeks before Duke's death
msn.comJohn Wayne suffered years of ill health during his final couple of decades. The heavy-drinking and smoking star had a lung and some ribs removed in 1964 due to a cancer diagnosis.
During his last years, Duke struggled through his more physically challenging roles, secretly relying on an oxygen mask and even being hospitalised on his last movie The Shootist.
Yet by early 1979, he was dying from stomach cancer and wore a wetsuit under his tuxedo at the Oscars in his last public appearance.
Just weeks before his death on June 11, 1979, fellow Hollywood legends banded together - including those opposed to his conservative political views - in a striking showing of amazing kindness.
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