Michael Douglas, the acclaimed actor known for his versatile roles, has announced that he is pressing pause on his acting career, at least for the time being. As he approaches his 81st birthday in September, Douglas reflects on his extensive career and the choices he has made in recent years.
Douglas last graced the big screen in the Marvel film “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” in 2023 and portrayed Benjamin Franklin in the Apple TV+ miniseries “Franklin.” He has intentionally not worked since 2022—understanding that to do this, he had to retreat.
“I have not worked since 2022 purposefully because I realized I had to stop,” Douglas stated. He emphasized that after nearly six decades in the industry, he did not want to be “one of those people who dropped dead on the set.”
The artist’s new film, “Looking Through Water,” is a work in progress. He’ll be joined onscreen by his son, Cameron Douglas. So far, he’s not gotten a concrete answer for a public-facing release date. Even with this new project, Douglas is still reluctant to fully give up retirement from acting.
If a really great opportunity appeared, sure, take a new look, but other than that, absolutely not, he remarked. These days, he’s more concerned with finding balance in his life. This is doubly important as he deals with his still-unfolding battle with his wife, actress Catherine Zeta-Jones. Douglas went on to jokingly include that he is “willing to be the wife” in the interests of keeping a marriage strong.
Beyond these reflections on his career, Douglas is still battling the adversity that comes from his health. Then, in 2010, he was diagnosed with stage 4 tongue cancer. He decided on chemotherapy and radiation instead of surgery, which would have meant removing a significant part of his lower jaw. As extreme as this surgery was, he was grateful that it didn’t leave him unable to speak or move.
I know that stage 4 cancer is not a holiday, and this is not an ideal choice. What are the options really? Smart, Douglas said, showing that even after years of challenges, resilience remains. He expressed gratitude for the treatment options available to him, saying, “I went with the program and was fortunate.”
As Michael Douglas takes this time away from acting, he reflects on both his storied career and his personal life. The actor’s recent actions have shown that he would be okay retiring from public life. He remains receptive to new opportunities that fit the overall priorities of his life’s palette.
