Michael Douglas writes in his new memoir, "One Helluva Ride," that he ended relationships with five women shortly before his romance with Catherine Zeta-Jones became exclusive.
Douglas, 82, recalls that after months of courtship, Zeta-Jones, 57, informed him that she would only date him if they were monogamous. "I’m not interested in dating you if you’re dating other people," she reportedly told him, prompting Douglas to choose between his existing relationships and a future with her.
He recounts making "five quick calls" to the women he was seeing. Douglas had been dating multiple partners, each living in different cities, following his 1995 separation from his first wife, Diandra Luker, after a 23-year marriage. He stated in his memoir that these women "all took it well."
The couple, who share the same birthday, first met in 1998 at the Deauville American Film Festival. Douglas famously told Zeta-Jones that night, "I’m going to be the father of your children." While initially taken aback, Douglas later defended the remark in his book, asserting it was a truthful statement.
He described Zeta-Jones as "magic" and expressed with certainty that "she was the one." He also noted that he changed her initial perception of him by sending an apology note with flowers.
Douglas and Zeta-Jones married in 2000 and have two children together: son Dylan, 26, and daughter Carys, 23. Douglas also has a son, Cameron, 47, from his first marriage.
The couple experienced a brief separation in 2013, following Douglas's battle with tongue cancer and Zeta-Jones's treatment for bipolar disorder. Douglas wrote that he never lost hope for reconciliation, stating, "She’s my wife, my best friend, and my life partner. I could never lose her."
Zeta-Jones celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on Instagram, writing to Douglas, "I love you today as I did then. Thank you sweetheart."