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Tag: michael douglas

  • Michael Douglas Lauds Wife Catherine Zeta-Jones at AARP’s 15th Annual Movies for Grownups Awards

    Michael Douglas was honored on Monday at AARP’s 15th Annual Movies for Grownups Awards in Beverly Hills, where he lauded wife Catherine Zeta-Jones for his good health.

    “I think love, without getting too corny, nourishing each other, working at relationships, good sustenance, good food, good kids, all kind of a combination,” he said.

    Diagnosed with throat cancer in 2010, Michael Douglas was in remission by 2011.

    Catherine Zeta-Jones, who attended the awards ceremony with her husband said of Douglas, “He’s a good commercial for AARP because he’s fit in mind, body, and soul. And I think that’s longevity, right there.”

    Michael Douglas dished on his marriage, too. He and Zeta-Jones were estranged for a while in 2013, but things between them seem very good these days.

    “I think it’s just moment to moment,” Douglas said. “Catherine reminds me, I like to say sometimes, we all make more efforts to strangers than we do to the people closest to us.”

    Both Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones were sexy and stylish at the AARP event. She wore an Escada jumpsuit while he donned a blue Canali suit with a red tie for the event.

    Michael Douglas was honored at AARP’s Annual Movies for Grownups Awards with a career achievement award. The 71-year-old actor surely has more films in store for his fans.

  • Kirk Douglas Award For Excellence in Film to Go to Jane Fonda

    The Kirk Douglas Award For Excellence in Film is slated to go to Jane Fonda this year.

    The award is part of the Santa Barbara Film Festival and will be presented to Fonda at a black-tie gala dinner at Bacara Resort & Spa in Santa Barbara on Oct. 3.

    Jane Fonda is an obvious choice for the Kirk Douglas Award. She won two Best Actress Oscars for her work in Klute and Coming Home. Her current work includes Grace and Frankie on Netflix and the upcoming Fox Searchlight’s Youth, directed by Paolo Sorrentino.

    Since 2006, the Kirk Douglas Award has been handed to a lifelong contributor to cinema through their, whether it be in front or behind the camera. Past honorees include Jessica Lange, Forest Whitaker, Robert DeNiro, Michael Douglas, Harrison Ford, Quentin Tarantino, Ed Harris and John Travolta.

    “Jane Fonda obviously has the right genes. Her acting performances set a standard that’s hard to follow,” Kirk Douglas, the award’s original recipient said in a statement issued by the festival.

    The gala supports educational and community programs hosted by the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, which will take place from Feb. 3 through Feb. 13.

  • Ant-Man Star Michael Douglas Has Never Done a Special Effects Film Before

    Ant-Man Star Michael Douglas Has Never Done a Special Effects Film Before

    Michael Douglas has never done a film like Ant-Man. In a career that has seen such memorable roles, it seems odd that the veteran actor never had the opportunity to do a big-budget action film with special effects.

    Douglas said of Ant-Man, “It’s the first time I’ve ever done a special effects movie of any kind. It was a lot of fun. I’ve been looking forward to someone asking me to do one.”

    Couldn’t someone have scooped up Douglas to do a film like Ant-Man back in the 80s or 90s? He had done plenty of swashbuckling action in films like Romancing the Stone and Jewel of the Nile. Douglas says he would have done an Ant-Man or other special effects film, but there was one problem.

    “Problem is, they couldn’t have afforded me! They really base these movies on one casting lady. One person at Marvel has done that, and when you look back she has done a really amazing job. She also picks people, like Robert Downey Jr. who had to insure his own part in Iron Man, so they either sprinkle it with a guest star but the leads are new talent so their ‘above the line’ is not that much.”

    Now that he has had a chance to do a film like Ant-Man, which his son tells him will open him to a whole new audience, he is enthusiastic about the whole process.

    “New respect to people who act in these movies, who trust the storyboards. It’s a big studio picture, big budgets. I guess different to a lot of the independents or character-driven movies i’ve done. I enjoyed it thoroughly. I found it very interesting. It put a new perspective on everything. It was amazing when I saw the movie.”

  • Michael Douglas Says American Actors Not Masculine Enough, Too Worried About Instagram

    Michael Douglas knows what’s wrong with American cinema. He knows why roles that seemingly would go to American actors are being scooped up by English and Australian actors.

