Latest news with #KirkDouglas
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Bombshell from beyond the grave: Real story behind Oscar-winning actress Gloria Grahame's relationship with her stepson is revealed in a new memoir so explosive it could only be published after everyone involved died, writes BRIAN VINER
The 25th Academy Awards took place on a rainy March evening in 1953, at the Pantages Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard. The first nominee to arrive was Gloria Grahame, heavily tipped to be anointed Best Supporting Actress for her compelling performance as a shallow Southern belle in the hit movie The Bad and the Beautiful, also starring Kirk Douglas and Lana Turner. A couple of hours later, actor Edmund Glenn opened the envelope containing the winner's name. 'Gloria Grahame for The Bad and the Beautiful,' he declared. 'She's the beautiful,' he added, for dramatic effect. Certainly, as she made her way to the stage, not yet 30 and now an Oscar winner, she looked every inch the radiant movie star, basking in the adoration of her peers. Yet there were some in the Hollywood establishment who knew that Grahame was bad as well as beautiful. Less than two years earlier, her husband Nicholas Ray, an acclaimed director of film noirs (who would later make Rebel Without a Cause with James Dean), was said to have discovered her in bed, in their Malibu beach house, with his 13-year-old son, Tony. Tony was a well-built, good-looking lad who looked older than his years. But he was still only 13. And she had first seduced him when he was 12. Grahame had a blast of posthumous publicity eight years ago when Annette Bening played her in the movie Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool. That was based on a memoir by a Liverpudlian actor called Peter Turner (played on screen by Jamie Bell), whose love affair with Grahame began when he was 26 and she was 55. But there was no sense in that film that her predilection for much younger men had started when she herself was 26; that she was, indeed, a paedophile. Last week, another memoir was published which tells, in intimate detail, the story of what really happened between Gloria Grahame and her adolescent stepson Tony Ray. It is an extraordinary and explosive tale, which has never been properly told before for the simple reason that the man telling it, Tony himself, would not allow publication until long after he and everyone else involved was dead. He wrote the book in 1958 when he was 21, two years before he became Grahame's fourth husband (making him stepfather to his own half-brother, Tim, her son by her second husband, Nick Ray). Nick died in 1979, Gloria in 1981 and Tony, aged 80, in 2018. Surviving members of the family have now given the go-ahead to his book Circle of Lions: Nicholas Ray, Gloria Grahame and Me. It starts with a foreword by Tony's daughter Kelsey, who also unearthed the long-forgotten manuscript. In it she acknowledges the 'deep-seated trauma' that 'trickled into every aspect of his later life'. Tony followed his father into the movie industry, becoming head of East Coast production at 20th Century Fox. He was in the running for an Oscar himself as producer of the 1978 Best Picture nominee An Unmarried Woman. But it was a much-married woman who loomed a good deal larger over his life, who was in many ways responsible for his multiple addictions, to drugs, alcohol and gambling, and for his mood swings between, as Kelsey recalls, 'euphoric and grandiose mania' and 'deeply destructive catatonic, depressive episodes'. Yet she also acknowledges that her father loved Gloria until the day he died, ridden with Alzheimer's. She describes 'one of the most profoundly powerful moments I have ever witnessed' beside his hospice bed. 'My mom (Tony's second wife, Eve) chose to put on a DVD of the movie Oklahoma! (in which Grahame unforgettably sang 'I'm Just a Girl Who Can't Say No') as a way to comfort him. 'She wanted to make sure he wasn't afraid and that he knew he would soon be reunited with so many loved ones. The moment my dad heard Gloria's voice, he briefly but abruptly lifted his head, and with a soft smile gently laid back down.' Nearly 70 years had passed since Gloria and Tony had first met, at Los Angeles International Airport. It was June 1950, almost six months shy of Tony's 13th birthday. Tony had got into some minor scrapes at school on the East Coast and his mother, a journalist called Jean Evans, Nick's first wife, thought he might do better living in Los Angeles with his father, who had left the family when Tony was a toddler. By then Nick had been married to Gloria for three years. Perhaps surprisingly, he agreed to let the son he barely knew join the household. Tony arrived from New York fully expecting to be met by his dad. The pair had only seen each other a handful of times down the years, but Nick was too busy to greet his son off the plane. Instead, he sent his pretty, stylish and famous young wife, who wore a V-neck cashmere sweater 'cut very low', and enveloped the boy with a warm hug. While she drove him back to Malibu in her black Cadillac convertible, Gloria asked Tony to light her a Pall Mall cigarette. Reading the book, it is clear that from the start she treated him as if he were much older, and he was duly flattered. That Californian summer the pair became firm friends. While Nick turned down all Tony's entreaties to go