The Ragman’s Son
An Autobiography
The actor's own account of his rise from a Russian-Jewish immigrant childhood, including his part in breaking the blacklist.
Kirk Douglas was born Issur Danielovitch, the son of a Russian-Jewish ragman in Amsterdam, New York, and this is his account of the distance travelled. It covers the films, the studio system and his part in ending the blacklist by insisting Dalton Trumbo’s name appear on Spartacus. Published in 1988, and unusually candid for a star memoir of its era.
Recommended by 1 Person
Darren Aronofsky
Kirk was such a brave actor, but he’s also just a brave guy. He broke the blacklist by forcing the studio to put [screenwriter] Dalton Trumbo’s name on Spartacus. It was the first time a blacklisted writer had used his real name, and Douglas used all the power he had built for himself to do that, which was a great risk to his career.
Interview · August 2011
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