Michael Douglas Announces Retirement Plans Unless ‘Something Special’ Comes Up

Veteran actor Michael Douglas has stated that he has no plans to act again unless a “something special” comes up. The 80-year-old, who won two Oscars for his roles in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” and “Wall Street,” told reporters at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic that he stopped working in 2022 to prioritize his health.

Douglas had been working non-stop for almost 60 years, but he decided not to continue due to concerns about dropping dead on set. He is now happy with taking time off and prefers to watch his wife, actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, work instead of acting himself.

Despite announcing his retirement, Douglas still has two projects in the works: a movie called “Looking Through Water” and a miniseries titled “Reagan & Gorbachev.” His seven-decade career spans both acting and producing, with notable roles including his breakout appearance on TV series “The Streets of San Francisco” in 1972.

Douglas also shared that he was diagnosed with stage 4 throat cancer in 2010 but made a successful recovery through chemotherapy and radiation. He expressed gratitude for being fortunate enough to have received treatment without suffering more severe consequences, such as losing his ability to talk or perform oral functions necessary for acting.

In summary, Michael Douglas has no immediate plans to resume his acting career unless a unique opportunity arises.

Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/07/entertainment/michael-douglas-no-plans-acting-intl-scli