Adorable Story #96: Kirk Douglas

A Champion of the Silver Screen

“I came from abject poverty. There was nowhere to go but up.”

— Kirk Douglas

American actor Kirk Douglas on holiday on the Costa Smeralda, Sardinia, August 1967 — Photo © by Slim Aarons / Getty Images

Kirk Douglas, one of Hollywood’s most iconic stars, left an indelible mark on cinema and the world through his talent, determination, and unforgettable cinematic roles. Born into poverty, Kirk Douglas rose to become one of the most celebrated actors of his time, with a career spanning over seven decades.

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Table of Contents: Early Life / First Cinematic Role / Path to Stardom: Key Early Films / Portraying Vincent Van Gogh / Spartacus and the Hollywood Blacklist / Personal Life / Later Career

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Early Life

Kirk Douglas was born Issur Danielovitch on December 9th, 1916, in Amsterdam, New York. He was the son of Jewish immigrants from Belarus, Herschel and Bryna Danielovitch.

Growing up in a poor household, he experienced hardship early on, often working odd jobs to support his family. Despite these challenges, his determination to succeed was evident from a young age. He famously said:

“I was dying to get out of that small town, and I was going to be an actor.”

He attended St. Lawrence University on a wrestling scholarship and later enrolled at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, where he perfected his acting skills.

While at acting school, he realized that his birth name might be difficult for audiences and casting agents to remember—or accept—during a time when antisemitism was rampant in Hollywood and society at large.

He officially adopted Kirk Douglas as his stage name before entering the U.S. Navy during World War II, where he served as a communications officer aboard the USS PC-1139, a patrol craft used for anti-submarine warfare and convoy escort duties in the Pacific (from 1941 to 1944).