139 Quotes by Kirk Douglas

Fifteen years ago, I suffered a stroke, which caused me to lose my speech. Now, what does an actor who can't talk do? Wait for silent pictures to come back? I work with a speech therapist twice a week.

Sometimes an interviewer will look at me and say, 'You're bright!' They're actually surprised I might be bright.

I didn't think I was so tough until I did 'Champion'; then I was a tough guy.

I love talking to interesting people - people like O.J. Simpson, Andretti... I love champions. A champion has something special about him.

I didn't start out to be a movie star. I started out to be an actor.

My first job was on Broadway. Then I went into the Navy. When I came out of the Navy, I went back to Broadway and a friend of mine, Lauren Bacall, was in Hollywood filming with Humphrey Bogart. She told one of her producers I was great in my play, and he saw it and cast me in 'The Strange Love of Martha Ivers'.

I was not a very good Jew. I never practised what Judaism tells you to do, to teach your kids all about Judaism.

All my life, I have taken inventory at intervals. For example, when I became a movie actor and suddenly I had to deal with fame, money and playing so many roles, I lost myself. I said, 'Who am I?' And I wrote my first book to deal with that, 'The Ragman's Son.'

I'm an actor; I have made my living by acting, and I almost think I owe it to the public to express my feelings and not as a character on a screen but as myself.