“I did not want to…dropped dead on set”: Michael Douglas opens up about his hiatus from acting
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Michael Douglas opens up about his hiatus from acting careerMichael Douglas, known for starring in several yesteryear hits like Fatal Attraction and Basic Instinct, is now taking a break from movies. He spoke not long ago at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic. Now at 80, he hasn't taken on any acting roles since 2022. He said, as per Variety:
“I have not worked since 2022 purposefully because I realized I had to stop. I had 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."— Variety (@Variety) July 7, 2025
He added:
"I have not worked since 2022 purposefully because I realized I had to stop. I had 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 have no real intentions of going back. I say I'm not retired because if something special came up, I'd go back, but otherwise, no."
Along the road, he's won two Oscars, one for acting, one for making movies, a Primetime Emmy, and a set of Golden Globes that could match any top Hollywood star's haul.
He was last seen on the screen as Benjamin Franklin in the 2024 Apple TV+ miniseries Franklin.
Michael Douglas steps back for health and healing
The producer of A Beautiful Mind has openly talked about how his battle with stage 4 tongue cancer made him see his time on screen differently. He did not hide the harsh truth of his sickness, noting that going through many rounds of chemo and radiation was not at all a rest from real life.
What really hit him hard was the other choice, a big surgery that would have cut off part of his jaw and, even worse, taken his voice.
He says the disease hit him hard in body and mind, but his love for telling tales and his drive to stay true to his work kept him going on the worst days of care. Now, with his health better and the tough fights over, he's slowly moving away from the public eye by choice.
Running his own business, Further Films, lets him keep in touch with the art world but without the hard work of being in front of the camera. He has said that his time dressing up for big series like Marvel is over, his role as Hank Pym in the Ant-Man trilogy and Avengers: Endgame was enough to fill his need for big hits, and he's not keen on going back to the world of green screens and special effects.
“I don’t think so. I had the experience, and I was excited to do it… But I’m enjoying my hiatus and enjoying my life.”
(Source: Deadline) pic.twitter.com/O367Wyqzbo— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) May 21, 2025
Instead, he talks about taking joy in helping his wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and focusing on their life together far from red carpets and movie sets. He even joked about taking care of "one small movie on its own," but only if the script lights up something great.
Michael Douglas and his lasting family bond in the spotlight
Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones have kept a marriage that looks quite old-fashioned. Since they got married in 2000, they've mixed the bright lights of fame with real love for family life.
Now at 80, Douglas picks his acting jobs with care, choosing to spend more time loving life at home. He enjoys seeing his kids grow and supports Zeta-Jones as her work shines bright. As she takes on roles in shows like Netflix's Wednesday and Disney+'s National Treasure: Edge of History, Douglas is happy to cheer from the side. He said:
"I just like to watch my wife work."
Their family, with their two kids, Dylan Michael and Carys Zeta, and Douglas's son Cameron from a past marriage, stays central in their lives.
Michael Douglas keeps the spotlight warm with upcoming roles and family time
Even though he's not as busy in Hollywood now and taking a hiatus, fans of Michael Douglas can still look forward to some exciting stuff. The actor will be in Looking Through Water, a close drama that means extra since it also has his son, Cameron Douglas, showing how deep acting runs in their family. While they haven't set a date for its start, people are really eager.
Douglas is also still in the Reagan & Gorbachev miniseries, where he will appear alongside Christoph Waltz. The show is set to release on Paramount+.
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TOPICS: Michael Douglas