Actress Diana Douglas Webster, mother of Michael Douglas and former wife of Kirk Douglas, died of cancer on July 3, 2015 in Woodland Hills, Calif. She was 92.
Born Diana Love Dill on January 22, 1923 in Devonshire, Bermuda, Webster appeared on film, television and stage. She appeared in more than 20 films, including "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" and "It Runs in the Family," in addition to TV roles on "The West Wing" and "Love is a Many Splendored Thing."
Webster met Kirk Douglas when they were both acting students at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. They married in 1943 and had Michael and Joel (now a producer) in 1947.
After a divorce from Kirk Douglas in 1951, Webster married actor William "Bill" Darrid in 1956 and then Donald A. Webster upon her second husband's death.
Diana is survived by her husband Donald A. Webster
A memorial service will be held in Los Angeles.
Her wishes were that she be cremated and her ashes be spread over Bermuda.
____________________________________
Few people are lucky enough to experience close-up those mutually attracting worlds of politics and entertainment. Donald Webster is one of those. From his earliest memories he set his sights on Washington, D.C., where he imagined the fate of the world was decided. Over the years he realized his youthful dream --working in the Congress, the Treasury and the White House. But his political career failed to provide a sense of creative satisfaction, and when his first wife died, he cut loose from Washington and headed to a California beach and later to New York to study painting and photography. A long and winding trail finally led him to writing as his preferred means of creative self expression. His transformation from the world of politics to that of the arts took a decisive leap forward after he fell in love with actress Diana Douglas.Diana Douglas, the first wife of Kirk Douglas and mother of Michael Douglas, died Saturday in Los Angeles. She was 92.
Douglas died of cancer at a motion picture industry retirement home in the Woodland Hills neighborhood, according to an obituary from Michael Douglas's production company, Furthur Films. It cited Diana Douglas's husband of fifteen years, Donald A. Webster of Washington, D.C.
Born Diana Love Dill in Bermuda, where her family had lived for centuries and her father was the attorney general, Douglas later moved to New York and met Kirk Douglas while they were both studying at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
She later went to California on a $200-a-week contract with Warner Bros. against Douglas's advice that she try for Broadway instead.
She went on to have a six-decade as an actress and model, appearing in dozens of movies and television episodes, including the 1987 Steve Martin film "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" and the TV shows "ER" and "The West Wing."
She also did stage roles, including some on Broadway.
In May 1943, Douglas appeared on the cover of Life magazine, modeling spring fashions.
"Kirk Douglas, by then serving in the Navy during World War II, saw her on the cover and told his shipmates he would marry her," according to the obituary.
They wed that November and went on the have two sons, Michael and Joel, before divorcing in 1951.
"We had brought to marriage such different concepts of what it constituted, what was expected due," she wrote in her memoir, "In the Wings and Beyond."
The two remained on amicable terms. She even appeared with him in several movies, including her last film, 2003's "It Runs in the Family," which also starred Michael Douglas and one of her grandsons, Cameron.
Douglas was also married to actor Bill Darrid from 1956 until his death in 1992.
Born Diana Love Dill on January 22, 1923 in Devonshire, Bermuda, Webster appeared on film, television and stage. She appeared in more than 20 films, including "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" and "It Runs in the Family," in addition to TV roles on "The West Wing" and "Love is a Many Splendored Thing."
Webster met Kirk Douglas when they were both acting students at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. They married in 1943 and had Michael and Joel (now a producer) in 1947.
After a divorce from Kirk Douglas in 1951, Webster married actor William "Bill" Darrid in 1956 and then Donald A. Webster upon her second husband's death.
Diana is survived by her husband Donald A. Webster
A memorial service will be held in Los Angeles.
Her wishes were that she be cremated and her ashes be spread over Bermuda.