    In a recent interview with The Independent, Michael Douglas bemoaned a preoccupation among American actors with image. He indicated that American actors spend too much time and energy worried about how they look on social media rather than working on their craft.

    “There’s something going on with young American actors – both men and women – because the Brits and Australians are taking many of the best American roles from them,” Douglas said.

    “Clearly, it breaks down on two fronts,” Douglas remarked. “In Britain they take their training seriously while in the States we’re going through a sort of social media image conscious thing rather than formal training. Many actors are getting caught up in this image thing which is going on to affect their range.”

    Lest you think that Douglas’ comments were xenophobic, he does not seem to be complaining about the actors from abroad who are getting American roles. Rather, he is simply stating that this is what happens when you take your eye off the ball.

    Michael Douglas further commented on the lack of “masculine” actors in the U.S.

    “With the Aussies, particularly with the males it’s the masculinity,” Douglas explained. “In the US we have this relatively asexual or unisex area with sensitive young men and we don’t have many Channing Tatums or Chris Pratts, while the Aussies do. It’s a phenomena.”

    Michael Douglas has played Liberace. He is clearly not calling actors sissies. When a director looks around for someone to play the part of a bruiser of a man, the skinny boys with their shirts tucked into the belt buckle, wearing their sister’s jeans, are not going to get a second look.

    “There’s a crisis in young American actors right now,” Douglas says. “Everyone’s much more image conscious than they are about actually playing the part.“

  • Michael Douglas Wins $1 Million Prize For Being An Outstanding Jew

    It’s been announced that actor and philanthropist Michael Douglas will be receiving a $1 million prize from the Genesis Philanthropy Group. Douglas will be the second recipient of their annual award honoring “the richness and diversity of Jewish culture”. The award was launched last year, with former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg getting the prize. The Oscar-winning actor will be receiving the award in June at a ceremony to be held in Jerusalem. The award will be presented by Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.

    The prize is given to individuals “with a commitment to Jewish values, the Jewish community and the state of Israel”. Stan Polovets, chairman of the Genesis Group, released a statement saying that Douglas was awarded “both for his professional achievements and for his passion for his Jewish heritage and the Jewish state“. The selection of Douglas is reportedly an attempt for the group to gain supporters from Hollywood after many in the community didn’t back Israel with its war against the Palestinian group, Hamas.

    Polovets also said, “The Douglas family’s experience of connecting with its heritage and embracing it on their own terms embodies an inclusive approach for Jews of diverse backgrounds.” Michael is the son of actor Kirk Douglas, who reaffirmed his faith when he turned 83 years old. Michael’s wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones, is not Jewish. However, during a recent trip to Jerusalem to celebrate their son’s bar mitzvah, she expressed her desire to convert to Judaism.

    Douglas put out a press-release on Thursday, January 15. In the statement, he says, “I share this award with my family, who encouraged me in my exploration of the Jewish faith. I hope these teachings and values will be part of the legacy in the world that I leave for my children and those who follow.”

    According to reports, Douglas will be donating the prize money to groups that promote diversity and inclusiveness in Jerusalem.

  • Kirk Douglas Is Dead? Erroneous Obituary Published

    Veteran actor Kirk Douglas is celebrating his 98th birthday next week, but it appears that People Magazine already reporting about his death in an obituary that the news outlet published online.

    The obituary was dated September 29, 2014, but the posting date was not determined. The piece had a “DO NOT PUB” in the headline, signifying that the publishing of the obituary was a grave mistake. The piece read: “Kirk Douglas, one of the few genuine box-office names to emerge just as TV was overtaking American culture in the years right after World War II, died TK TK TK. He was 97 (DOB 12/9/1916) and had been in good health despite having suffered a debilitating 1996 stroke that rendered his speech difficult.”

    “The announcement of my death is premature,” said the veteran actor in a recent interview with USA Today. “I’m looking forward to turning 98 next week.”

    The veteran Spartacus star and father of Michael Douglas is releasing a book in celebration of his birthday. His eleventh book, Life Could Be Verse, features poems and stories that he has accumulated over the years.

    After starring in his first picture back in 1946, Douglas became a bonafide Hollywood star thanks to his popular roles in films like Lust for Life and Champion. He is considered to be one of Hollywood’s finest actors and was nominated for the Academy Awards thrice. Despite the fact that he never won, Steven Spielberg presented Douglas with an Oscar lifetime award for his contributions in the industry.

