MICHAEL DOUGLAS portrays Dr. Nathan Conrad, an eminent psychiatrist who is uprooted from his cushy Manhattan practice for one frantic, nightmare-filled day, after his daughter is kidnapped.
With more than 25 years experience in theatre, film and television as an actor and an actor-producer, Douglas has shown an uncanny knack for choosing projects that reflect changing trends and public concerns, ranging from such controversial and politically influential motion pictures as "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and "The China Syndrome" to such popular films as "Fatal Attraction" and "Romancing the Stone."
Douglas' most recent film "Wonder Boys," co-starring Toby Maguire, Frances McDormand and Robert Downey Jr., directed by Curtis Hansen, earned Douglas a Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor, as well as Golden Globe and Orange British Academy Film Award nominations. "Traffic," co-starring Don Cheadle, Benicio del Toro, Amy Irving, Dennis Quaid and Catherine Zeta-Jones, opened to rave reviews and won five Oscars®. He also completed producing and playing a cameo role in the first film by Douglas' company Furthur Films, "One Night at MeCools," starring Liv Tyler, Matt Dillon, John Goodman and Paul Reiser, directed by Harald Zwart.
In 1998, Douglas starred with Gwyneth Paltrow and Viggo Mortensen in the Kopelson Entertainment mystery thriller "A Perfect Murder." He was also named a Messenger of Peace for the United Nations in July of 1998 by Secretary General Kofi Annan.
In 1992, Douglas starred with Sharon Stone in the erotic thriller from Paul Verhoeven, "Basic Instinct," one of the year's top grossing films. He gave one of his most powerful performances opposite Robert Duvall in Joel Schumacher's controversial drama "Falling Down," also produced by the Kopelsons. That year he also produced the hit comedy "Made in America," starring Whoopi Goldberg, Ted Danson and Will Smith. In 1994 he starred with Demi Moore in Barry Levinson's "Disclosure," based on Michael Crichton's bestseller. In 1995, Douglas portrayed the title role in Rob Reiner's romantic comedy "The American President" opposite Annette Bening and in 1997, starred in "The Game" directed by David Fincher, co-starring Sean Penn.
Douglas formed Douglas/Reuther Productions with partner Steven Reuther in May 1994, producing "The Ghost and the Darkness," "John Grisham's The Rainmaker" directed by Francis Ford Coppola starring Matt Damon, Claire Danes and Danny DeVito, and John Woo's action thriller, "Face/Off", starring John Travolta and Nicolas Cage, which proved to be one of 1997's hits.
In 1988, Douglas formed Stonebridge Entertainment, Inc. which produced "Flatliners," "Radio Flyer," and "Shining Through." His career as an actor/producer resulted in the 1984 release of the romantic fantasy "Romancing the Stone" starring Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito. The picture was a resounding hit, grossing more than $100-million at the box office. He was named Producer of the Year in 1984 by the National Association of Theatre Owners. Douglas, Turner and DeVito reteamed in 1985 for the successful sequel, "The Jewel of the Nile." During this period, he produced "Starman," which earned Jeff Bridges an Oscar nomination. In 1986, Douglas created a television series based on the film for ABC, which starred Robert Hays.
Douglas appeared in two of 1987's biggest hits. He starred opposite Glenn Close in the phenomenally successful psychological thriller, "Fatal Attraction," followed by his performance as a ruthless corporate raider in Oliver Stone's "Wall Street," earning him the Academy Award® for Best Actor. He next starred in Ridley Scott's thriller, "Black Rain" and teamed up again with Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito in the black comedy, 'The War of the Roses," released in 1989. During the '80's, he also starred in "It's My Turn," "The Star Chamber," and "A Chorus Line."
In 1975, Douglas purchased the film rights for Ken Kesey's novel, "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," from his father, forming a partnership with Saul Zaentz to produce the picture. A critical and commercial success, "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor and Best Actress and went on to gross more than $1 80-million at the box office. He followed this with "The China Syndrome," teaming up with Jane Fonda. The picture received Academy Award nominations for Jack Lemmon and Fonda as well as for Best Screenplay. It was also named one of the best films of the year by The National Board of Review.
Following his performances in the television productions in the early 70's in "When Michael Calls," "Medical Center" and "The FBI," Douglas came to prominence as Karl Malden's sidekick in the police series, "The Streets of San Francisco," which premiered in 1972, earning Douglas three successive Emmy nominations. He later starred in Michael Crichton's medical thriller "Coma," and the drama "Running."
Born in New Jersey, the son of Kirk and Diana Douglas, after receiving his B.A. from University of California in 1968, Douglas moved to New York to continue his dramatic training. He made his television debut on the CBS Playhouse production of "The Experiment", televised nationwide in 1969. He then made his motion picture debut in "Hail, Hero!" followed by his "Adam at 6 A. M," "Summertree," and "Napoleon and Samantha." In between film assignments, he worked in summer stock and off-Broadway production.
Douglas resides in New York with his wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and has two sons, Cameron and Dylan.
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