Kirk Douglas date of death and age at death
Kirk Douglas died on February 5, 2020, at the age of 103. He passed away at his home in Beverly Hills, California, from natural causes. Below you will find the exact date, the calculated age at death, and notable milestones in his long life and career.
Confirmed death details
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Date of death | February 5, 2020 | News reports and family statement |
| Age at death | 103 years old | Calculated from birth date January 9, 1916 |
| Place of death | Beverly Hills, California, USA | Official announcements |
| Reported cause | Natural causes | Coroner and family disclosures |
Age calculation and birth date
Douglas was born January 9, 1916. Subtracting birth year from year of death (2020 − 1916) and accounting for the fact that his birthday in early January occurred before his February 5 death in the same calendar year yields 103 years old. He lived more than 103 full years, approaching his 104th birthday in January 2020.
Notable career highlights spanning his lifespan
Across his 103 years, Douglas was a defining figure in Hollywood’s golden age and beyond, producing and starring in enduring classics. Highlights include his leading roles in film noir and epic dramas, narrations, and candid later-life reflections on longevity and resilience.
- 1940s–1950s leading man: Breakthrough and classic films such as Champion (1949), Spartacus (1960), and Paths of Glory (1957).
- Producer and storyteller: Formation of Bryna Productions, shaping projects with personal and social significance.
- Later-life voice work and memoirs: Narration, authorship, and candid interviews that reflected on risk, legacy, and aging.
Key milestones in context
| Date or Period | Event | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| January 9, 1916 | Birth in Amsterdam, New York | Starting point for age and career timeline |
| 1949–1960 | Peak film output and acclaim | Established him as a leading man and cultural figure |
| February 5, 2020 | Death at age 103 | End of a long life in entertainment and public service |
Verifying age and death information
Multiple sources confirm both the date of death and his age. Tributes, obituaries, and studio statements align on February 5, 2020, as the date, with consistent reporting that he died at 103. Cross-referencing birth records and public announcements supports the accuracy of these details.
Comparison with close contemporaries
Placing Douglas’s longevity in context among peers underscores how unusual 103 years is in an industry where many pass away much earlier. The table below offers a concise comparison without exhaustive enumeration.
| Name | Born | Died | Age at death |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kirk Douglas | Jan 9, 1916 | Feb 5, 2020 | 103 |
| James Garner | Apr 7, 1928 | Jul 19, 2014 | 86 |
| Charlton Heston | Oct 4, 1923 | Apr 9, 2008 | 84 |
| Mickey Rooney | Sep 23, 1920 | Apr 6, 2014 | 93 |
Enduring legacy and public memory
Kirk Douglas’s legacy rests on decades of influential performances, advocacy for artists’ rights, and candid conversations about aging and resilience. His death at 103 marks the end of a life that spanned most of the 20th century into the 21st, offering a durable reference point for biographies, retrospectives, and discussions about longevity in entertainment.
Frequently asked questions
- How old was Kirk Douglas when he died? He was 103 years old at the time of his death.
- What was the exact date of Kirk Douglas’s death? He died on February 5, 2020.
- Where did Kirk Douglas die? He died at his home in Beverly Hills, California, USA.
- What was the reported cause of death? The cause was reported as natural causes.
- When was Kirk Douglas born? He was born on January 9, 1916.
Sources and notes on verification
Information in this explainer is drawn from widely reported news obituaries, studio statements, and public records (birth and death indexes). Dates and age are cross-checked for consistency across authoritative sources. Where estimates exist, only those with strong consensus are included.
Dateline: February 5, 2020. Kirk Douglas dies at 103.