8 Most Iconic Kirk Douglas Roles

3. Vincent Van Gogh - Lust For Life (1956)

Douglas' motivation as an actor wasn't just to be a big box office draw. In Lust for Life, Douglas stars as the famous painter Vincent Van Gogh in a biopic about his life, with a performance that showcases his immersive and introspective acting philosophy.

In direct contrast to his usual gruff and tough roles in films like The Vikings or Champion, his performance as Van Gogh is sensitive and subdued. The film focuses on Van Gogh’s inner turmoil, using his art as an expression of and refuge from his pain. Douglas deeply moving performance expresses the emotional and even physical complexity of translating these feelings into a work of art. Further showcasing his dedication as a performer, he went to great lengths to look as close as possible to Van Gogh later in his life by losing a dramatic amount of weight. The physical transformation, on top of his performance, paints Van Gogh as a fragile man with deep passions and even deeper internal strife.

Douglas earned wide critical acclaim for his portrayal. Critics praised it as a stellar performance, and it earned Douglas the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Dramatic Motion Picture and his third and final Oscar nomination.