Editing Kirk Douglas (section)

===Rise to stardom===
Douglas joined the [[United States Navy]] in 1941, shortly after the United States entered [[World War II]], where he served as a [[communications officer]] in [[anti-submarine warfare]] aboard [[PC-461-class submarine chaser|USS ''PC-1139'']].<ref name="MilitaryDouglas">{{cite web|url=https://navy.togetherweserved.com/usn/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApps?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=468480|title=Douglas, Kirk, LTJG|publisher=www.navy.togetherweserved.com|access-date=January 10, 2018}}</ref> He was medically discharged in 1944 for injuries sustained from the premature explosion of a [[depth charge]].<ref name="OsdolLambert1995">{{cite book|author1=Van Osdol, William R.|author2=John W. Lambert|title=Famous Americans in World War II: a pictorial history|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h1I2K3DydwgC|year= 1995|publisher=Phalanx|isbn=978-1883809065|page=31|quote=Serving in the Pacific as an ensign, he was seriously injured because of a premature depth charge explosion and returned to San Diego. After five months hospitalization, he was granted a medical discharge in 1944.}}</ref> He rose to the rank of [[Lieutenant (junior grade)]].<ref name="MilitaryDouglas" />

After the war, Douglas returned to New York City and found work in radio, theater, and [[Advertising|commercials]]. In his radio work, he acted in network soap operas and saw those experiences as being especially valuable, as skill in using one's voice is important for aspiring actors; he regretted that later the same avenues became no longer available. His stage break occurred when he took over the role played by [[Richard Widmark]] in ''[[Kiss and Tell (play)|Kiss and Tell]]'' (1943), which then led to other offers.<ref name="Thomas, p. 18"/>

Douglas had planned to remain a stage actor until his friend Lauren Bacall helped him get his first film role by recommending him to producer [[Hal B. Wallis]], who was looking for a new male talent.<ref name=Parker>Parker, John (2011). ''Michael Douglas: Acting on Instinct'', London: Headline. e-book, Ch. 2 {{OCLC|1194433483}}<!-- WorldCat does not list ISBN for this edition --></ref> Wallis's film ''[[The Strange Love of Martha Ivers]]'' (1946) with [[Barbara Stanwyck]] became Douglas' debut screen appearance. He played a young, insecure man stung by jealousy, whose life was dominated by his ruthless wife, and who hid his feelings with alcohol. It would be the last time that Douglas portrayed a weakling in a film role.<ref>Smith, Imogen Sara (2011). ''In Lonely Places: Film Noir Beyond the City'', Jefferson, NC: McFarland. p. 103, {{ISBN|978-0786463053}}. {{OCLC|756335120}}</ref><ref>Thomas, p. 33</ref> Reviewers of the film noted that Douglas already projected qualities of a "natural film actor", with the similarity of this role with later ones explained by biographer Tony Thomas:

{{blockquote|His style and his personality came across on the screen, something that does not always happen, even with the finest actors. Douglas had, and has, a distinctly individual manner. He radiates a certain inexplicable quality, and it is this, as much as talent, that accounts for his success in films.<ref name="Thomas, p. 19">Thomas, p. 19</ref>}}

In 1947, Douglas appeared in ''[[Out of the Past]]'' (UK: ''Build My Gallows High''), playing a large supporting role in this classic noir thriller starring [[Robert Mitchum]] and [[Jane Greer]]. Douglas made his Broadway debut in 1949 in ''[[Three Sisters (play)|Three Sisters]]'', produced by [[Katharine Cornell]].<ref>Mosel, ''Leading Lady: The World and Theatre of Katharine Cornell'' {{ISBN|0316585378}}</ref> The month after ''Out of the Past'' was released, ''[[I Walk Alone]]'', the first film teaming Douglas with [[Burt Lancaster]], presented Douglas playing a supporting part quite similar to his role in ''Out of the Past'' in another classic fast-paced noir thriller.

Douglas' image as a tough guy was established in his eighth film, ''[[Champion (1949 film)|Champion]]'' (1949), after producer [[Stanley Kramer]] chose him to play a selfish boxer. However, in accepting the role, he took a gamble, since he had to turn down an offer to star in a big-budget MGM film, ''[[The Great Sinner]]'', which would have earned him three times the income.<ref>Douglas 1988, p. 146.</ref><ref name=Didinger/> [[Melvyn Douglas]] played the third-billed (above the title) part Kirk Douglas passed on. ''The Great Sinner'' flopped.

Film historian Ray Didinger says Douglas "saw ''Champion'' as a greater risk, but also a greater opportunity ... Douglas took the part and absolutely nailed it." Frederick Romano, another sports film historian, described Douglas's acting as "alarmingly authentic":

{{blockquote|Douglas shows great concentration in the ring. His intense focus on his opponent draws the viewer into the ring. Perhaps his best characteristic is his patented snarl and grimace ... he leaves no doubt that he is a man on a mission.<ref name=Romano>Romano, Frederick V. ''The Boxing Filmography: American Features, 1920–2003'', McFarland (2004), p. 31 {{ISBN|978-0786417933}}</ref>}}
[[File:Douglas - Bacall - Horn 1950.jpg|thumb|Douglas and [[Lauren Bacall]] in ''[[Young Man with a Horn (film)|Young Man with a Horn]]'' (1950)]]

Douglas received his first [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]] nomination, and the film earned six nominations in all. ''[[Variety magazine|Variety]]'' called it "a stark, realistic study of the boxing rackets."<ref name=Didinger>Didinger, Ray, and Glen Macnow. ''The Ultimate Book of Sports Movies: Featuring the 100 Greatest Sports Films'', Running Press (2009), p. 260 {{ISBN|0091521300}}</ref>

After ''Champion'' he decided that, to succeed as a star, he needed to ramp up his intensity, overcome his natural shyness, and choose stronger roles. He later stated, "I don't think I'd be much of an actor without vanity. And I'm not interested in being a 'modest actor'".<ref name="Thomas, p. 28">Thomas, p. 28</ref> Early in his Hollywood career, Douglas demonstrated his independent streak and broke his studio contracts to gain total control over his projects, forming his own movie company, [[Bryna Productions]] (named after his mother) in September 1949.<ref name="Thomas, p. 13"/><ref>{{Cite web|date=September 28, 1949|title=Bryna Productions, Inc.|url=https://businesssearch.sos.ca.gov/CBS/SearchResults?filing=&SearchType=CORP&SearchCriteria=bryna&SearchSubType=Keyword|url-status=dead|access-date=May 18, 2021|website=California Secretary of State|archive-date=May 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518160202/https://businesssearch.sos.ca.gov/CBS/SearchResults?filing=&SearchType=CORP&SearchCriteria=bryna&SearchSubType=Keyword}}</ref>