Michael Douglas, the 80-year-old Oscar-winning actor, has announced his retirement from acting after nearly 60 years in the industry. Speaking at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival in the Czech Republic, Douglas revealed that he purposefully chose to step away from acting to avoid being one of those people who “dropped dead on the set.”
“I have been working pretty hard for almost 60 years, and I realized I had to stop,” Douglas stated. “I have no real intentions of going back.” He last appeared in a major film in 2022 and has deliberately avoided taking on new projects since then.
Douglas’s decision was significantly influenced by his battle with stage 4 cancer. “Stage 4 cancer is not a holiday, but there aren’t many choices, are there?” he explained. He underwent chemotherapy and radiation, which saved him from a more debilitating surgical option that would have affected his ability to speak.
His last screen appearance was in the 2024 mini-series “Franklin,” where he portrayed Benjamin Franklin. Despite his retirement, Douglas mentioned he might consider returning to the screen for something special. “I say I’m not retired because if something special came up, I’d come back, but otherwise, no,” he said.
Michael Douglas announces retirement
Douglas also expressed his desire to spend more time with his wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and their family. “I’m happy to play the role of the supportive husband in our relationship, in the spirit of maintaining a good marriage,” he shared.
The couple, who married in 2000, share two children, Dylan, 24, and Carys, 22. Douglas also has a son named Cameron, 46, from his previous marriage to Diana Luker. Throughout his career, Douglas has been known for his memorable roles in films such as “Fatal Attraction,” “Basic Instinct,” and more recently as Dr.
Hank Pym in the “Ant-Man” series. However, he stressed that his priorities have shifted towards his health and family life. As he steps away from the limelight, Douglas is content with the legacy he has created and looks forward to a quieter, more personal life.
His retirement marks the end of an era for a talent that has made substantial contributions to the film industry over the past six decades.
