Los Douglas

Kirk Douglas, cuando tenía 97 años, en una entrevista en la que participa su hijo, el también actor Michael Douglas. Tenían una relación muy estrecha y Michael señala el deseo de Kirk de estar al lado de sus hijos. Para saber: Chavusy, la región de Bielorrusia de donde provenían los padres de Kirk. En vocabulario: stifling, talked his way y standout

Douglas was born Issur Danielovitch in Amsterdam, New York, the son of Bryna "Bertha" and Herschel "Harry" Danielovitch. His parents were Jewish immigrants from Chavusy, Mogilev Region, in the Russian Empire (present-day Belarus), and the family spoke Yiddish at home.

His father's brother, who immigrated earlier, used the surname Demsky, which Douglas's family adopted in the United States. Douglas grew up as Izzy Demsky and legally changed his name to Kirk Douglas before entering the United States Navy during World War II.

Growing up, Douglas sold snacks to mill workers to earn enough to buy milk and bread to help his family. Later, he delivered newspapers and during his youth he had more than forty jobs before becoming an actor. He found living in a family with six sisters to be stifling: "I was dying to get out. In a sense, it lit a fire under me." After appearing in plays at Amsterdam High School, from which he graduated in 1934, he knew he wanted to become a professional actor. Unable to afford the tuition, Douglas talked his way into the dean's office at St. Lawrence University and showed him a list of his high school honors. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1939. He received a loan which he paid back by working part-time as a gardener and a janitor. He was a standout on the wrestling team and wrestled one summer in a carnival to make money.

Kirk Douglas, 1955

Vocabulario

stifling: making one feel constrained or oppressed.

The stifling formality of her family life.

talked his way: convinced someone to allow one to get into a place.

She managed to talk her way past the guard.

standout: celebrity, figure, icon, star.

At the core of all the success is Mitchell, a former Louisville standout.

Para saber

Chavusy is a town in the eastern Belarusian voblast (division) of Mogilev. As of 2009, its population was 10,692.

It once was a substantial Jewish shtetl (a small town), which dated from the 17th century.

Chavusy was occupied during World War II by the Germans beginning in July 1941. Though a portion of the Jewish population was able to escape before the Germans arrived, the remaining Jews were registered, marked and subjected to forced labor under the German occupation. The first two round-ups of Jews occurred in August 1941, in which approximately 50 Jews were killed. Overall, approximately 675 Jews were executed in Chavusy.

Watch Michael Douglas Sneak Up On His Legendary Dad Kirk Douglas

Nancy O'Dell shares a beautiful talk with 97-year-old film legend Kirk Douglas (who is celebrating his birthday on Dec. 9!) and his famous son, Michael, who surprises him during the interview.

—Kirk Douglas is truly a living legend and he´s about to turn 98 years old. Can you believe that? The bond with his children, like Michael Douglas, is truly so very special, as he was telling me about his new book, I had a little surprise for him.

—What do you wish for on your 98 birthday?

—I would like to be a …bird

—I think that´s a good answer. How about your son Michael? I´m sure your son Michael is very nice all the time.

—Michael, I never know where he is.

—You don´t. Does he ever surprise you?

—I never know where he is.

— … from behind you.

—Ohhh! Where did you come from?

He would sit down to talk all about his eleventh book “Life Could Be Verse”.  It´s filled with his poetry, personal stories and family photos like this one, with his grandchildren including Michael´s kids, Cameron, and Dillon and Karis. And this is one of my favorites.

—What a beautiful picture that you have of Michael kissing your forehead. Remember that day?

—I have a picture in my bedroom when Michael is kissing his father.

—It wasn´t the first time. I kissed dad a lot.

—This strong father-son bond has been there since the beginning. Just look at these home movies of Michael when he was just a little boy.

—Dad´s history was that his father was not there and then the one thing he wanted to make sure he did was to make that effort for his sons.

—Michael, you´re gonna make me cry.

—Don´t do that.

—At his side, through it all, has been his wife, Anne, and they´ve been married for 60 years, during that time winning 3 Oscar nominations and an honorary Oscar in 96.

—It´s an inspirational career. You know, he´s probably near the last of his great generation. Everybody else, they were true warriors. (Kirk pretends to be playing the violin.)

You can see Kirk still has a great sense of humor and even though his speech is impaired, his using his voice to make a difference. He and Anne have built playgrounds in over 400 LA public schools and in his book he writes poetry all about the power of the family bond.

—I´m a good father. I have my son.

—I became a good father. It took me too long to see when I needed him more than he needed me.

—Oh, my God. You ought to be an actor.

—You ought to be a writer. He is a fantastic father.

—But when you come to visit me and you come, don´t come in when I am having an…

—An interview? With someone like Nancy?

—Yes.

—I´m just back up. I´m your win man.

—I see…

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Esto es parte del archivo: Kirk, más de un siglo de talento