Michael Douglas confirms he’s stepped back from acting, says he stopped because he didn’t want to “drop dead on set”

Michael Douglas has confirmed that he has stepped back from acting, revealing he doesn’t want to be someone who drops “dead on the set”.

The star has enjoyed an illustrious career since the 1960s, which includes two Academy Awards as well as roles in Fatal Attraction, Basic Instinct, Behind the Candelabra and Ant-Man.

While appearing at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Douglas explained that he has stopped work since appearing in 2022 TV series Franklin.

“I’ve had a very busy career,” he reflected (via The Guardian). “Now, I have not worked since 2022, purposely, because I realised I had to stop.

“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,” Douglas continued, noting that he has “no real intentions” – though stressed he is “not retired”.

“Because if something special came up, I’d go back,” he elaborated. “But otherwise, I’m quite happy. I just like to watch my wife [Catherine Zeta-Jones] work.”

During the appearance, Douglas also opened up about his experience of being diagnosed with stage four throat cancer in 2010, before being given the all-clear three years later, sharing that he avoided surgery.

The star explained that it “would have meant not being able to talk and removing part of my jaw”, which “would have been limiting as an actor”.

Last year, Douglas reflected on beginning his career in the shadow of his famous father Kirk Douglas, admitting he dislikes the ‘nepo baby’ label.

“I don’t know a father in whatever business, be it a plumber or a contractor or a carpenter, who doesn’t try to help his son join him,” he said at the Red Sea Film Festival. “I’m a nepo baby too, you know? So that’s the way it goes.”

The post Michael Douglas confirms he’s stepped back from acting, says he stopped because he didn’t want to “drop dead on set” appeared first on NME.