6 Feb – "It is with tremendous sadness that my brothers and I announce that Kirk Douglas left us today at the age of 103," actor Michael Douglas posted on his Instagram earlier today. "To the world he was a legend, an actor from the golden age of movies who lived well into his golden years, a humanitarian whose commitment to justice and the causes he believed in set a standard for all of us to aspire to," the actor went on to say in the touching tribute to his late father. "But to me and my brothers Joel and Peter he was simply Dad, to Catherine, a wonderful father-in-law, to his grandchildren and great grandchild their loving grandfather, and to his wife Anne, a wonderful husband." Adding that his late father had a well-lived life and left "a legacy in film that will endure for generations to come, and a history as a renowned philanthropist who worked to aid the public and bring peace to the planet," he ended his post with the words he told his late father on the Hollywood legend's last birthday: "Dad- I love you so much and I am so proud to be your son."
The actor did not reveal the reason of his father's passing but it is reported by Hollywood news outlets that the Hollywood icon died of natural causes. Kirk Douglas began his acting career in the 1940s. By the next decade, he was already a big box office star. He continued to star in movies up until the late 1990s, leading movies like "Spartacus" and "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea". His acting career slowed down in the early 2000s but his legacy in Hollywood is sealed forever, with his numerous contributions to the film industry not just an actor but also producer, director and writer. (Photo source: Michael Douglas' Instagram)