Hollywood icon Kirk Douglas dies at 103

Variety

The legendary movie actor, known for films like Spartacus, The Bad and the Beautiful and Ace in the Hole, died Wednesday at age 103. Douglas, who earned an honorary Oscar in 1996, was primarily a movie actor. But he appeared on a few TV series, earning Emmy nominations for roles on Tales from the Crypt and Touched by an Angel. He also lent his voice to a 1996 episode of The Simpsons, playing a homeless man named Chester J. Lampwick, who claims and successfully proves that he is the creator of Itchy from The Itchy & Scratchy Show. One of Douglas' most most memorable roles was as a cynical reporter in Ace in the Hole, Billy Wilder's 1951 film noir that predicted TV's appetite for sensationalism and ability to exploit a tragedy. It is one of Spike Lee's favorite films, as he told TCM in 2012. Douglas' last major TV appearance was two years ago, at age 101, at the 2018 Golden Globes where he presented an award with daughter-in-law Catherine Zeta-Jones and received a standing ovation. ALSO: Michael Douglas pays tribute to his dad.