    News outlets typically write advance obituaries of known personalities that would be instantly published once these celebrities eventually reach the end of their lives. Back in 2008, Bloomberg made the same mistake when they published the obituary of Steve Jobs three years before his passing.

  • Catherine Zeta Jones To Star In Biopic On Drug Lord

    Catherine Zeta Jones is set to star in a new biopic, in which she’ll play infamous drug lord Griselda Blanco.

    The Godmother will detail the life and crimes of Blanco, who became a powerful influence over the drug world in Columbia in the ’70s and ’80s. Stories from her young life include tales of kidnapping and murder when she was just eleven years old, when she allegedly abducted a child from a neighboring town for ransom. She was the first and only female to rise into the higher ranks of the Medellin drug cartel and was reportedly assassinated in 2012; she has been the subject of much fascination over the years, as well as a documentary called Cocaine Cowboys II.

    Jones will be joined by The Walking Dead‘s Jon Bernthal, among others, for the film. The title comes from one of Blanco’s nicknames, The Godmother of Cocaine.

    Jones is about to celebrate her 14th anniversary with Michael Douglas; the couple recently sold their New York home for close to $8 million and purchased another in the same area, which boasts eight bedrooms.

    Douglas seems well after a long battle with cancer, which he spoke about earlier this year at the International Federation of Head and Neck Oncologic Societies 5th World Congress.

    “I went through seven weeks of radiation and chemotherapy, which somehow seemed very accurately mapped to the seven circles of hell. Each week I sank a little lower and I felt a little — no, I felt a lot worse…The doctors and nurses at Sloan Kettering had warned me not to expect to feel great the moment those seven weeks were over — that there would be another five weeks of feeling pretty awful until I could even hope to improve. All of that was enormously important. Like a soldier, I prepared for battle. … It was my job to toughen up and get ready for the treatment and later on for my recovery, and that’s what I was able to do,” he said.

  • Catherine Zeta-Jones Sells Old Home, Buys New Mansion In Posh New York Area

    In order to move to an even bigger place, Catherine Zeta-Jones and her husband Michael Douglas have sold their home on Guard Hill Road in Bedford, New York for $7.9 million. Zeta-Jones and Douglas have traded in their six-bedroom, six bathroom house there for a grand 15,458-foot Colonial mansion on 13.28 acres of land in the same neighborhood.

    The couple reportedly purchased their new home in Bedford for $11.25 million. Zeta-Jones’ new mansion contains eight bedrooms and 18 bathrooms, as well as a designer kitchen and spa facilities such as a gym, steam room, sauna and two indoor pools. Zeta-Jones and her family can also relax outside at the outdoor pool and tennis court. They can entertain guests at a cottage with two apartments on their property as well as cultivate their hobbies with a greenhouse and a garage big enough for a car collector.

    The new estate, which was built in 1895, gives Zeta-Jones and her family enough space for a favorite activity, which is horseback riding. Several equestrian amenities are reportedly on the property, which is also located close to Zeta-Jones’ favorite horse stables, the Bedford Riding Lanes.

    Bedford is within driving distance of New York City, making it a favorite place in which to settle for many celebrities. Zeta-Jones and Douglas now include celebrities such as Bruce Willis, Martha Stewart and Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds among their neighbors.

    Their move will occur just in time for Zeta-Jones and Douglas to celebrate their 14th wedding anniversary on November 18. They married in 2000 at the New York Plaza Hotel and have two children. In August 2013, Zeta-Jones and Douglas split temporarily, with their publicists issuing a statement that said, “Michael and Catherine are taking some time apart to evaluate and work on their marriage.”

    However, the pair reunited earlier this year, with Douglas saying in a magazine interview, “Like a lovely orchid, or anything else that’s nurtured, marriage prospers and grows, but if it’s ignored, it withers.”

  • Michael Douglas Talks First Facial Hair In 35 Years

    Michael Douglas has become known for his dapper appearance in movies; he was one of the original wolves of Wall Street, after all, and he looks very good in a suit. Occasionally, however, he’s ventured into different territory when it comes to his roles–think grizzled, troubled writer Grady Tripp in Wonder Boys–and now he’s about to revisit a look he hasn’t had in over three decades: a goatee.

