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Kirk Douglas

Kirk Douglas

Actor and producer, also director · Died February 5, 2020, aged 103 · Amsterdam, New York, USA

Kirk Douglas (born Issur Danielovitch; December 9, 1916 – February 5, 2020) was an American actor, producer, director and author. He grew up as Izzy Demsky and legally changed his name to Kirk Douglas before entering the United States Navy during World War II. During his career, Douglas appeared in more than 90 movies and was known for his explosive acting style. He became an international star for his leading role as an unscrupulous boxing hero in Champion (1949), which brought him his first nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor. Other early films include Young Man with a Horn (1950), Ace in the Hole (1951), and Detective Story (1951), a film for which he received a Golden Globe nomination as Best Actor in a Drama. He received a second Oscar nomination for his role in The Bad and the Beautiful (1952), and his third nomination for portraying Vincent van Gogh in Lust for Life (1956), which landed him a second Golden Globe nomination. In 1955, Douglas established Bryna Productions, which produced films as varied as Paths of Glory (1957) and Spartacus (1960). He took the lead roles in both films. Douglas has been praised for helping to break the Hollywood blacklist by having Dalton Trumbo write Spartacus with an official on-screen credit. In 1963 Douglas starred in the Broadway play One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, a story that he purchased and later gave to his son Michael Douglas, who turned it into an Oscar-winning film. As an actor and philanthropist, Douglas received an Oscar for Lifetime Achievement, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. As an author, he wrote ten novels and memoirs. He is No. 17 on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest male screen legends of classic Hollywood cinema. Kirk Douglas died at age 103.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 9, 1916
Died
February 5, 2020 (aged 103)
From
Amsterdam, New York, USA
Works as
Actor and producer, also director
Titles
88 on MovieCove · 116 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 64 days to Oct 27

What are Kirk Douglas' films like?

Across their 83 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Drama32 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy16 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 41st percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Adventure9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 70th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Action5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 65th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Crime5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 80th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Documentary5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 75th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Biography3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 84th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Horror3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 27th percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Western2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 77th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Western movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
25%
Bonds
23%
Self
18%
Power
12%
Society
8%
Survival
8%
Ideas
6%
Family bonds17 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love13 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice14 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity9 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival9 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty8 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption10 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice10 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 83 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 24 · Serious 22 · Dark 37

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 38 · Stylized 36 · Heightened 9

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 13 · Charged 42 · Intense 28

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 29 · Shifting 49 · Whiplash 5

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 57 · Some laughs 19 · Funny 7

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 28 · Even-paced 55 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 28 · Engaged 48 · Full focus 7

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 32 · Affecting 27 · Heavy 24

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 64 · Open-ended 15 · Ambiguous 4

Roles they play

71 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 36 of 71 analyzed roles.

Hero
36 of 71
Shadow
20 of 71
Trickster
5 of 71
Shapeshifter
3 of 71
Mentor
3 of 71
Threshold guardian
2 of 71
Ally
1 of 71
Herald
1 of 71
Show the 71 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
54
Melancholic
38
Contemplative
16
Warm
13
Romantic
14
Other
77

How their films linger

Bittersweet38 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful25 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking21 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun17 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 10 with a twist

  • Happy18
  • Bittersweet40
  • Tragic13
  • Ambiguous11

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Kirk Douglas' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 44 of their 88 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (26).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Kirk Douglas' titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

116 credits, 88 with a MovieCove page; 83 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Vincent van Gogh Superstar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Vincent van Gogh (archive footage)

  • Mike Wallace Is Here(2019)

    as (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen(2012)

    as (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Room 237(2012)

    as Spartacus

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Brigitte Bardot: The Icon of France (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Actor

  • Empire State Building Murders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Jim Kovalski

  • The Age of Believing: The Disney Live Action Classics(2008)

    as Ned Land

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Illusion(2004)

    as Donald Baines

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Heroes of Telemark: Location report from Norway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Actor

  • It Runs in the Family(2003)

    as Mitchell Gromberg

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Diamonds(1999)

    as Harry Agensky

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Tales from the Crypt: The Robert Zemeckis Collection (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as General Kalthrob

  • The Lies Boys Tell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Ed Reese

