TCM Festival 2011: An evening with Hollywood legend Kirk Douglas

The TCM Festival attendees were honored with a special appearance by Kirk Douglas. Douglas was on hand to talk about his career and to introduce a screening of his classic film “Spartacus.”

During the Q&A, Osborne introduced him by saying that “Spartacus” premiered there 50 years ago. The ever-sharp Douglas corrected Osbourne by saying “Wait a minute! I’m only 94 years old. I won’t be 95 until December.”

Douglas talked about his successful career and reflected on his one man Broadway Show in which Douglas recited one the most prominent lines in the entertainment industry. When he as a young man in the video talked about how he was going to build his career, older Kirk says to the younger one on the screen, “are you sure you know what they want?”

He mentions that though out his career that his favorite film the 1962 release “Lonely Are the Brave.”

Douglas also mentioned how his stroke change his life. “The most important thing was 10 years ago, when I had a stroke,” he said. “It made me realize how much we take for granted. It made me appreciate the things I have.”

Douglas also shared some stories of his famous offspring, son Michael, who produced the Oscar winning film “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest.” Douglas, who starred in the Broadway production jokingly talks about not being cast in the film. The now famous role went to Jack Nicholson.

“People told me I couldn’t do a one-man show, but I’m stubborn,” he said when talking about ‘Before I Forget.’ “For an old guy who can’t talk, I’m still saying a lot!”