Oscar-winning actor Michael Douglas will release a memoir this October that promises a candid look at his life and career.
The book, which does not yet have a title, aims to present an unfiltered account of both his personal and professional experiences.
In a statement shared on social media, Douglas said, “Hello everyone! I have some exciting news to share. I’m writing a book, with the great help of Mike Fleming Jr. We began this journey about six months ago, and I’m thrilled to announce that the book will be released on October 6 by @grandcentralpub.”
“There’s a lot to tell – before I forget – and the process has brought back so many memories. I hope you’ll enjoy reading it and that it offers a little insight into what I’ve been up to over the past 80+ years.”
Douglas explained that the memoir is his way of taking control of his story.
“After being asked for many years, I’ve finally decided it’s time to tell my story on my own terms. Not the highlight reel, not the version shaped by headlines or box office numbers, but the real one.”
“I’ve lived a life that unfolded in public while being deeply private at the same time, and there’s a difference. This is about where I came from, what I fought against, and what I chose for myself. Fame can blur the truth; this is my attempt to bring it back into focus.”
At 81 years old, Douglas has spent decades in the spotlight.
The memoir will cover his upbringing as the son of Hollywood legend Kirk Douglas, his path to stardom with films such as “Wall Street” and “Fatal Attraction”, and his marriage to Catherine Zeta-Jones, which has lasted 25 years.
Douglas will also address personal struggles. He will discuss his stage-four cancer diagnosis, his time in rehabilitation for alcoholism in the early 1990s, and the challenges his son Cameron has faced, including drug addiction and a federal prison sentence.
Philanthropy is another focus of the memoir.
Douglas will reflect on his work as a UN Messenger of Peace and his activism on issues such as nuclear disarmament and gun control. He will share the causes that he has supported and the impact these efforts have had on his life and worldview.
While this is the first memoir Douglas has written, several other books have documented aspects of his life.
- “Michael Douglas: A Biography” by Marc Eliot, published in 2012, is an unauthorised account that examines his career and his relationship with his father.
- John Parker’s 2012 biography, “Michael Douglas: Acting on Instinct”, traces the actor’s journey from living in his father’s shadow to becoming a successful producer and award-winning performer.
