Michael Douglas: I Put Career Before Son

Now, he's trying to end destructive father-son cycle
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 1, 2010 10:56 AM CST
Michael Douglas: I Put Career Before Son
Kirk Douglas, Michael Douglas and Cameron Douglas arrive at the New York premiere of 'It Runs In The Family' at the Loews Lincoln Square Theater April 13, 2003 in New York City.   (Getty Images)

Michael Douglas’ family has a history of difficult father-son relationships, but as son Cameron faces 10 years behind bars on drug charges, Douglas talks with Vanity Fair about second chances—with his own father, with Cameron, and with his youngest children. “My priorities were very similar” to father Kirk’s, Douglas says, recalling his absence from his son’s childhood. “Career first.”

Like Michael himself, Cameron long struggled to make a name for himself; unlike Michael, he never made that name. “The history of second-generation actors isn’t great in our industry,” Douglas says, speaking of himself. “It’s kind of a tragic road, actually.” Now, while trying to help Cameron as much as he can and growing closer to his own father than ever, he pledges to do things differently with his two youngest. As wife Catherine Zeta-Jones says, “I’m sure if he could breast-feed, he would have.”
(More Michael Douglas stories.)

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