Michael Douglas on Catherine Zeta-Jones Taming His Womanizing Ways
The veteran actor revealed his wife made him wait nine months before they became intimate, a tactic that helped curb his notorious reputation.
Michael Douglas, 82, has shared that his wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones, 57, played a significant role in curbing his womanizing tendencies. The Hollywood star, who previously had a reputation as a ladies' man with numerous on-set flings and affairs, explained that their relationship's progression was significantly influenced by Zeta-Jones's approach.
Douglas first met Zeta-Jones in 1998 during the filming of "The Mask of Zorro." Initially concerned about their 25-year age difference, he was encouraged after learning she preferred older men. Their initial meeting at the Deauville film festival, joined by "Zorro" co-stars Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith, led to a one-on-one conversation later that evening. It was during this time, while Douglas was in the midst of a divorce, that he impulsively declared, "I’m going to be the father of your children."
However, their relationship did not immediately become physical. Zeta-Jones, according to Douglas, took a slow-and-steady approach, making him wait nine months before they slept together. Douglas recalled that whenever he offered her a ride home, she would cite a friend or family member nearby who could. He eventually realized she was intentionally pacing their physical intimacy. Despite this, Douglas remained committed to spending time with her, coordinating schedules and traveling to see her, noting that "still nothing physical between us."
He described this period as the "longest courtship I had ever undertaken," appreciating the slow build-up and his willingness to take their time. Douglas stated he didn't want Zeta-Jones to become "just another ex-girlfriend on my list," and she, in turn, did not want him to become another ex-boyfriend on hers. Small gestures like notes and conversations sustained him during this period.
Douglas arranged for Zeta-Jones to stay at his Mallorca home in June 1999, inviting long-time friends Pat Riley and his wife to demonstrate a stable couple dynamic, hoping to offset his reputation. This visit marked a turning point, as the couple became intimate for the first time and decided to make their relationship official. Zeta-Jones stipulated that she would only date him if he was monogamous. Douglas then ended his relationships with five other women he had been seeing, ensuring each lived in a different city and informing them of his new commitment.
The couple announced their relationship to their parents, with Kirk Douglas reportedly calling his son a "lucky b*****d." Six months after becoming official, Zeta-Jones became pregnant with their son, Dylan. Douglas proposed on New Year's Eve 1999, and they married in November 2000, shortly after Dylan's birth. Their wedding was attended by notable figures such as Tom Hanks and Whoopi Goldberg.
Following their marriage, Douglas and Zeta-Jones agreed that only one of them would work at a time to maintain normalcy for their son. Douglas stepped back from his career to support Zeta-Jones's burgeoning role in "Chicago," for which she won an Oscar. She later gave birth to their daughter, Carys. The couple continued this pact until 2010, when Douglas was diagnosed with stage 4 tongue cancer, from which he recovered.
In 2013, the couple announced a temporary separation to re-evaluate their marriage. This followed remarks by Douglas about oral sex contributing to his cancer, which were later retracted. Douglas wrote in his memoir that he never gave up hope for reconciliation, stating his deep love for Zeta-Jones as his wife, best friend, and life partner. They reconciled within a year, and Douglas emphasized that their reunion was mutual, acknowledging that "marriage is a lot of work." They are set to celebrate their 26th wedding anniversary.
Douglas's memoir also touched on his past relationships, including his marriage to Diandra Luker from 1977 to 1995, with whom he shares a son, Cameron. Prior to Zeta-Jones, Douglas also had relationships with figures like Brenda Vaccaro, Diane Thomas, and Kathleen Turner, and admitted to other affairs during his marriage to Luker, leading to his entry into rehab in 1992. He also noted a post-divorce period of dating, including a friendship with New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd.