Michael Douglas has no plans to act again
The 80-year-old actor has taken a step back from his career but refuses to declare he is now retired because if a "special" project came his way, he'd be open to getting back in front of the camera again.
Speaking at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival in the Czech Republic, Variety reports he said during a press conference: 'I have not worked since 2022 purposefully because I realised I had to stop.
"I had been working pretty hard for almost 60 years, and I did not want to be one of those people who dropped dead on the set. I have no real intentions of going back. I say I'm not retired because if something special came up, I'd go back, but otherwise, no.
But Michael admitted he has 'one little independent movie' he is 'trying to get a good script out of.
However, 'in the spirit of maintaining a good marriage,' he is 'happy to play the wife' now and let the career of his spouse Catherine Zeta-Jones take centre stage.
In 2010, the One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest actor was diagnosed with cancer and he feels "fortunate" that he didn't need to undergo surgery, which would have been "limiting" for his career.
He said: 'Stage 4 cancer is not a holiday, but there aren't many choices, are there?
'I went with the programme, involving chemo and radiation, and was fortunate. The surgery would have meant not being able to talk and removing part of my jaw and that would have been limiting as an actor.'
The Wall Street star also spoke of his fears for the US under the presidency of Donald Trump, noting the country is currently 'flirting with autocracy' and "idealism" has been lost.
He said: 'I look at it generally as the fact of how precious democracy is, of how vulnerable it is and how it always has to be protected.
'I hope that what we're struggling with right now is a reminder of all the hard work the Czechs did in gaining their freedom and independence. Politics now seem to be for profit. Money has entered democracy as a profit centre. People are going into politics now to make money. We maintained an ideal, an idealism in the US, which does not exist now.'
Michael prefers 'not to go into too much detail' because 'the news speaks for itself.'
He added: 'I myself am worried, I am nervous, and I think it's all of our responsibility to look out for ourselves.'
here near that kind of quality of movies there?'
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Sky News AU
2 hours ago
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'I had to stop': Hollywood icon Michael Douglas says he has 'no real intentions' of acting again as he slams Trump-era politics
Michael Douglas has declared he has "no intention" of returning to acting, as he speaks out about the state of democracy in the United States under former president Donald Trump. The 80-year-old two-time Oscar winner made the announcement at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival in the Czech Republic, where he presented a newly restored print of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest to mark the film's 50th anniversary. Douglas co-produced the classic 1975 film, which went on to win five Academy Awards. "I have not worked since 2022 purposefully because I realised I had to stop," the son of late Hollywood stars Kirk and Diana Douglas told the audience, as per Variety. "I had been working pretty hard for almost 60 years, and I did not want to be one of those people who dropped dead on the set. "I have no real intentions of going back. I say I'm not retired because if something special came up, I'd go back, but otherwise, no." The actor and producer, who previously battled stage four throat cancer, was last seen on screen as Benjamin Franklin in the Apple TV+ limited series Franklin, which wrapped filming in 2022 and premiered in 2024. He said he's now "very happy" to be spending downtime with his family, including his wife of 24 years, Welsh actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, and their two children, Dylan, 24, and Carys, 22. Douglas also shares eldest son Cameron, 46, with ex-wife Diandra Luker. "In the spirit of maintaining a good marriage," he joked, "I'm happy to play the wife" to Zeta-Jones, 55. Alongside his career update, Douglas issued a stark warning about the direction of American politics, particularly under the influence of Donald Trump. "I look at it generally as the fact of how precious democracy is, of how vulnerable it is and how it always has to be protected," he said. "I hope that what we're struggling with right now is a reminder of all the hard work the Czechs did in gaining their freedom and independence. "Politics now seem to be for profit. Money has entered democracy as a profit centre. People are going into politics now to make money. We maintained an ideal, an idealism in the US, which does not exist now." The Fatal Attraction star added that he would prefer "not to go into too much detail" as "the news speaks for itself". "I myself am worried, I am nervous, and I think it's all of our responsibility to look out for ourselves," he said. Douglas' political concerns echo those of his son, Dylan, who hosts the SiriusXM radio show 'Young American', which focuses on political issues and youth engagement. At just 19, Dylan served as deputy campaign manager in a major congressional race and went on to co-found the progressive political action committee 'Make Room', aimed at supporting young and diverse candidates. In October, the Brown University graduate reflected on his early passion for politics, recalling when his parents pulled him out of school to witness former President Barack Obama's 2009 inauguration. "Our generation is the most politically active, but the least civically involved," he told The Hill. Despite his involvement, Dylan, a self-described "proud Democrat", has said he has no plans to run for office himself.