  • Touched by an Angel(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Ross Berger

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • Greedy(1994)

    as Uncle Joe

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Secret (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Grandpa Mike Dunmore

  • Two-Fisted Tales(1992)

    as General Calthrop

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Welcome to Veraz (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Quentin

  • Oscar(1991)

    as Eduardo Provolone

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Disney's Sing-Along Songs: Under the Sea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Ned Land (archive footage)

  • The Simpsons(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Chester J. Lampwick (voice)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Tales from the Crypt(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Gen. Kalthrob

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Live with Kelly and Mark(1988)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all shows

  • Inherit the Wind(1988)

    as Matthew Harrison Brady

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Queenie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 2 episodes · as David Konig

  • Tough Guys(1986)

    Producer · as Archie Long

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Amos (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Executive Producer · as Amos Lasher

  • A Day in the Country: Impressionism and the French Landscape (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Narrator

  • Draw!(1984)

    Producer · as Harry H. Holland aka Handsome Harry Holland

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Salute to Lady Liberty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Actor

  • Something Wicked This Way Comes(1983)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Eddie Macon's Run(1983)

    as Carl 'Buster' Marzack

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Remembrance of Love(1982)

    as Joe Rabin

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid(1982)

    as (in "I Walk Alone") (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • The Man from Snowy River(1982)

    as Harrison / Spur

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Home Movies(1979)

    as Dr. Tuttle

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Saturn 3(1980)

    as Major Adam

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • The Final Countdown(1980)

    as Capt. Matthew Yelland

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Villain(1979)

    as Cactus Jack

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • The Fury(1978)

    as Peter Sandza

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Chosen(1977)

    as Robert Caine

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Victory at Entebbe(1976)

    as Herschel Vilnofsky

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Arthur Hailey's The Moneychangers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 4 episodes · as Alex Vandervoort

  • Once Is Not Enough(1975)

    as Mike Wayne

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Posse(1975)

    Director · Producer · as Howard Nightingale

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Mousey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as George Anderson

  • Scalawag (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Director · Writer · as Peg

  • Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde(1973)

    as Dr. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • The Master Touch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Steve Wallace

  • The Special London Bridge Special(1972)

    as The Indian Fighter

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Catch Me a Spy(1971)

    Producer · as Andrej

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • A Gunfight(1971)

    Executive Producer · as Will Tenneray

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • The Light at the Edge of the World(1971)

    Producer · as Will Denton

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Summertree (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Producer

  • Once Upon a Wheel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • There Was a Crooked Man...(1970)

    as Paris Pitman, Jr.

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Arrangement(1969)

    as Eddie Anderson

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Brotherhood(1968)

    Producer · as Frank Ginetta

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • A Lovely Way to Die(1968)

    as Jameson Schuyler

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • The War Wagon(1967)

    as Lomax

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • The Way West(1967)

    as Sen. William J. Tadlock

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Grand Prix(1966)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Is Paris Burning?(1966)

    as General Patton

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Seconds(1966)

    Co-Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Cast a Giant Shadow(1966)

    Producer · as Col. David 'Mickey' Marcus

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Heroes of Telemark(1965)

    as Dr. Rolf Pedersen

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • In Harm's Way(1965)

    as Commander Paul Eddington, Jr.

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Seven Days in May(1964)

    Co-Executive Producer · as Col. Martin "Jiggs" Casey

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • For Love or Money(1963)

    as Deke Gentry

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • The List of Adrian Messenger(1963)

    Executive Producer · as George Brougham / Vicar Atlee / Mr. Pythian / Arthur Henderson

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • The Hook(1963)

    as Sgt. P.J. Briscoe

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The Lucy Show(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Kirk Douglas

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • Two Weeks in Another Town(1962)

    as Jack Andrus

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Lonely Are the Brave(1962)

    Executive Producer · as John W. "Jack" Burns

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Town Without Pity (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Major Garrett

  • The Last Sunset(1961)

    Executive Producer · as Brendan 'Bren' O'Malley

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Spartacus(1960)

    Executive Producer · as Spartacus

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Strangers When We Meet(1960)

    Executive Producer · as Larry Coe

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Tales of the Vikings (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 39 episodes · Producer

