Kirk Douglas was the one and only Spartacus and he had balls of steel
IT is astonishing that screen legend Kirk Douglas was born the year before the events of movie 1917, one of tomorrow’s big Oscar contenders.
When Kirk came into the world, the Battle of the Somme was still raging and Sir Ernest Shackleton — my own hero — was fighting to save his men on a doomed Antarctic expedition.
At 103, Kirk’s death was not unexpected. But it saddened us all because it felt like this incredible human being would go on for ever.
He headed the Douglas dynasty with a zest for life that put the rest of us to shame and was one of our final links to Hollywood’s golden age.
Long before actors ostentatiously wore their hearts on their sleeves and made self-aggrandising speeches about the latest trendy cause, Kirk determinedly set out to do the right thing, regardless of any impact on his career.
BALLS OF STEEL
In the Fifties, at the height of the Cold War, he stood up to a paranoid US government that considered anyone to the left of Genghis Khan a Soviet sympathiser.
The McCarthy witchhunts ruined careers and wrecked lives, but Kirk dug in his heels and hired blacklisted writer Dalton Trumbo to work on Spartacus, which would become Kirk’s most famous movie.
That took balls of steel.
Kirk gave millions to charity and was a US Goodwill Ambassador, receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Jimmy Carter in 1981.
He experienced heartache with the death of his son Eric from an overdose and the jailing of grandson Cameron for drug offences.
But even a near-fatal helicopter crash and a stroke couldn’t defeat Kirk.
His son Michael — a superstar in his own right, of course — told me last year his dad worked out almost every day with a personal trainer and remained as sharp as a tack, keeping the whole extended family on their toes.
I was lucky enough to interview Kirk back in my days with TV-am.
TV-am was the cheeky new kid on the block and our producers would hang around the back of the BBC, approaching star guests from Terry Wogan’s show.
The Beeb would fly them over from LA and put them up in a posh hotel.
All we could offer was a hearty breakfast, plus the chance to talk about themselves and their new project for as long as they liked.
There were no pesky managers and PRs to go through.
Bette Davis, Burt Lancaster, Lauren Bacall and Sammy Davis Jnr all popped into our studio at the crack of sparrows, staying for the duration of the show.
Kirk was here in 1990, promoting Dance With The Devil, a racy novel that bore a passing resemblance to his extraordinary life story.
LIFE WELL-LIVED
After his Jewish parents escaped persecution in Russia, Kirk was born and raised in a poor area of New York.
It is a real rags-to-riches tale. His dad actually worked as a rag-and-bone man.
Kirk never forgot where he came from, which is perhaps why he became a champion for justice and a fairer society.
He was a delight that morning and even laughed when the crew declared, “I’m Spartacus”, one after another in his honour — though he must have seen it done hundreds of times before.
He was a also a much-loved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
The Douglas clan will be in mourning but they can celebrate a life well lived.
This weekend, I am on a Kirk Douglas marathon, starting with Paths Of Glory, before The Bad And The Beautiful, Ace In The Hole, The Vikings, Lust For Life and, of course, Spartacus.
I will laugh, cry and wallow in his genius.
Tomorrow’s Oscars will rightly honour him. We won’t see his like again.
Millies
I WAS honoured to host The Millies this week.
It is a wonderful event run by The Sun to salute our Armed Forces and give us all a chance to say a huge thank you.
As always, there were astonishing stories of bravery, courage and self-sacrifice.
And as always, our lovely winners told me they were nothing special, just doing their job.
I honestly don’t think they realise just how remarkable they are, or how much we owe them.
One of my highlights was seeing 18-year-old Private Fin Doherty collect his award for inspiring others.
Fin was just six when his paratrooper big brother JJ was killed in action in Afghanistan.
Fin was determined to follow in JJ’s footsteps to honour his brother’s memory, and join the Parachute Regiment.
He has been an outstanding addition and, in an emotional ceremony, was presented with JJ’s beret in December.
Their mum Joyce admits she struggled with Fin’s decision to sign up, following the death of her eldest son.
But she knew it was all Fin wanted – and she is so very proud of him.
As are we all.
We honestly don’t deserve such an inspirational young man. But thank the Lord we have him on our side.
Philip is still Phillip
NOTHING has changed. Phillip Schofield is exactly the same person he was before he felt the time was right to tell the world he’s gay.
He’s still a loving father and husband and will still host his TV shows with consummate professionalism and skill.
As Phillip said himself, you never know what people are struggling with every day and, for him, it was time to be honest with himself and everyone else.
I’m really glad that he has made the decision and very proud of him, although obviously it can’t have been easy.
There’s been lots of tears, sleepless nights and a great deal of soul-searching. I hope he now finds peace of mind.
He is a very lucky man to have a family and friends who love him very much and just want him to be happy.
He also has a loyal fan base who love watching him on This Morning and that won’t change. Why would it?
Of course, he can expect a small number of bigots and homophobes to spew out hateful bile, but they are to be pitied and ignored.
Those carping about why he took so long also need to shut up.
People should be allowed to come out when it feels the right time for them.
Phillip began his career at a time when being openly gay in a TV presenting role was just not an option.
Thank goodness things have changed and he can be open now – and know that the overwhelmingly vast majority of us wish him and his family nothing but the very best.
I was really touched by what he said about interviewing brave people on This Morning, and realising that he had to be just like them and tell his truth.
Love comes in many different forms.
Phillip and his wife Stephanie adore each other and that won’t change. Again, why on earth would it?
At the end of his statement Phillip urged us all to be kind, especially to his family, and I hope we all take those words on board.
Let’s wish them all the best and let them get on with their lives.
Dress distraction
WHAT a furore over a bare shoulder. Actress-turned-MP Tracy Brabin didn’t deserve the vitriol about her outfit but it WAS distracting.
It’s unfortunate because Tracy was making important points about journalists being shut out of No 10 briefings – a move that makes my blood run cold and threatens Press freedom. Sadly, no one was really listening.
Tracy told me she had been at a music event and didn’t expect to be back in the House. She is bemused by all the fuss.
How those in public life dress should not detract from their message, be it a female MP in a low-cut top or mini-skirt, or a man wearing a gaudy tie or tight trousers.
Our MPs are not known for their style and rarely make headlines for their fashion sense.
I am very happy for them to keep it that way.
Prince’s party’s finished
WELL, that was a rather ill-advised memo to send, reminding local councils to fly the Union Flag on February 19 as a “celebration” of Prince Andrew’s birthday.
I had no idea this was a “thing” and that Andrew was on a list of VIPs whose birthdays are marked with a flag waving on the roof of our town halls, instead of just cake and prosecco like the rest of us.
Unsurprisingly, this ludicrous edict has caused much disgruntlement.
As we know, Andrew has been booted out of The Firm by his own mum after that disastrous TV interview delving into his friendship with the American paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Then there is the ongoing scandal over whether or not Andrew will be interviewed by the FBI as part of its investigations into child trafficking allegations against Epstein.
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It is all very sordid and murky. Surely even his nearest and dearest would agree this is not the time for official celebrations.
He is no longer a working royal and has no place on that list.
Time to lower the flags for good.
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