fishing, swimming, shooting or riding, even to play cards, with the excuse that he was too busy, Gloria was the opposite of distant. She encouraged her stepson to smoke and drink alcohol with her. She let him brush her hair every morning and even invited him to dry her back after she'd stepped out of the shower. Was she calculatedly grooming him? It certainly reads that way. Thrillingly, when the pair of them were out together, people asked her to sign autographs. Gloria had had a small role in It's a Wonderful Life (1946), had been nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in Crossfire (1947), and had been cast opposite Humphrey Bogart in In A Lonely Place (1950). She was already a fully-fledged movie star and there was no doubt a plethora of willing men available with whom she could have had an extramarital affair, had she wanted to. Yet she chose a boy. Tony's life changed on the day Gloria offered to teach him how to kiss properly. From there their physical relationship developed swiftly but discreetly, although they still lived dangerously. When Nick took Gloria and Tony to stay at the celebrated Cal-Neva Lodge and Casino in Lake Tahoe, on the California-Nevada border, they made the most of his compulsive gambling habit by going further than they had before. While Nick was losing his money on the casino floor, Gloria was pleasuring his adolescent son upstairs. The marriage was volatile, to say the least. Gloria accused Nick of having an affair with Marilyn Monroe, while he raged at her for condemning his gambling. He would frequently move out of the Malibu house and then back in again. While Nick was losing his money on the casino floor, Gloria was pleasuring his adolescent son upstairs (Gloria and Nick seen) But nor was all sweetness and light between Gloria and Tony. In the book he describes a row during which she pulled a gun on him, and then called the police claiming that her stepson had just tried to rape her. When the cops arrived she apologised, telling them she'd merely over-reacted during an argument. But by any measure it was a deeply dysfunctional household. And Tony was still only 13. The later rumours in Hollywood - that Nick Ray had found his teenage son in bed with his movie-star wife – were unfounded. But when Nick heard about the unseemly episode with the police he put two and two together, asking Tony directly how long he and Gloria had been having sex. Tony knew there was no point protesting their innocence. But did his father even want them to be innocent? The book implies that he was already keen to split from Gloria by the time Tony arrived to live with them, and might have manipulated them into having an affair, to facilitate a cheaper divorce. Whatever, Nick and Gloria were divorced in 1952 and two years later she married another director, Cy Howard. But that marriage didn't last either. In 1960, Tony met his father for a drink at Idlewild (later John F Kennedy) Airport in New York. They had barely seen each other since the tumult in Malibu but now Nick was returning to Hollywood from Spain and had an hour or so to spare. He asked Tony if he had seen his classic 1955 film Rebel Without a Cause, arguably the screen's ultimate story of teenage angst. Tony had. For some reason known only to himself, Nick then suggested to his son that he should look up Gloria, and handed over her phone number. In a postscript to his 1958 memoir, added in 2002, Tony wrote: 'I had had no contact with Gloria since I was 13, but had pined for her throughout my teens. I had kept track of her through her movies … When I got to California, I called her. She wanted to see me immediately. I wanted to see her immediately. 'We agreed to meet at the corner of Laurel Canyon and Ventura Boulevard. She would be driving — as she had so many years before — a black Cadillac convertible. 'When she pulled up, I jumped in and we hugged each other for a long time. I saw that in the back seat there was a suitcase and a box of groceries. We drove to the modest guest house I was renting and unpacked Gloria's things. 'She had not come for an hour-long visit. She had come to stay. Gloria and I were married on May 13, 1960.' He was 22 and she was 36. It was the same substantial age gap as before but this time without the smear of paedophilia, not that Gloria's sexual attraction to a child, and her stepson to boot, had in any way hampered her career. She had since won the Academy Award and been given a wonderful role in Oklahoma! Oddly, the 1950s are often held up as an age of moral rectitude, yet nobody seemed at all worried about a female movie star having sex with a minor. Predictably, the marriage between Tony and Gloria came unstuck, although not before she bore him two sons. In 1965, the year their second boy was born, she attempted suicide. She became dependent on alcohol and had a nervous breakdown, while Tony developed his own destructive addictions. When they split up in 1974 the judge granted him custody of the children on the basis that he was 'the lesser of two evils'. It is a desperately sad and seedy story about an illicit Hollywood love triangle that damaged everyone, yet the tone of Tony Ray's book is wistful and affectionate. Its title, Circle of Lions, apparently refers to the way that trauma can be passed from generation to generation, like one vicious lion begetting another. But an alternative title might have been: The Girl Who Just Couldn't Say No.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Michael Douglas Receives Surprise Karlovy Vary Award After Getting Old-Design Honor in 1998
