Who Is Kirk Douglas? Quotes And Photos From The Birthday Boy As He Turns 100

One of the last survivors of the film industry’s golden age, Kirk Douglas, turned 100 years old Friday. The famed actor, producer and director was born a century ago in Amsterdam, New York, as Issur Danielovitch.

Douglas is known for such films as "Spartacus," "Paths of Glory" and "Lonely are the Brave," among many other titles. The actor was also an early collaborator with director Stanley Kubrick and helped to elevate that talent ("Paths of Glory" was an early film of Kubrick’s). The talent in his family does not start and stop with him, either, as his son is the well-regarded actor Michael Douglas.

Here are some quotes and photos from and of the senior Douglas. Happy birthday!

“People are always talking about the old days. They say that the old movies were better, that the old actors were so great. But I don’t think so. All I can say about the old days is that they have passed.”

“In order to achieve anything you must be brave enough to fail.”

“Virtue is not photogenic. What is it to be a nice guy? To be nothing, that’s what. A big fat zero with a smile for everybody.”

“I don’t need a critic to tell me I’m an actor. I make my own way. Nobody’s my boss. Nobody’s ever been my boss.”

“I guess I was a bad boy… Yes, yes I’ve had lots of women in my life.”

“Why can’t a woman be more like a dog, huh? So sweet, loving, attentive.”

“I have one computer that my wife gave me. All I know how to do, and I do it every day, is play Spider Solitaire. And I don’t have a cell phone.”

“If you want to know about a man you can find out an awful lot by looking at who he married.”

“You know, you have to have some inner philosophy to deal with adversity.”