Photos: Kirk Douglas' life in pictures Kirk Douglas poses for a studio portrait circa 1950. Hide Caption 1 of 21

Photos: Kirk Douglas' life in pictures Douglas, seen here in the 1950s, was born Issur Danielovitch to Russian immigrant parents in Amsterdam, New York, in 1916. He would eventually change his name to Kirk Douglas. Hide Caption 2 of 21

Photos: Kirk Douglas' life in pictures Douglas escorts Irene Wrightsman McEvoy to the Academy Awards in March 1950. He was nominated that year for best actor for his breakout role in "Champion." He would also be nominated for "The Bad and the Beautiful" and "Lust for Life." He received an honorary Academy Award in 1996. Hide Caption 3 of 21

Photos: Kirk Douglas' life in pictures Douglas is seen on location for the film "Ace in the Hole" in 1951. He embarked on a screen career in 1946 after theater work and a stint in the Navy during World War II. Hide Caption 4 of 21

Photos: Kirk Douglas' life in pictures Douglas kneels beside his sons Joel, left, and Michael in the mid-'50s. Both followed their father's career into films, with Joel a producer and Michael an actor and producer. Hide Caption 5 of 21

Photos: Kirk Douglas' life in pictures Douglas stars as Vincent van Gogh in director Vincente Minnelli's film about the Dutch painter, "Lust for Life" (1956). Co-star Anthony Quinn, right, won the best supporting actor Oscar for his role as rival Paul Gauguin. Hide Caption 6 of 21

Photos: Kirk Douglas' life in pictures Douglas enjoys a book with his second wife, Anne Buydens, circa 1956. The two were married in 1954 and remained married until his death. Hide Caption 7 of 21

Photos: Kirk Douglas' life in pictures Douglas, right, rehearses with Burt Lancaster in preparation for the "Night of 100 Stars" event in London in 1958. The two stars appeared in five films together, from "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral" (1957) to "Tough Guys" (1986). Hide Caption 8 of 21

Photos: Kirk Douglas' life in pictures Douglas stops at the Rome airport on his way to a safari in Kenya in 1962. Hide Caption 9 of 21

Photos: Kirk Douglas' life in pictures Douglas appears with his son Michael on the set of the film "Cast a Giant Shadow" in Rome in the mid-'60s. Michael Douglas had a small uncredited role in his dad's movie. He would go on to become a major film star himself in the 1980s and '90s. Hide Caption 10 of 21

Photos: Kirk Douglas' life in pictures Douglas addresses reporters at the Cannes Film Festival, where he was president of the jury in 1980. Hide Caption 11 of 21

Photos: Kirk Douglas' life in pictures Actor Jack Nicholson greets Douglas after a ceremony honoring Michael Douglas in 1997. Michael placed his hands and footprints in cement at Grauman's Chinese Theatre, a Hollywood landmark. Hide Caption 12 of 21

Photos: Kirk Douglas' life in pictures From left, Corbin Allred, Dan Aykroyd and Douglas star in 1999's "Diamonds," one of the star's more recent screen appearances. Hide Caption 13 of 21

Photos: Kirk Douglas' life in pictures Kirk and Michael Douglas attend a Simon Wiesenthal Center dinner honoring the latter with its Humanitarian Award in 2001. Hide Caption 14 of 21

Photos: Kirk Douglas' life in pictures Douglas displays a copy of his memoir, "My Stroke of Luck," at a New York bookstore in 2002. The star had recovered from a stroke he suffered in the mid-'90s. Hide Caption 15 of 21

Photos: Kirk Douglas' life in pictures Douglas appears with his first wife, Diana, son Michael and grandson Cameron Douglas at a special screening of "It Runs in the Family" in Los Angeles. All four actors starred in the 2003 film. Hide Caption 16 of 21

Photos: Kirk Douglas' life in pictures Douglas greets his daughter-in-law Catherine Zeta-Jones backstage at Broadway's "A Little Night Music" in 2009. She was starring in a revival of the Stephen Sondheim-Hugh Wheeler musical. Hide Caption 17 of 21

Photos: Kirk Douglas' life in pictures Douglas helps present an Academy Award in 2011. Hide Caption 18 of 21

Photos: Kirk Douglas' life in pictures Douglas poses for a portrait just days before his 98th birthday in 2016. Hide Caption 19 of 21

Photos: Kirk Douglas' life in pictures Douglas looks on as his son Michael makes a speech at his 100th birthday party in 2016. Hide Caption 20 of 21