By Ekin Karasin
Michael Douglas has outlined his plans for retirement after six decades of acting over fears for his health.
The Basic Instinct star, 80, explained that he had 鈥渘o real intentions鈥 of acting again unless 鈥渟omething special鈥 came up.
The Hollywood veteran, who battled throat cancer in 2010, said he didn鈥檛 want to become one of those stars who 鈥渄rop dead on set鈥.
Douglas added that he was 鈥渧ery happy鈥 to take a step back for his health and watch his wife Catherine Zeta-Jones take the limelight.
鈥淚鈥檝e had a very busy career. Now, I have not worked since 2022, purposely, because I realised I had to stop,鈥 he said at the Karlovy Vary international film festival in the Czech Republic for the 50th anniversary of One Flew Over the Cuckoo鈥檚 Nest, which he co-produced.
The acting legend鈥檚 last role was playing Benjamin Franklin in the Apple TV+ series Franklin, which was filmed in 2022 and aired in 2024.
Douglas went on: 鈥淚鈥檇 been working pretty hard for almost 60 years, and I did not want to be one of those people who dropped dead on the set.
鈥淚鈥檓 very happy with taking the time off. I have no real intentions. But I say I鈥檓 not retired, because if something special came up, I鈥檇 go back. But otherwise, I鈥檓 quite happy. I just like to watch my wife work.鈥
He added that he was 鈥渢rying to get a good script out鈥 of a 鈥渓ittle independent movie鈥, but said, 鈥淚鈥檓 not pursuing work. My golf game is getting better.鈥
The Fatal Attraction star was diagnosed with stage four throat cancer in 2010 and underwent chemotherapy and radiation.
At Karlovy Vary festival, he said he was 鈥渇ortunate鈥 to avoid surgery.
Douglas revealed the procedure 鈥渨ould have meant not being able to talk and removing part of my jaw鈥 that would have been limiting as an actor鈥.
He married Zeta-Jones in 2000 and they share two children – Dylan, 24, and Carys, 22. Douglas also has a son, Cameron, 46, from his previous marriage to Diandra Luker.
Last July, he made a rare red carpet appearance with Dylan and Carys at the premiere of America’s Burning, a documentary he narrated about about American democracy directed by David M. Smick.
The film delves into the economic divide in America and offers a hopeful vision for the future. Douglas is also listed as an executive producer for the project.