Michael Douglas Admits to Affair with Kathleen Turner, Contradicting Decades of Denials
The actor revealed in his memoir that he and his "Romancing the Stone" co-star did have a relationship off-screen, a narrative Turner had consistently refuted.
Michael Douglas has revealed that he and Kathleen Turner, his co-star in the 1984 film "Romancing the Stone," did have a romantic relationship off-screen, a claim that directly contradicts Turner's consistent denials over several decades. Douglas admitted to the affair in his upcoming memoir, "One Helluva Ride," as shared by People.
Turner had repeatedly stated that while she was attracted to Douglas during filming, nothing romantic transpired between them. She maintained this stance in multiple interviews over the years. In a 2008 appearance on "Larry King Live," Turner described their connection as a "good friendship" and said any potential romance ended when Douglas's then-wife, Diandra Luker, arrived on set.
Similarly, in a 2018 interview on "Good Morning America," Turner acknowledged wanting a romance with Douglas but stated that it didn't happen because Luker was present. She reiterated this in a 2021 interview with the Los Angeles Times, saying Douglas had told her he was separated, which made a relationship seem possible, but Luker's arrival ended it. Even in 2023, when asked about the extent of their relationship, Turner responded, "None of your business."
Douglas's memoir offers a different account, stating that he and Turner did pursue a relationship. He described sneaking into her hotel room after shooting days in the jungle. However, the affair reportedly ended when Luker and their son, Cameron, visited the set. Douglas writes that Luker confronted Turner, which caused Turner to pause, as she "didn’t want to interfere." This encounter led to the end of their affair, and Douglas reconciling with Luker.
Douglas stated that he and Turner agreed to maintain a narrative of denial to protect Luker and their son, Cameron. "Yes, we confessed, we had amazing chemistry," he wrote, referencing Turner's past statements. "Yes, we were both, as Kathleen said, ‘terrible flirts,’ and yes, we were both tempted, but nothing ever happened between us. That was a lie."
Douglas and Luker divorced in 2000. He later married Catherine Zeta-Jones. Turner was married to Jay Weiss until their divorce in 2007. Douglas and Turner reunited on screen in "The Jewel of the Nile" (1985), "The War of the Roses" (1989), and the Netflix series "The Kominsky Method."