Appearing in nearly 100 films across seven decades, Douglas was a pure force of nature, an acting whirlwind, someone who could put a film on his shoulders and carry it for 120 minutes or more as if he were the only person on the screen.
An Oscar nominee for Best Actor within three years of his first screen credit, Douglas absolutely commanded such classics as Billy Wilder's Ace in the Hole, Vincente Minnelli's Lust for Life and Stanley Kubrick's Paths of Glory and Spartacus.
Seriously, I have watched and studied film for over 40 years on this planet and I have rarely seen a more engaging actor than Kirk Douglas. Even when he played a villain or the performances got a little campier in later years, he was always watchable, likeable.
Others favorites of mine included 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, The Vikings, The Final Countdown and Greedy.
A true Hollywood icon. One to be remembered and studied for generations to come.