____________________________________
Few people are lucky enough to experience close-up those mutually attracting worlds of politics and entertainment. Donald Webster is one of those. From his earliest memories he set his sights on Washington, D.C., where he imagined the fate of the world was decided. Over the years he realized his youthful dream --working in the Congress, the Treasury and the White House. But his political career failed to provide a sense of creative satisfaction, and when his first wife died, he cut loose from Washington and headed to a California beach and later to New York to study painting and photography. A long and winding trail finally led him to writing as his preferred means of creative self expression. His transformation from the world of politics to that of the arts took a decisive leap forward after he fell in love with actress Diana Douglas.Diana Douglas, the first wife of Kirk Douglas and mother of Michael Douglas, died Saturday in Los Angeles. She was 92.
Douglas died of cancer at a motion picture industry retirement home in the Woodland Hills neighborhood, according to an obituary from Michael Douglas's production company, Furthur Films. It cited Diana Douglas's husband of fifteen years, Donald A. Webster of Washington, D.C.
Born Diana Love Dill in Bermuda, where her family had lived for centuries and her father was the attorney general, Douglas later moved to New York and met Kirk Douglas while they were both studying at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
She later went to California on a $200-a-week contract with Warner Bros. against Douglas's advice that she try for Broadway instead.
She went on to have a six-decade as an actress and model, appearing in dozens of movies and television episodes, including the 1987 Steve Martin film "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" and the TV shows "ER" and "The West Wing."
She also did stage roles, including some on Broadway.
In May 1943, Douglas appeared on the cover of Life magazine, modeling spring fashions.
"Kirk Douglas, by then serving in the Navy during World War II, saw her on the cover and told his shipmates he would marry her," according to the obituary.
They wed that November and went on the have two sons, Michael and Joel, before divorcing in 1951.
"We had brought to marriage such different concepts of what it constituted, what was expected due," she wrote in her memoir, "In the Wings and Beyond."
The two remained on amicable terms. She even appeared with him in several movies, including her last film, 2003's "It Runs in the Family," which also starred Michael Douglas and one of her grandsons, Cameron.
Douglas was also married to actor Bill Darrid from 1956 until his death in 1992.
Actress Diana Douglas Webster, mother of Michael Douglas and former wife of Kirk Douglas, died of cancer on July 3, 2015 in Woodland Hills, Calif. She was 92.
Born Diana Love Dill on January 22, 1923 in Devonshire, Bermuda, Webster appeared on film, television and stage. She appeared in more than 20 films, including "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" and "It Runs in the Family," in addition to TV roles on "The West Wing" and "Love is a Many Splendored Thing."
Webster met Kirk Douglas when they were both acting students at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. They married in 1943 and had Michael and Joel (now a producer) in 1947.
After a divorce from Kirk Douglas in 1951, Webster married actor William "Bill" Darrid in 1956 and then Donald A. Webster upon her second husband's death.
Diana is survived by her husband Donald A. Webster
A memorial service will be held in Los Angeles.
Her wishes were that she be cremated and her ashes be spread over Bermuda.
____________________________________
Few people are lucky enough to experience close-up those mutually attracting worlds of politics and entertainment. Donald Webster is one of those. From his earliest memories he set his sights on Washington, D.C., where he imagined the fate of the world was decided. Over the years he realized his youthful dream --working in the Congress, the Treasury and the White House. But his political career failed to provide a sense of creative satisfaction, and when his first wife died, he cut loose from Washington and headed to a California beach and later to New York to study painting and photography. A long and winding trail finally led him to writing as his preferred means of creative self expression. His transformation from the world of politics to that of the arts took a decisive leap forward after he fell in love with actress Diana Douglas.Diana Douglas, the first wife of Kirk Douglas and mother of Michael Douglas, died Saturday in Los Angeles. She was 92.
Douglas died of cancer at a motion picture industry retirement home in the Woodland Hills neighborhood, according to an obituary from Michael Douglas's production company, Furthur Films. It cited Diana Douglas's husband of fifteen years, Donald A. Webster of Washington, D.C.