    Douglas said he grew the facial hair for his part in Ant-Man, the much-anticipated Marvel film starring Paul Rudd.

    “I play the former Ant-Man. I’m a professor and scientist . . . a mentor to [the young Ant-Man] Paul Rudd,” Douglas told the New York Post.

    Douglas has a couple of projects this year–And So It Goes and indie sensation The Reach–and, according to IMDB, has signed on for Unlocked, which doesn’t have a release date yet. The actor has been going strong as he continues to recover from tongue cancer, which was at first believed to be throat cancer.

    Douglas spoke recently about his health ordeals at the International Federation of Head and Neck Oncologic Societies 5th World Congress, saying chemo and radiation left him feeling awful while he was battling cancer.

    “I went through seven weeks of radiation and chemotherapy, which somehow seemed very accurately mapped to the seven circles of hel. Each week I sank a little lower and I felt a little — no, I felt a lot worse…The doctors and nurses at Sloan Kettering had warned me not to expect to feel great the moment those seven weeks were over — that there would be another five weeks of feeling pretty awful until I could even hope to improve. All of that was enormously important. Like a soldier, I prepared for battle. … It was my job to toughen up and get ready for the treatment and later on for my recovery, and that’s what I was able to do,” he said.

    Ant-Man also stars Evangeline Lilly and Judy Greer and is set for release next July.

  • Catherine Zeta-Jones Ripped by Michael Douglas’ Ex-Wife

    Catherine Zeta-Jones received a bashing from husband Michael Douglas‘ ex-wife.

    Diandra Douglas, who was married to the 69-year-old actor for 23 years, got just a little bit aggressive about Zeta-Jones in an interview with the El Mundo, as reported by MailOnline.

    The attack began with a question from the publication asking about rumors that Zeta-Jones was trying to purchase half her villa in Majorca, Spain.

    “It’s not true. Sometimes people say things without the slightest proof,” she said. “Why would someone who doesn’t speak Spanish or the local Majorcan language or knows nothing about this culture want a house here? She doesn’t even come here much.”

    When the publication asked her why the Hollywood couple was more visible in Majorca than she, Diandra retorted, “That’s because I don’t believe in showing off.”

    She went on to say she would never dream of selling her life like Zeta-Jones, referring to the couple’s decision to sell their wedding photos in 2000.

    “I’ve never sold photos or kept money from anything and I’ve always given everything away to charity,” she said. “I’m proud to be able to say that I’ve never turned my private life into show business. Too much public exposure affects children.”

    Douglas and Diandra divorced in 2000, not long before Douglas married Zeta-Jones that same year. Last year, he conceded they should have split much, much sooner.

    “I know I’m going to get into trouble here,” he said. “I have nothing against her, and in fact, I’m very fond of my first wife. But we should have ended that marriage eight or 10 years earlier.

    “It took me too long to realise that if you go to a marriage counsellor to resolve problems, it’s in his interest to keep the marriage going.

    “Because if I end the marriage he’s got no business. I think Diandra would probably say the same thing. That’s the only clear regret that I have.”

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Catherine Zeta-Jones Slammed By Douglas’ Ex-Wife

    Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas may be back on top as one of the world’s favorite couples and proprieters of one of the rare Hollywood marriages that stand the test of some time, but not everyone thinks they’re great.

    Take Michael Douglas’ ex-wife, Diandra Douglas, for example. She had some very thinly veiled insults targeted at Catherine Zeta-Jones and ex-husband Michael Douglas during a recent interview. The interview, ironically enough, took place at the home in Majorca, Spain that Diandra Douglas still shares with Michael.

    When asked why she is “less visible” at the Spanish resort than Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas, she had a pretty harsh reply,

    “That’s because I don’ t believe in showing off. I’ve never sold photos or kept money from anything and I’ve always given everything away to charity. I’m proud to be able to say that I’ve never turned my private life into showbusiness.”

    She then added, “Too much public exposure affects children.”

    Is she insinuating that Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas are show-offs? Surely not.

    There was a rumor floating around that Zeta-Jones was trying to buy Diandra Douglas’ share of the home in Majorca, but Diandra swatted that down fast.

    “It’s not true. Sometimes people say things without the slightest proof. Why would someone who doesn’t speak Spanish or the local Majorcan language or knows nothing about this culture want a house here? She doesn’t even come here much.’’

    Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas married in 2000 and now have two children, Dylan and Carys. Michael Douglas has a son, Cameron, 35, with Diandra Douglas. He is currently in prison for selling methamphetamine and heroin possession.

    Despite Cameron’s woes, Douglas seems to be a great dad to his children with Catherine Zeta-Jones.

    “I love kids and I love having had this second chance to have a family,” he said. “There’s something about the innocence and unequivocal love that children have. You’re just their dad and there’s a complete love without them having any judgment, so I can enjoy that a lot.”

    Will Diandra Douglas ever find peace with her ex-husband and Catherine Zeta-Jones?

    Image via YouTube

  • Michael Douglas’ Ex-Wife: ‘I’ve Never Turned My Private Life Into Show Business’

    Diandra Douglas was married to veteran actor Michael Douglas for 23 years before they divorced in 2000. She is now responding to reports that her husband and his current wife, actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, sold pictures of themselves and their family to gossip magazines. “I’ve never sold photos or kept money from anything and I’ve always given everything away to charity,” she said in an interview with Spanish newspaper El Mundo. “I’m proud to be able to say that I’ve never turned my private life into show business. Too much public exposure affects children.”

    The 56-year-old is currently living at the Spanish resort home she co-owns with Douglas in Majorca. There were recent rumors that Zeta-Jones had offered to buy Diandra out of her share, but Douglas’ ex-wife denies this story. “Sometimes people say things without the slightest proof. Why would someone who doesn’t speak Spanish or the local Majorcan language or knows nothing about this culture want a house here? She doesn’t even come here much,” she said.

    When asked by El Mundo why she seemed “less visible” than her famous ex, Diandra replied, “That’s because I don’t believe in showing off.”

    Douglas and his ex-wife share a son, Cameron, 36, who is in jail after being convicted in 2010 for selling methamphetamine and possession of heroin. Diandra shared that she and her son meditate for 15 minutes each evening at the same time in order to facilitate his freedom. However, Cameron has been said to repeatedly break prison rules by trying to get drugs and was recently released from the solitary confinement he was forced to do after failing a prison drug test. “Putting a drug addict in a jail is like putting a diabetic in a cake shop without treatment,” she told El Mundo.

    Image via YouTube

  • Michael Douglas’ Ex Blasts Catherine Zeta Jones

    Michael Douglas and his ex-wife, Diandra, had a highly publicized divorce in 2000, and although Douglas says he’s still fond of Diandra, she’s not keen on the choices he’s made while with Catherine Zeta Jones.

    Diandra said in a recent interview that she’s never been one to flaunt her personal life for monetary gain, which has been taken by the media as a comment on Douglas and Zeta Jones selling photos of themselves and their family to magazines.

    “I don’t believe in showing off. I’ve never sold photos or kept money from anything and I’ve always given everything away to charity. I’m proud to be able to say that I’ve never turned my private life into show business. Too much public exposure affects children,” she said.

    Diandra also said that rumors of a legal battle against Douglas weren’t entirely true; though she did attempt to take her portion of his royalties for the film Wall Street 2, she dropped the claim when she learned he was suffering from cancer.

    Douglas spoke about his health ordeals recently at the International Federation of Head and Neck Oncologic Societies 5th World Congress, saying chemo and radiation left him feeling awful.

    “I went through seven weeks of radiation and chemotherapy, which somehow seemed very accurately mapped to the seven circles of hel. Each week I sank a little lower and I felt a little — no, I felt a lot worse…The doctors and nurses at Sloan Kettering had warned me not to expect to feel great the moment those seven weeks were over — that there would be another five weeks of feeling pretty awful until I could even hope to improve. All of that was enormously important. Like a soldier, I prepared for battle. … It was my job to toughen up and get ready for the treatment and later on for my recovery, and that’s what I was able to do,” he said.

    Image via YouTube

  • Catherine Zeta-Jones Was a ‘Mess’ After Husband Michael Douglas’ Cancer Diagnosis

    Catherine Zeta-Jones conceded recently that she was a “mess” after her husband, Michael Douglas, was diagnosed with stage-four throat cancer in 2010.

    “I was a mess. I’ll be quite frank, I was a mess,” Zeta-Jones told doctors at the International Federation of Head and Neck Oncologic Societies’ fifth World Congress.

