Michael Douglas Denies Sex Addiction, Calls Himself 'Healthy Product of the Sixties'

Veteran actor Michael Douglas, 82, has refuted claims of sex addiction, attributing his past relationships to the cultural climate of the 1960s. In his forthcoming memoir, titled "One Helluva Ride," Douglas discusses his colorful love life and admits to an affair with co-star Kathleen Turner during the filming of "Romancing the Stone," despite being married to his first wife, Diandra Luker, at the time.

Douglas told a British reporter that he does not view his past relationships as indicative of sleeping with an excessive number of women. "I don't know if I slept with so many women, I don't see it that way. No, not me, no. I was a healthy product of the Sixties," he stated, questioning why the British press seems particularly fixated on issues of sex.

The actor also directly addressed past reports of him entering rehab for sex addiction, asserting in his book, "I was never a f��� sex addict." He indicated that his memoir does not extensively focus on past romantic entanglements, mentioning only a few instances.

Regarding an anecdote where he stated he needed to conclude relationships with five women before committing to Catherine Zeta-Jones, Douglas clarified to The Sunday Times Magazine that Zeta-Jones had expressed her desire for monogamy if their relationship were to continue. He explained that he subsequently ended other relationships to accommodate this.

Douglas's marriage to Diandra Luker ultimately ended in divorce in 2000, the same year he married Catherine Zeta-Jones. He and Zeta-Jones have two children, Dylan and Carys. Douglas stated that their marriage remains "in good shape," though Zeta-Jones has not yet read his memoir.

Affair with Kathleen Turner

In the memoir, Douglas details the affair with Kathleen Turner, with whom he starred in the 1984 film "Romancing the Stone." He described an immediate attraction to Turner, noting her intelligence, wit, and sex appeal. At the time, Douglas's marriage to Diandra was reportedly strained, and he admits to having extramarital affairs prior to his involvement with Turner. He characterized the relationship with Turner as growing naturally from their professional collaboration, mutual respect, and attraction.

The affair was kept secret from their co-stars, including Danny DeVito, and director Robert Zemeckis. Douglas recounted sneaking into Turner's hotel room after long days of shooting. His wife, Diandra, eventually became suspicious and traveled to the film's set in Mexico, leading to the end of the clandestine romance.

Douglas and Turner maintained a "gentleman's agreement" for four decades not to discuss their relationship publicly. The official narrative they presented was that while they had strong chemistry and flirted, nothing physical occurred between them. Douglas confessed this was a lie intended to protect his wife and son.

Turner had previously alluded to their close relationship, stating in an interview that their attraction was strong and "it was going to happen" until his wife's arrival on set. When asked about Douglas revealing their affair, Turner expressed affection for him and anticipation for the book.

Douglas and Turner's on-screen chemistry led to box office success with "Romancing the Stone," which grossed $115 million. They later reunited for the sequel "The Jewel of the Nile" and the film "The War of the Roses" in 1989.

Later Career and Personal Life

Douglas and Turner's professional collaboration continued much later, with Turner joining the cast of Douglas's Netflix series "The Kominsky Method" for its second season in 2019 and its final season in 2021. During promotional efforts for the show, they again denied rumors of a past romantic involvement, maintaining the secret for nearly 40 years.

Douglas's marriage to Diandra Luker concluded after 18 years, with reports suggesting she received approximately $45 million and several properties in the divorce settlement. He met Catherine Zeta-Jones in 1998, marrying her two years later. The couple welcomed their son Dylan in 2000 and their daughter Carys Zeta in 2003.

"One Helluva Ride" is scheduled for release on October 6.