  • The Devil's Disciple(1959)

    Producer · as Richard Dudgeon

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Last Train from Gun Hill(1959)

    Producer · as Marshal Matt Morgan

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • The Vikings(1958)

    Executive Producer · as Einar

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Ride Out for Revenge(1957)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Paths of Glory(1957)

    Producer · as Col. Dax

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Gunfight at the O.K. Corral(1957)

    as Dr. John 'Doc' Holliday

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Lizzie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Executive Producer

  • Top Secret Affair(1957)

    as Maj. Gen. Melville A. Goodwin

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The Careless Years(1957)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Lust for Life(1956)

    as Vincent van Gogh

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Spring Reunion(1956)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • The Indian Fighter(1955)

    Executive Producer · as Johnny Hawks

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Man Without a Star(1955)

    as Dempsey Rae

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • The Racers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Gino Borgesa

  • 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea(1954)

    as Ned Land

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Ulysses(1954)

    as Ulysses

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Act of Love(1953)

    as Robert Teller

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The Juggler (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Hans Muller

  • The Story of Three Loves(1953)

    as Pierre Narval

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Bad and the Beautiful(1952)

    as Jonathan Shields

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Big Sky(1952)

    as Jim Deakins

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Big Trees(1952)

    as Jim Fallon

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Detective Story(1951)

    as Det. James McLeod

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Ace in the Hole(1951)

    as Charles Tatum

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Along the Great Divide(1951)

    as Marshal Len Merrick

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The Jack Benny Program (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Kirk Douglas

  • The Glass Menagerie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Jim O'Connor

  • The Colgate Comedy Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 2 episodes · as Self · as Ulysses (archive footage)

  • Young Man with a Horn(1950)

    as Rick Martin

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Champion(1949)

    as Midge Kelly

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • A Letter to Three Wives(1949)

    as George Phipps

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Walls of Jericho(1948)

    as Tucker Wedge

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • My Dear Secretary(1948)

    as Owen Waterbury

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • I Walk Alone(1947)

    as Noll "Dink" Turner

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Out of the Past(1947)

    as Whit Sterling

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Mourning Becomes Electra (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Peter Niles

  • The Strange Love of Martha Ivers(1946)

    as Walter O'Neil

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 112 titles from 1946 to 2019; peak year 1966.

Biggest box office

Oscar (1991)

$24M worldwide

Highest rated

Paths of Glory (1957)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Detective Story (1951)

Film career

19462019

Peak 1966 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 46 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting105 of 112: 90 only acting, 15 with another role · typical Midcredits score66thDirecting2 of 112: 0 only directing, 2 with another roleWriting1 of 112: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing21 of 112: 7 only producing, 14 with another role · typical Midcredits score74th

112 titles, 15 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 14 of them.

By decade

1940s8 · acting1950s28 · 25 acting · 6 crew1960s22 · 20 acting · 9 crew1970s18 · 17 acting · 5 crew1980s18 · 17 acting · 2 crew1990s10 · acting2000s5 · acting2010s3 · acting

Billing

usually 1st · top billed in 58% of 57 roles
46515661667181

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Kirk Douglas' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 66th percentile, the median of all 83; across their 83 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 63rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 83

Approval · how many liked their films

66thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 83

Reach · how many have seen their films

72ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 83

Midcredits score across 88 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up36
  • 50th to 74th24
  • 25th to 49th18
  • Below 25th10

Shape of the crowd

43 of their 88 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved14
  • Divisive2
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser43
  • Broadly Agreed9
  • Mixed19

Most divisive · actor

The Special London Bridge Special (1972)

92nd percentile spread · 46% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor, producer

Paths of Glory (1957)

Midcredits 99th · 91% liked

Reviewers score the acting 71/100 in their films, across 79 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 44. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Kirk Douglas' work okay for kids?

Across up to 22 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore runs heavier than most films and sex & nudity lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore15 titles32–64 · median 56 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity22 titles5–49 · median 18 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity14 titles3–44 · median 27 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs15 titles27–55 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense13 titles17–74 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Kirk Douglas work with?

People who share at least 2 of Kirk Douglas' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Edward Lewis shares the most, 8.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles