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American Morning

Off Screen, Kirk Douglas Sunk Lower and Became More Depressed Than Most People Would Ever know

Aired January 15, 2002 - 07:55   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: All right. On the screen legendary Kirk Douglas was a symbol of strength from "Spartacus" to "Seven Days in May." He was the tough guy who rarely displayed any signs of weakness. But off the screen, as his health deteriorated, Kirk Douglas sunk lower and became more depressed than most people would ever know.

CNN's Thelma Gutierrez has his story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mr. Douglas.

THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kirk Douglas, legendary actor, a husband, father, and grandfather, and author of seven books. His latest is titled "My Stroke of Luck", about the stroke that changed his life.

KIRK DOUGLAS, ACTOR: Imagine an actor who can't talk. You feel your life is over with.

GUTIERREZ: In their Beverly Hills home, the 85-year old actor and his wife Ann (ph), talked candidly with me about the depression he suffered after his stroke in 1995.

DOUGLAS: Suicidal. You know it's a depression that I have never experienced before.

GUTIERREZ: A depression that surfaced after Douglas lost his ability to speak. He says he curled up in self pity, then one day he picked up a gun -- and you put the gun to your mouth.

DOUGLAS: Yes. I never like to talk about that. I never even discussed that with my wife because that was my lowest ever and again, it was funny because when I put the gun in my mouth, the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) hit my tooth - ow, I said and then it struck me funny that a toothache prevent me from killing myself.

GUTIERREZ: That was the day his life changed.

DOUGLAS: It taught me so much about myself, and it made me a better person.

GUTIERREZ: It was time to learn to speak again with the help of a speech therapist.

DOUGLAS: A guy that can't talk, I talk a lot.

GUTIERREZ: Ann (ph) says she showed Kirk tough love to make himself self reliant again.

ANN DOUGLAS (ph), WIFE OF KIRK DOUGLAS: I said here's the telephone, you call or here is a piece of paper and you write, and you want breakfast in your bed, go and sleep in the kitchen.

GUTIERREZ: The Douglas' say there is life after a stroke, so they appreciate every moment together. I understand that you have another wedding planned.

DOUGLAS: Well let me tell you, in two years, if I'm still alive, we will have been married for 50 years. Fifty years, so I will propose again to my wife, and if her answer is affirmative, we are going to have a big second wedding. I said to Michael, I think it will be as big as your wedding. That was a big wedding.

GUTIERREZ: Thelma Gutierrez, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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