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 “no real intentions” of acting again unless “something special” came up.
The Hollywood veteran, who battled throat cancer in 2010, said he didn’t want to become one of those stars who “drop dead on set”.
Douglas added that he was “very happy” to take a step back for his health and watch his wife Catherine Zeta-Jones take the limelight.
“I’ve had a very busy career. Now, I have not worked since 2022, purposely, because I realised I had to stop,” he said at the Karlovy Vary international film festival in the Czech Republic for the 50th anniversary of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, which he co-produced.
The acting legend’s last role was playing Benjamin Franklin in the Apple TV+ series Franklin, which was filmed in 2022 and aired in 2024.
Douglas went on: “I’d 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.
“I’m very happy with taking the time off. I have no real intentions. But I say I’m not retired, because if something special came up, I’d go back. But otherwise, I’m quite happy. I just like to watch my wife work.”
He added that he was “trying to get a good script out” of a “little independent movie”, but said, “I’m not pursuing work. My golf game is getting better.”
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 “fortunate” to avoid surgery.
Douglas revealed the procedure “would have meant not being able to talk and removing part of my jaw… that would have been limiting as an actor”.
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.
