Michael Douglas is an American actor and producer born on September 25th 1944 in New Brunswick New Jersey he comes from a family with a strong Hollywood background his father Kirk Douglas was a famous actor Michael studied drama at the University of California Santa Barbara before starting his acting career Douglas gained early recognition with his role in the TV series The Streets of San Francisco in the 1970s his breakthrough in movie came with the 1984 film Romancing the Stone he also produced the Oscar winning movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest in 1975 which solidified his status in the industry in the late 1980s and 1990s Douglas starred in several iconic films including Wall Street where he played Gordon gecko earning him an Academy Award for best actor his portrayal of complex and often morally ambiguous characters became a trademark of his career Beyond acting Douglas has been involved in producing and has supported various causes including nuclear disarmament and human rights he has received numerous Awards and honors throughout his career including the prestigious AFI life Achievement Award Douglas married actress Katherine zet Jones in 2000 and they have two children together despite facing personal challenges including health issues Douglas continues to be a prominent figure in Hollywood actor Michael Douglas is currently battling cancer with reports indicating he may have only a few days left to live in an interview on August 16th his wife Katherine Zeta Jones revealed that he has Myoma which has caused fatigue weight loss and mobility issues explaining his recent absence from the public Michael first noticed pain numbness in his legs and difficulty walking despite trying Physical Therapy his condition did not improve a hospital visit in Los Angeles eventually revealed malignant tumor on his spinal cord leading to his cancer diagnosis at age 78 his son shared that surgery is not an option due to the tumor's large size and its complex connection to the spinal nerves which could result in death or paralysis Michael is currently receiving chemotherapy and radiation to manage the tumor symptoms [Music]