    “When I’m married to a man who has such a conviction for life … he fights to make the wrongs right. For the first time he was fighting for his life,” she recalled during remarks at the opening ceremony in New York.

    The And So it Goes actor, who was misdiagnosed four times before the final diagnosis was delivered, has been cancer-free since January 2011.

    “In every sense of the word. I’m very fortunate to be here today,” said the father of two. He and Zeta-Jones have an 11-year-daughter, Carys, and a 12-year-old son, Dylan.

    “We can only imagine what the next century will bring. Thank you for saving my life,” he told the medical team at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where he was treated in 2010.

    The couple are certainly enjoying life today. The power-couple separated for a brief time last year, but reconciled several months later.

    The Behind the Candelabra actor recently said he is learning to appreciate his wife more and more as he ages.

    ”A lot of it has to do with age. When you’ve accomplished a certain amount in your career, you’re not so focused on your ambitions. It makes you appreciate – and hopefully you do that sooner rather than later – the value of your partner,” he said.

    He often mentions the importance of family and the strength he garnered from relationships during his battle with cancer.

    “All of a sudden the affection from my family, from my friends, and from my fans hit me at a much deeper level than I would have ever imagined before,” Douglas told Today show host, Matt Lauer, in 2011. “And it gave me a really new appreciation of just how valuable, how precious good friends are and family.”

    “There’s a much deeper feeling,” he said. “And I’ve talked to other cancer survivors about this, that – that happens, that you just really, really appreciate what’s important in life.”

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Skye McCole Bartusiak, Who Played Mel Gibson’s Daughter in ‘The Patriot’, Unexpectedly Dies at 21

    Skye McCole Bartusiak, an actress best known for her role as Mel Gibson’s daughter in the 2000 movie, The Patriot, died Saturday at the age of 21.

    “We lost our girl,” Skye’s mother, Helen McCole Bartusiak, told CNN on Sunday.

    The cause of death is unknown at this time, but Skye’s mother said that epileptic seizures had plagued her daughter for most of her life and had returned in the past week.

    According to CNN, Skye’s boyfriend found the young actress sitting up in her bed in the garage apartment adjacent to her parents’ Houston home.

    “We think she had a seizure and choked and nobody was there,” said the heartbroken mother of the actress.

    Helen reportedly started cardiopulmonary resuscitation on her daughter before paramedics arrived. “They were working on her for 45 minutes and could not get a heartbeat,” she said. “I’ve done CPR on that kid more than one time, and it just didn’t work this time.”

    Skye began her film career as a 6-year-old in 1999’s The Cider House Rules. She followed that role with others, including 2001’s Don’t Say a Word, opposite Michael Douglas. In 2012, she starred in the thriller, Sick Boy. Bartusiak’s television credits include playing a young Kate Austen on Lost and starring in a lengthy arc on 24.

    “The girl has lived such an amazing life,” Helen said. “She was a kind and really beautiful girl.”

    Skye had been preparing to produce and direct her first feature film in recent months, her mother said.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Skye McCole Bartusiak, ‘Patriot’ Actress Dies at 21

    Skye McCole Bartusiak, the actress best known for her role as Mel Gibson’s daughter in the 2000 film The Patriot, has died at the age of 21. Bartusiak was found unresponsive by her boyfriend on her bed in her parents’ Houston home on Saturday. She had been living in an apartment over the family garage.

    Skye’s mother, Helen Bartusiak, tried unsuccessfully to revive her daughter. She claimed her daughter was in good health and wasn’t a drinker. She also said her daughter didn’t do drugs. The actress had experienced seizures in recent days, however.

    “We lost our girl,” Helen Bartusiak told the media.

    “We think she had a seizure and choked and nobody was there,” she added. “They were working on her for 45 minutes and could not get a heartbeat. She was a kind and really beautiful girl.”

    In addition to The Patriot with Mel Gibson, Skye McCole Bartusiak made her big screen debut back in 1999 in The Cider House Rules. In 2001 she played opposite Michael Douglas in Don’t Say A Word. She had a recurring role during the second season of 24, and guest starred on House and CSI. Her last film was in 2012–Sick Boy.

    Skye’s mother said she was working on both producing and directing a future feature film.

    Abigail Breslin paid tribute to Skye on Twitter.

