After nearly 60 years in Hollywood, legendary actor Michael Douglas, 80, recently surprised his fans by announcing that he “has to leave” acting before he “dies on set.”
Before establishing himself as a charismatic and often ruthless presence on the big screen during the 1980s and 1990s, Douglas, then 31, won his first Academy Award in 1976 as producer of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.
Throughout his career, the 80-year-old Douglas—son of legendary Kirk Douglas—redefined the image of the complex male lead with roles such as the morally ambiguous Gordon Gekko in Wall Street (which earned him his second Oscar) and in psychological thrillers like Fatal Attraction and Basic Instinct.
Marvel’s “Ant-Man”
Although Douglas has taken on a wide range of roles over nearly six decades, younger audiences likely know him best as Dr. Hank Pym in Marvel’s Ant-Man franchise.
His last appearance was in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023), but fans should not expect him to return to the MCU anytime soon.
“I had the experience and was excited to do it. I had never filmed a movie with a green screen before,” Douglas told Deadline in an interview marking the 50th anniversary of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, the film for which his father handed him the production rights. “I did The Kominsky Method because I wanted to work with Chuck Lorre and try comedy.”
Reflecting on his career and the challenges of balancing life as both actor and producer, Douglas admitted that the constant demands took a toll.
“I’m enjoying my break and my life. It was overwhelming to run the production company and act at the same time,” he said, referring to Further Films, which he founded in 1997. The independent production company has backed projects such as Don’t Say a Word, One Night at McCool’s, and Ratched, the 2020 TV series based on Nurse Mildred Ratched from Cuckoo’s Nest.
No Dying on Set
Now, it appears Douglas is stepping away from Hollywood entirely.
At the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF), the two-time Oscar winner revealed that after nearly six decades in the business, he has no plans to act again—unless “something special” comes along.
“I’ve had a very busy career. I haven’t worked since 2022, deliberately, because I realized I had to stop,” he told Deadline. He added, “I’ve worked very hard for almost 60 years, and I didn’t want to be one of those people who drop dead on set.”
Happy to Watch His Wife Work
Douglas, who last appeared on screen as Benjamin Franklin in Apple TV+’s 2024 miniseries Franklin, explained to People that he now looks forward to focusing on his personal life.
“I’m very happy to take a break. But I don’t say I’m retired, because if something special came up, I’d be back. I have no real intention, but otherwise, I’m pretty happy. I just like watching my wife work,” he added, referring to his Golden Globe–nominated wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones, whom he married in 2000.
Cancer “Wasn’t a Vacation”
At the festival, Douglas also reflected on his stage IV cancer battle, diagnosed in 2010. After undergoing aggressive chemotherapy, he told KVIFF reporters that he was “lucky to still be working,” as he had avoided a more severe form of tongue cancer that could have cost him part of his jaw and affected his ability to speak.
“Stage IV cancer is not a vacation,” he said. “I followed the treatment, which included chemotherapy and radiation, and I was lucky. Surgery would have meant not being able to speak and losing part of my jaw, which would have limited me as an actor.”
Father-Son Film
The Golden Globe nominee will appear in at least one more film, Looking Through Water (originally titled Blood Knot). The film, still in post-production, also stars his 46-year-old son Cameron, who last appeared in the 2022 action film Wire Room with Bruce Willis.
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