Michael Douglas received a special surprise after introducing the screening of a restored version of Czech-American directing legend Miloš Forman's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, starring Jack Nicholson, at the 59th edition of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) on Saturday. Douglas, who was a producer on the Oscar-winning movie, traveled to the picturesque Czech spa town for the first time since 1998 to present the new version during its 50th anniversary year. More from The Hollywood Reporter Agnieszka Holland on Her Kafka Film 'Franz' and Its Themes, Such as "Dangers of Totalitarian Society" Jodie Whittaker, Jason Watkins Added to BBC Cast for 'Dear England' Vicky Krieps on Jim Jarmusch, Choosing "to Not Prepare" for Roles, Ditching Her Phone for a Year After receiving a rapturous welcome on stage, Douglas shared some history about the film. He earned laughs and applause when he shared that he had arrived only three hours earlier and already enjoyed Czech duck and beer, namely Pilsner Urquell. He expressed gratitude to the festival and also had a special thanks to his Hollywood legend father. 'I have to thank my father, Kirk, for getting the rights to the book,' Douglas said. 'He tried to get it made as a movie for many years, and he couldn't, and he was going to sell it, and that was when I stepped in and I said, 'Dad, please, please don't sell this.' I never thought about being a producer, but I loved this project so much. So I thank my father for giving me that opportunity and not selling it.' After wishing the excited audience a great screening, KVIFF executive director Kryštof Mucha surprised Douglas by handing him a Crystal Globe statuette with the festival's trademark award design — a woman raising a crystal sphere. This version of the award has been used since the 35th anniversary of the festival in 2000, whereas Douglas had received the older design version, which Mucha explained had gained a reputation for not being easy to hold. He said Douglas could now replace the older with the handier new award. As Douglas posed with his new statuette in front of a photo showing him holding the old award in 1998, the audience broke into an enthusiastic standing ovation. Photographers then snapped pictures of Douglas before he left the stage to a hero's farewell. Asked about the new statuette at a press conference later in the day, Douglas said: 'They upgraded me.' One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest made Oscar history as only the second movie to win all five major Academy Award categories: best picture (Douglas and Zaentz), best director (Forman), best actor (Jack Nicholson), best actress (Louise Fletcher), and best adapted screenplay (Lawrence Hauben and Bo Goldman). The new version, restored by the Academy Film Archive, screened as part of KVIFF's 'Out of the Past' section in a special gala. The legendary Douglas was joined there by producer Paul Zaentz, nephew of the late Saul Zaentz, who co-produced the film, as well as members of Forman's family. Adapted from Ken Kesey's novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest centers on Randle McMurphy, a rebellious gambler whose defiance of authority challenges the rigid system of a mental institution. The story is often described as a parable of freedom versus control. Best of The Hollywood Reporter The 40 Best Films About the Immigrant Experience Wes Anderson's Movies Ranked From Worst to Best 13 of Tom Cruise's Most Jaw-Dropping Stunts
Perth Now
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Kevin Spacey declares it's 'nice to be back' as he accepts lifetime achievement award
Kevin Spacey declared it's "nice to be back" before accepting a lifetime achievement award during a charity gala in France. The 'House of Cards' star made a return to the spotlight at the Better World Fund Gala in Cannes to accept a prize honouring "excellence in film and television" marking his first major public appearance since he was cleared of sexual assault charges in London in 2023 - and Spacey used his speech to address his legal issues. According to Spacey thanked Better World Fund Gala President and Founder Manuel Collas de La Rochefor inviting him to the event, saying: "I'd like to congratulate Manuel for the decision to invite me here tonight to accept this award,. "Who would have ever thought that honoring someone who has been exonerated in every court room he's ever walked into would be thought of as a brave idea. But here we are." He went on to talk about screenwriter Dalton Trumbo - who was blacklisted from Hollywood after being accused of having Communist links - and praised the "bravery" of actor Kirk Douglas for standing up for Trumbo and giving him the chance to pen the screenplay for his Oscar-winning movie 'Spartacus'. Space added: "Kirk Douglas took the risk, and would later say ... 