Hollywood Legend Kirk Douglas, Michael Douglas' Father, Dies at 103

Stage and screen writer Kirk Douglas has died aged 103. He was well known for a range of roles including the 1960 classic Spartacus, in which he played the titular character. Born in New York in 1916, he earned his first Oscar nomination for the 1949 boxing story Champion. He was also the father of Oscar-winning actor Michael Douglas and father-in-law to Catherine Zeta Jones.

"It is with tremendous sadness that my brothers and I announce that Kirk Douglas left us today," Michael said in a statement, adding, "To the world, he was a legend, an actor from the golden age of movies... but to me and my brothers Joel and Peter he was simply Dad. Let me end with the words I told him on his last birthday and which will always remain true. Dad - I love you so much and I am so proud to be your son."

Douglas was nominated for an Oscar three times - for Champion (1949), The Bad and the Beautiful (1952), and Lust for Life (1956). He eventually won the honorary award in 1996 in recognition of his 50 years in the industry.