Kirk Douglas knows how to make an entrance. With boxing gloves in every centerpiece and the theme from “Rocky” blaring over the speakers, Douglas, one of the golden age of Hollywood’s last living legends, walked confidently into the Sunset Room at the Beverly Hills Hotel Friday afternoon to celebrate his 100th birthday at an intimate gathering of friends and family.
Actor Kirk Douglas gets a kiss from his son Michael Douglas, left, and Michael’s wife Catherine Zeta-Jones during his 100th birthday party at the Beverly Hills Hotel CREDIT: CHRIS PIZZELLO/INVISION/AP
Flanked by Anne Douglas, his wife of over 62 years, his son Michael Douglas, his daughter-in-law Catherine Zeta-Jones and his grandchildren, Kirk Douglas looked out over the crowd of about 150 people, including Don Rickles, Jeffrey Katzenberg, his Rabbi and many of his closest friends and smiled. Not only was he surrounded by friendly faces, he knew, as promised by his doctor years ago, that if he lived to 100, he would get to have a glass of vodka.
Kirk Douglas is embraced by his granddaughter Kelsey CREDIT: CHRIS PIZZELLO/INVISION/AP
But before the vodka was presented in a comically large martini glass, Kirk Douglas got to sit and listen to words from his loved ones as images from his many classic film credits such as “Spartacus,” “Lust for Life,” “Paths of Glory” and others played on a screen behind him.
Michael Douglas kicked off the proceedings, saying that it’s not just about age, but about the life he’s lived and what he’s accomplished.
“One of the things that I find most incredible about dad is the third act of his life,” said Michael Douglas. “After all he accomplished in his professional career and what he’s given for his country, at the point in his life where he’s faced adversity, losing a son, having a helicopter crash, having a stroke, and what he’s accomplished in this third act in his life, I find quite extraordinary.”
Kirk Douglas kept his remarks brief.
“I wonder who he was talking about? He said some nice things about someone I don’t know,” Kirk Douglas said, joking that Michael Douglas was chosen to organize the proceedings because “he has the most money.”
Kirk Douglas, seated left, holds hands with his wife Anne Douglas, seated right, as they pose with family members, their son Michael, standing second left with his wife Catherine Zeta-Jones, and their children, Carys Zeta Jones, left, and son Dylan CREDIT: CHRIS PIZZELLO/INVISION/AP
Kirk Douglas also thanked everyone for coming and marveled at seeing most of his family in the crowd.
Zeta-Jones then lit the 12 candles on the cake.
“I’m so glad there’s not 100!” she exclaimed, before leading the room to sing “Happy Birthday” with a string quartet accompaniment.
It was only the start of the afternoon, which included remarks from a few of his seven grandchildren, his Rabbi and his doctor. Charley King’s Bluebell Events oversaw the afternoon tea where each table was designated not by numbers but by Kirk Douglas’s films. The birthday boy was seated at the “Lonely Are the Brave” table, which is his favorite film.
Head over to The Telegraph to see which other Hollywood legends came out to honor Kirk Douglas for his 100th birthday!