Born Diana Love Dill in Bermuda, where her family had lived for centuries and her father was the attorney general, Douglas later moved to New York and met Kirk Douglas while they were both studying at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
She later went to California on a $200-a-week contract with Warner Bros. against Douglas's advice that she try for Broadway instead.
She went on to have a six-decade as an actress and model, appearing in dozens of movies and television episodes, including the 1987 Steve Martin film "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" and the TV shows "ER" and "The West Wing."
She also did stage roles, including some on Broadway.
In May 1943, Douglas appeared on the cover of Life magazine, modeling spring fashions.
"Kirk Douglas, by then serving in the Navy during World War II, saw her on the cover and told his shipmates he would marry her," according to the obituary.
They wed that November and went on the have two sons, Michael and Joel, before divorcing in 1951.
"We had brought to marriage such different concepts of what it constituted, what was expected due," she wrote in her memoir, "In the Wings and Beyond."
The two remained on amicable terms. She even appeared with him in several movies, including her last film, 2003's "It Runs in the Family," which also starred Michael Douglas and one of her grandsons, Cameron.
Douglas was also married to actor Bill Darrid from 1956 until his death in 1992.
Born Diana Love Dill on January 22, 1923 in Devonshire, Bermuda, Webster appeared on film, television and stage. She appeared in more than 20 films, including "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" and "It Runs in the Family," in addition to TV roles on "The West Wing" and "Love is a Many Splendored Thing."
Webster met Kirk Douglas when they were both acting students at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. They married in 1943 and had Michael and Joel (now a producer) in 1947.
After a divorce from Kirk Douglas in 1951, Webster married actor William "Bill" Darrid in 1956 and then Donald A. Webster upon her second husband's death.
Diana is survived by her husband Donald A. Webster
A memorial service will be held in Los Angeles.
Her wishes were that she be cremated and her ashes be spread over Bermuda.
____________________________________
Few people are lucky enough to experience close-up those mutually attracting worlds of politics and entertainment. Donald Webster is one of those. From his earliest memories he set his sights on Washington, D.C., where he imagined the fate of the world was decided. Over the years he realized his youthful dream --working in the Congress, the Treasury and the White House. But his political career failed to provide a sense of creative satisfaction, and when his first wife died, he cut loose from Washington and headed to a California beach and later to New York to study painting and photography. A long and winding trail finally led him to writing as his preferred means of creative self expression. His transformation from the world of politics to that of the arts took a decisive leap forward after he fell in love with actress Diana Douglas.Diana Douglas, the first wife of Kirk Douglas and mother of Michael Douglas, died Saturday in Los Angeles. She was 92.
Douglas died of cancer at a motion picture industry retirement home in the Woodland Hills neighborhood, according to an obituary from Michael Douglas's production company, Furthur Films. It cited Diana Douglas's husband of fifteen years, Donald A. Webster of Washington, D.C.
Born Diana Love Dill in Bermuda, where her family had lived for centuries and her father was the attorney general, Douglas later moved to New York and met Kirk Douglas while they were both studying at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
She later went to California on a $200-a-week contract with Warner Bros. against Douglas's advice that she try for Broadway instead.
She went on to have a six-decade as an actress and model, appearing in dozens of movies and television episodes, including the 1987 Steve Martin film "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" and the TV shows "ER" and "The West Wing."
She also did stage roles, including some on Broadway.
In May 1943, Douglas appeared on the cover of Life magazine, modeling spring fashions.
"Kirk Douglas, by then serving in the Navy during World War II, saw her on the cover and told his shipmates he would marry her," according to the obituary.
They wed that November and went on the have two sons, Michael and Joel, before divorcing in 1951.
"We had brought to marriage such different concepts of what it constituted, what was expected due," she wrote in her memoir, "In the Wings and Beyond."
The two remained on amicable terms. She even appeared with him in several movies, including her last film, 2003's "It Runs in the Family," which also starred Michael Douglas and one of her grandsons, Cameron.
Douglas was also married to actor Bill Darrid from 1956 until his death in 1992.
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