'It's easier for us actors to play the heroes on screen. We get to fight the bad guys and stand up for justice. But in real life, the choices are not always so clear. There are times when one has to stand up for principal'. "I've learned a lot from history - it often repeats itself. The Blacklist was a terrible time in our history [we must remember] so that it never happens again." He went on to praise his manager Evan Lowenstein for helping him through the tough times. Spacey said: "Through Evan, I have learned to seek understanding instead of judgement and with this guidance, I've been able to come out these last few challenging years, not angry, not bitter, not resentful, but more present, more loving, more understanding and more forgiving in my life." Spacey's speech came after he walked the red carpet at the event and told reporters: "I feel surrounded by so much affection and love. "I've heard from so many of my friends, and colleagues and co-stars in the last week since this award was announced. I feel surrounded by support and it's very nice to be back." When asked if he is planning a career comeback, Spacey replied: "Well, I'm glad to be working - I'll tell you that!" Spacey denied all allegations of misconduct against him and he was acquitted of nine sexual assault charges he faced in the UK in 2023. He was also found not liable in a sexual assault lawsuit filed in New York which was dismissed in 2022.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kevin Spacey declares it's 'nice to be back' as he accepts lifetime achievement award
Kevin Spacey declared it's "nice to be back" before accepting a lifetime achievement award during a charity gala in France. The 'House of Cards' star made a return to the spotlight at the Better World Fund Gala in Cannes to accept a prize honouring "excellence in film and television" marking his first major public appearance since he was cleared of sexual assault charges in London in 2023 - and Spacey used his speech to address his legal issues. According to Spacey thanked Better World Fund Gala President and Founder Manuel Collas de La Rochefor inviting him to the event, saying: "I'd like to congratulate Manuel for the decision to invite me here tonight to accept this award,. "Who would have ever thought that honoring someone who has been exonerated in every court room he's ever walked into would be thought of as a brave idea. But here we are." He went on to talk about screenwriter Dalton Trumbo - who was blacklisted from Hollywood after being accused of having Communist links - and praised the "bravery" of actor Kirk Douglas for standing up for Trumbo and giving him the chance to pen the screenplay for his Oscar-winning movie 'Spartacus'. Space added: "Kirk Douglas took the risk, and would later say ... 'It's easier for us actors to play the heroes on screen. We get to fight the bad guys and stand up for justice. But in real life, the choices are not always so clear. There are times when one has to stand up for principal'. "I've learned a lot from history - it often repeats itself. The Blacklist was a terrible time in our history [we must remember] so that it never happens again." He went on to praise his manager Evan Lowenstein for helping him through the tough times. Spacey said: "Through Evan, I have learned to seek understanding instead of judgement and with this guidance, I've been able to come out these last few challenging years, not angry, not bitter, not resentful, but more present, more loving, more understanding and more forgiving in my life." Spacey's speech came after he walked the red carpet at the event and told reporters: "I feel surrounded by so much affection and love. "I've heard from so many of my friends, and colleagues and co-stars in the last week since this award was announced. I feel surrounded by support and it's very nice to be back." When asked if he is planning a career comeback, Spacey replied: "Well, I'm glad to be working - I'll tell you that!" Spacey denied all allegations of misconduct against him and he was acquitted of nine sexual assault charges he faced in the UK in 2023. He was also found not liable in a sexual assault lawsuit filed in New York which was dismissed in 2022.
Arabian Business
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Arabian Business
Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills Kuwait's Action Real Estate Company acquires two Beverley Hills hotels Abu Dhabi Million Dollar Listing: UAE braced to broadcast to 83m streaming households with Roku Aman Aman has 10 more planned branded residences projects in Bangkok, Beverly Hills, Miami, and Japan Abu Dhabi The real estate reality show brings its debut international spin-off to the UAE, capitalising on Dubai and Abu Dhabi's booming luxury property markets Beverly Hills Kirk Douglas came to prominence in the late 1940s and never lost his popularity, taking on nearly 100 movies over a six-decade career Beverly Hills Hollywood's brightest stars sparkled Sunday on the red carpet at the Golden Globes, the first showbiz awards gala of 2020 #media Hollywood descended on the red carpet Sunday for the Golden Globes, with hit musical romance 'A Star Is Born' the favorite to win big at the first and sassiest gala of the annual awards season. Under a bright California sun, Tinseltown's A-listers worked the entertainment press and cameras for the first time this awards season at the Beverly Hilton, in the run-up to the all-important Oscars on February 24. Beverly Hills Green Book, Roma among the big winners Beverly Hills The baroque-style mansion boasts a garage that accommodates 40 cars Beverly Hills The baroque-style mansion boasts a garage that accommodates 40 cars Beverly Hills Top awards for TV drama The Handmaid's Tale and film Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
