Kirk Douglas is a person who acts.
The Academy Awards , now known officially as the Oscars , is a set of twenty-four awards for artistic and technical merit in the American film industry , given annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ) , to recognize excellence in cinematic achievements as assessed by the Academy 's voting membership . Kirk Douglas ( born Issur Danielovitch , December 9 , 1916 ) is an American actor , producer , director , and author . Lust for Life (film) . The film stars Kirk Douglas as Van Gogh , James Donald as his brother Theo , Pamela Brown , Everett Sloane and Anthony Quinn , who won an Oscar for his performance as Van Gogh 's fast friend and rival Paul Gauguin . Young Man with a Horn (film) . The movie stars Kirk Douglas , Lauren Bacall , Doris Day , and Hoagy Carmichael , and was directed by Michael Curtiz and produced by Jerry Wald .