Michael Douglas to release candid memoir this fall

Michael Douglas has announced he will publish a memoir this fall, offering a deeply personal look at his extraordinary life and decades-long Hollywood career.

Grand Central Publishing confirmed to People that the two-time Oscar winner’s yet-untitled book will be released on Oct. 6. The 81-year-old actor is collaborating on the project with Deadline Editor-at-Large Mike Fleming Jr.

“After being asked for many years, I’ve finally decided it’s time to tell my story on my own terms,” Douglas told Deadline. “Not the highlight reel, not the version shaped by headlines or box office numbers, but the real one.”

He continued, “I’ve lived a life that unfolded in public while being deeply private at the same time, and there’s a difference. This is about where I came from, what I fought against and what I chose for myself. Fame can blur the truth; this is my attempt to bring it back into focus.”

The memoir will trace Douglas’ journey from growing up in the shadow of his legendary father, Kirk Douglas, to carving out his own path as one of Hollywood’s most enduring stars. 

Across more than five decades, Douglas has built a résumé spanning film, television, and producing, earning Academy Awards for One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1977) and Wall Street (1987), along with five Golden Globes, a Primetime Emmy and the AFI Lifetime Achievement Award.

Beyond his professional milestones, Douglas will reflect on deeply personal chapters of his life, including his battle with stage four cancer and the challenges surrounding his son Cameron’s struggles with addiction and incarceration. 

The book will also explore his relationships, including his 25-year marriage to Catherine Zeta-Jones.

In addition, Douglas plans to spotlight his philanthropic work and longstanding peace activism, particularly on issues such as gun control and nuclear disarmament.

Colin Dickerman, editor-in-chief at Grand Central Publishing, acquired world rights to the memoir from Shane Salerno of The Story Factory. 

In a statement to Deadline, Dickerman described Douglas’ life as “a towering achievement in perseverance,” adding that his willingness to share his story “with such honesty and intimacy is a gift.”