Herald Sun
14 hours ago
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Hollywood legend Michael Douglas drops career bombshell
Don't miss out on the headlines from Celebrity Life. Followed categories will be added to My News. After decades in the business and with dozens of films under his belt, Michael Douglas has 'no intention' of acting again. The 80-year-old delivered the sad update for fans during a press conference at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival where he was presenting a newly-restored print of Miloš Forman's classic One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, according to Variety. 'I have not worked since 2022 purposefully because I realised I had to stop,' Douglas told the audience in the Czech Republic. 'I had been working pretty hard for almost 60 years, and I did not want to be one of those people who dropped dead on the set. I have no real intentions of going back. I say I'm not retired because if something special came up, I'd go back, but otherwise, no.' Douglas with wife Catherine Zeta-Jones at the 2021 Emmys. Picture:The actor was joined by Zeta-Jones and their daughter Carys at Cannes in 2023. Picture:The Wall Street and Fatal Attraction star, who was diagnosed with throat cancer 15 years ago, but later revealed it had actually been tongue cancer, also talked about his health battle. 'Stage 4 cancer is not a holiday, but there aren't many choices, are there?' Douglas said. 'I went with the program, involving chemo and radiation, and was fortunate. The surgery would have meant not being able to talk and removing part of my jaw and that would have been limiting as an actor.' Douglas in a scene from The In-Laws. And with Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction. It comes after Douglas, who is now cancer-free, told Deadline that he was 'enjoying' his break from being in front of the camera while focusing on his personal life and producing films. Throughout his lengthy career, Douglas has earned plenty of accolades, including an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance as Gordon Gekko in 1987 film Wall Street. He also produced the Jack Nicholson-led One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest in 1975, which went on to win Best Picture at the Oscars. His other notable on-screen roles include in Romancing The Stone, Fatal Attraction, The War of the Roses, Basic Instinct, The American President and Solitary Man. Douglas is married to actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, with whom he shares a son and a daughter, and also has a son, Cameron, with ex-wife Diandra Luker. Originally published as Hollywood legend Michael Douglas drops career bombshell
News.com.au
14 hours ago
- News.com.au
Hollywood legend Michael Douglas drops career bombshell
After decades in the business and with dozens of films under his belt, Michael Douglas has 'no intention' of acting again. The 80-year-old delivered the sad update for fans during a press conference at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival where he was presenting a newly-restored print of Miloš Forman's classic One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, according to V ariety. 'I have not worked since 2022 purposefully because I realised I had to stop,' Douglas told the audience in the Czech Republic. 'I had been working pretty hard for almost 60 years, and I did not want to be one of those people who dropped dead on the set. I have no real intentions of going back. I say I'm not retired because if something special came up, I'd go back, but otherwise, no.' The Wall Street and Fatal Attraction star, who was diagnosed with throat cancer 15 years ago, but later revealed it had actually been tongue cancer, also talked about his health battle. 'Stage 4 cancer is not a holiday, but there aren't many choices, are there?' Douglas said. 'I went with the program, involving chemo and radiation, and was fortunate. The surgery would have meant not being able to talk and removing part of my jaw and that would have been limiting as an actor.' It comes after Douglas, who is now cancer-free, told Deadline that he was 'enjoying' his break from being in front of the camera while focusing on his personal life and producing films. Throughout his lengthy career, Douglas has earned plenty of accolades, including an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance as Gordon Gekko in 1987 film Wall Street. He also produced the Jack Nicholson-led One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest in 1975, which went on to win Best Picture at the Oscars. His other notable on-screen roles include in Romancing The Stone, Fatal Attraction, The War of the Roses, Basic Instinct, The American President and Solitary Man. Douglas is married to actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, with whom he shares a son and a daughter, and also has a son, Cameron, with ex-wife Diandra Luker.
