MichaelDouglas:ABiography

AgroundbreakingportraitofoneofHollywood’smostsuccessfulstars,fromcriticallyacclaimedandbestsellingbiographerMarcEliotThroughdetermination,inventiveness,andcharisma,MichaelDouglasemergedfromthelongshadowcastbyhismovie-legendfather,KirkDouglas,tobecomehisownmanandoneofthefilmindustry’smostformi/x7fdableplayers.OvercomingthecurseoffailurethathauntsthesonsanddaughtersofHollywoodcelebrities,MichaelbecameasensationwhenhesuccessfullybroughtOneFlewOvertheCuckoo’sNest,starringhisfriendJackNicholson,tothescreenafternumeroussetbacks,includinghisfather’sownfailedattemptstomakeithappen.This1975box-officephenomenonwonMichaelhisfirstOscar(thefilmwonfivetotal,includingBestPicture),anawardKirkhadn’twonatthetime,andsolidifiedtheturbulent,competitivefather-sonrelationshipthatwouldshapeMichael’scareerandpersonallife.Inthedecadesthatfollowed,Michaelestablishedareputationfortakingchancesonnewtalentandproj/x7fectsbyproducingandstarringinthehugelysuccessfulRomancingtheStoneandJeweloftheNilemovies,whilecultivatingamultifacetedactingpersona—edgy,rebel/x7flious,andalittledark—insuchfilmsasWallStreet,FatalAttraction,BasicInstinct,andDisclosure.Yetashiscareerthrived,Michael’spersonallifefloundered,withanunhappyandtumultuousfirstmar/x7friage,rumorsofinfidelity(especiallywithleadingladiessuchasKathleenTurner),andaheadline-grabbingstintinrehab.Rockedbyaseriesoftragedies,includingKirk’sstrokes,hissonCameron’sincarceration,andhisownfightagainstthroatcancer,Michaelhasemergedtrium/x7fphant,healthy,andhappyinhismarriagetoCatherineZeta-Jones,aWelshactresstwenty-fiveyearshisjunior,andtheirnewyoungfamily.InMichaelDouglas,MarcEliotbringsintosharpfo/x7fcusthisincrediblecareer,complicatedpersonallife,andlegendaryHollywoodfamily.Eliot’sfascinatingportraitofthelowsandremarkablehighsinMichael’slife—in/x7fcludingthethornyyetinfluentialrelationshipwithhisfather—breaksboundariesinunderstandingthelifeandworkofatrueAmericanfilmstar.