    She also shared this Instagram shot of the late actress.

    Roland Emmerich directed and produced The Patriot. He expressed his grief via social media as well.

    Those who followed the young actress are no doubt grieving and praying for her family. How sad that Skye McCole Bartusiak will never get to realize all of her dreams.

    Image via YouTube

  • Michael Douglas Opens Up About Son’s Drug Issues And Being A Dad

    Michael Douglas Opens Up About Son’s Drug Issues And Being A Dad

    Last week, Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones and their kids Dylan, 13 and Cary, 11 went on a trip to Jerusalem to celebrate their son’s bar mitzvah.

    The trip to Jerusalem was a more serene celebration than Dylan’s bar mitzvah party in New York just last month where Douglas injured himself. “I got carried away at my son’s bar mitzvah this weekend. You know they put you up in the chairs over the top – I think something happened there,” he said.

    Now, the couple is enjoying some quality time together in Rome. After splitting last year, the couple is now working on their relationship, and it seems that everything is now back on track.

    In an interview, Douglas said that marriage is a union that requires constant nurturing. “You cannot take marriage for granted at all,” he said. The 69-year-old actor also shared his views on spending time with his spouse saying, “Like a lovely orchid, or anything else that’s nurtured, marriage prospers and grows, but if it’s ignored, it withers,” he said.

    Concerning his children, Douglas said that he approaches parenting differently now. He said that being an older dad has benefits. “In the early stages of one’s life, ambition rules. Having children takes a lot of time to do properly, and I think sometimes people spread themselves too thin.”

    Aside from his two children with Zeta-Jones, Douglas also talked about his older son with ex-wife Diandra Luker. His 35-year-old son Cameron Douglas is now in prison for possession and dealing of drugs. Douglas warned other parents that drug-related problems should be dealt with early on.

    He said that if parents suspect that their kids need help, it is best to “take action immediately.” Regarding drug issues, Douglas said that parents should do whatever they can before their kids turn 18. “Whatever it takes. Don’t hesitate,” he said.

    Image via YouTube

  • Catherine Zeta-Jones, Michael Douglas “Very Close”

    Catherine Zeta-Jones and husband Michael Douglas are still going strong after their reunion. They are “very close and everything is going great,” according to Douglas, who has spoken out more about the couples’ struggles in the last couple of months.

    In August of last year, the couple announced that they were going to split in order to take some time to think and reset. They had a lot to deal with at the time. The pressures of dealing with Douglas’ throat cancer and Catherine Zeta-Jones’ battle with bipolar disorder was very taxing on their marriage.

    But now, the two are stronger than ever, and they have a new outlook on their lives together.

    Douglas said of their reunion, “When you are younger you care what other people think. And you take the person closest to you for granted. You waste a lot of energy on strangers to make a good impression. When you’re older you focus that energy on the people closest to you, on your family. And you’re courteous.”

    It’s very good to be courteous to your spouse, and that’s not all that Douglas has figured out about the trials of marriage. He knows not to take his wife for granted.

    “Like a lovely orchid, or anything else that’s nurtured, marriage prospers and grows, but if it’s ignored, it withers.” he said.

    It’s a good thing this couple knows what they’re doing! They are stronger now than ever thanks to their little breather. Will other Hollywood couples follow their lead so that they, too can enjoy the rare long-term Hollywood marriage? Who knows, but it’s good advice.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjQ_C9qrPT8

    As far as his children with Catherine Zeta-Jones, Dylan, 13, and Carys, 11, go, they knew absolutely everything that was happening from the beginning.

    Douglas stated about parenting,”I’m more and more prone to tell kids just about everything.”

    “There’s been a whole school of thought about things you should not tell children –- if there’s a problem in a relationship, [people say], ‘Let’s not let the kids know.’ Kids know,” he said. “They know everything. I would err on the side of pretty much sharing everything. They can digest it, you know? It’s life.”

    Luckily for the family, things turned out the way they did and each member can learn from this situation.

    Image via YouTube

  • Michael Douglas Reveals He Took Catherine Zeta-Jones ‘For Granted’

    Michael Douglas’ marriage to actress Catherine Zeta-Jones has been making headlines for quite some time.

    Back in May of 2013, news began surfacing about the famed Wall Street actor and his wife reportedly living separately. At the time, Zeta-Jones’ representative stated that the couple was “taking some time apart to evaluate and work on their marriage.”

