Michael Douglas Recalls Drunken Outburst at Julia Roberts

Michael Douglas has recounted an incident from 1990 where he drunkenly confronted Julia Roberts at a Golden Globes party.

At the height of his addiction to alcohol and drugs, Douglas, then 82, saw Roberts, then 58, with his son Cameron, who was 13 at the time. Douglas stated he shouted at Roberts, telling her to "take your hands off my son and take that Golden Globe and stick it where the sun don't shine." He recalled that his son appeared "stunned" by Roberts' warmth, admitting his judgment was likely impaired by substance abuse.

Douglas described the event as "wildly embarrassing" and noted it has stayed with him for years. He revealed this episode in his memoir, "One Helluva Ride." The actor also mentioned that he was working with Roberts at the time on the film "Flatliners."

He explained that he was attending the party for "Wall Street" while Roberts was there for "Mystic Pizza." She was dating Kiefer Sutherland at the time and brought him to the event. Douglas was with his son Cameron when he saw Roberts with him at the bar.

Following the incident, Douglas's producing partner, Rick Bieber, called him to discuss his behavior toward the actress, whom Douglas described as "the most in-demand young actress in Hollywood."

Douglas sent Roberts roses as an apology and later apologized in person to her and Sutherland. He stated that they "forgave me enough to get through that and finish the picture." Douglas maintained a friendship with Sutherland but noted his relationship with Roberts was not as close afterward.

In his memoir, Douglas aimed to share his story on his own terms, offering a candid account beyond headlines and box office numbers. He stated that fame can obscure the truth and his book is an attempt to bring it back into focus.

Douglas entered rehab for alcohol and substance abuse in 1992 after his first wife, Diandra Luker, issued an ultimatum: "Rehab or divorce." At the time, he did not believe he had a problem, noting that drug use was normalized in Hollywood.

His first wife filed for divorce three years later. Douglas recounted instances of his drug use, including leaving money for a valet to procure cocaine and sharing drugs with O.J. Simpson.

The memoir also touches on his relationship with Catherine Zeta-Jones, whom he met in 1998. Douglas noted that he was 25 years her senior but felt he had a chance after reading an interview where she expressed a preference for older men. They married in 2000 and have two children.

Douglas also addressed a temporary separation from Zeta-Jones in 2013, stating that he never gave up hope for reconciliation and considered her his "wife, best friend, and life partner."