drama Illusion – and appeared in a one man show, Before I Forget, at the Culver theatre in Culver City, California, in March 2009. In later years he became an active celebrity blogger and confessed that his last great ambition was to meet the actor Angelina Jolie – “provided my wife lets me”.

In his 1988 autobiography, The Ragman’s Son, Douglas recalled his rise from poverty – via work as a bellhop and a stint as a professional wrestler – to the Hollywood A-list. “Life is like a B-movie script,” he concluded. “It’s that corny. If someone offered me my life story to film, I’d turn them down flat.”

Michael Douglas: ‘Kirk was film star first, father second’ Read more

Actors and film industry stalwarts paying tribute to Douglas on Thursdayincluded Star Trek legend George Takei, who said on Twitter, “Douglas was a champion for many just causes and lived a long and storied life. He was adored and beloved, and he shall be missed.”

Film director Rob Reiner said, “Kirk Douglas will always be an icon in the pantheon of Hollywood. He put himself on the line to break the blacklist. My love goes out to my friend Michael and the whole family.”

Douglas is survived by his wife, Anne Buydens, and his three sons: Michael, Joel, and Peter. A fourth son, Eric, died in 2004.