    However, neither made any effort to legalize the split, which was a tell-tale sign of the possibility of reconciliation. Then, in November of 2013, that’s exactly what happened.

    A number of reports stated that the 44-year-old actress had moved back into their luxury condo in New York. Now, months after their topsy-turvy marital rollercoaster, Douglas has opted to open up about the problems they faced in their marriage.

    According to the Shillong Times, the 69-year-old actor openly admitted that one of his biggest faults in the marriage was taking his wife for granted.

    “When you are younger you care what other people think. And you take the person closest to you for granted. You waste a lot of energy on strangers to make a good impression. When you’re older you focus that energy on the people closest to you, on your family. And you’re courteous,” he said.

    Douglas went on to share his perspective on mistakes. He personally feels mistakes are made for a reason, and if one doesn’t learn from their past indiscretions, they aren’t evolving as a person. “First you have to admit that you made a mistake, then dealing with it is easy. Of course it’s important to make mistakes, as long as you grow from them,” he said.

    Douglas began dating the Welsh actress back in 1999. The couple married a year later on November 18, 2000. They have two children together – a son, Dylan Michael, and a daughter, Carys Zeta.

    Image via Last Night, Facebook
    Image via Michael Douglas, Wikimedia Commons

  • Catherine Zeta-Jones: Michael Douglas Talks “Mistakes”

    Catherine Zeta-Jones and husband Michael Douglas were spotted at the AFI Life Achievement Award Gala recently, and the couple looked relaxed and happy together after working things out following a brief split.

    The red carpet event was honoring Jane Fonda, and the couple held hands as they showed their support for the actress. Douglas recently said in an interview that he feels he took his wife for granted, and that was part of the reason they separated.

    “First you have to admit that you made a mistake, then dealing with it is easy. Of course it’s important to make mistakes, as long as you grow from them,” he said.

    Zeta-Jones made headlines earlier this month when she was spotted smoking outside an airport while Douglas helped to load their luggage into the car; Douglas is a cancer survivor and has undergone chemo and radiation therapy to battle the disease. In 2010, he spoke about the fact that he smoked for years, which likely contributed to the tongue cancer. Douglas’s illness–coupled with his wife’s hospitalization for bipolar disorder–is said to have led to their split last summer. Now, however, Douglas says that being older and wiser has helped him realize what he really wants in life.

    “When you are younger you care what other people think and you take the person closest to you for granted. You waste a lot of energy on strangers to make a good impression. When you’re older you focus that energy on the people closest to you, on your family,” he said.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Catherine Zeta-Jones: Michael Douglas Says He Took Her for Granted

    Catherine Zeta-Jones and husband Michael Douglas are back together again following a split that took place last August. The Wall Street actor admits he took his wife for granted in the years prior to their split. He says he learned from his mistakes, however, and has re-evaluated his relationship with Zeta-Jones.

    “When you are younger you care what other people think. And you take the person closest to you for granted. You waste a lot of energy on strangers to make a good impression. When you’re older you focus that energy on the people closest to you, on your family. And you’re courteous,” Michael Douglas said in a recent interview.

    Catherine Zeta-Jones and Douglas have two children together–son Dylan is 13 and daughter Carys is 11. Douglas has children from a previous marriage as well.

    Zeta-Jones made headlines several months prior to the couple’s split for her diagnosis of bipolar disorder. She spent some time in a rehab facility following her diagnosis which was largely overplayed by the media.

    Michael Douglas suffered from cancer a while back but is said to have a clean bill of health these days. The 69-year-old actor claims he is more comfortable in his own skin today more so than ever before.

    Hopefully Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas have salvaged their almost 14-year marriage. When a couple has two children and nearly 14 years invested in one another and in their family it’s sometimes good to take a step back before immediately filing for divorce when things go wrong. Perhaps with Douglas’s admission of having taken his wife for granted the two can begin anew with a better feeling about their relationship. No one wants to feel taken for granted. It’s as if they don’t matter. If Michael Douglas has truly learned his lesson it will show in the way he treats his wife. These two have been through way too much together to simply throw in that proverbial towel. Zeta-Jones and Douglas maintained from the start of their separation that they would work things out. It seems as though they’ve managed to do just that.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons