Michael Douglas is entering a new chapter of life in which career ambitions are taking a back seat to family, travel, and personal interests. The two-time Academy Award winner has described himself as being in his “lazy era, ” explaining that he is enjoying the freedom to focus on activities beyond the film industry after nearly six decades of professional work.
“I want to work on my golf game, travel to new places, and have more time for the people and communities that mean the most, ” Douglas told Page Six in an interview published on Oct. 11, 2026.
Hollywood legend Michael Douglas amassed one of the most famous entertainment careers in the world, acting, and producing movies. He rose to international stardom with works including Romancing the Stone, Fatal Attraction, Wall Street and Basic Instinct. He won the Oscar for Best Actor for his role in Wall Street, and as a producer on One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, he won Best Picture.
Over the years he has also played roles in mainstream thrillers, drama, and less conventional projects. His versatility in front of and behind the camera has cemented his reputation as a world-class actor and innovative producer.
Still Douglas has previously revealed that the feel of the industry was what prompted him to ease up. ” I was surprised when I stopped working after so many years, in particular with the kind of energy and time-consuming way I was living, ” he told reporters at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in July 2025. “I took some time off from the movie industry and it was what I wanted to do rather than to stay busy just for staying busy.”
What’s up with Douglas? His perspective has evolved to focus on how he prefers to spend his time. He has shared a desire to place greater importance on his wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and their children, Dylan, and Carys, and time for travel and recreation.
Instead of only stepping back from work until the next project, it seems Douglas is happy to let his hobbies determine his time. Responding to whether he is worried about finding his next role, Douglas shared that success is now about how he chooses to use his time.
He has not explicitly announced that he will never take on another role. While speaking to Rolling Stone, the actor has commented that he would still be open to a project if the script and director were strong enough. Yet, he isn’t currently looking.
Douglas’s new interview comes with the publication of his memoir, One Helluva Ride. The book covers highlights from his career and personal life, and the often-quirky people in the entertainment world to which he was drawn, including his early career as an actor.
He also writes about his close friendship with Danny DeVito, whom he knew before either of them became major Hollywood names. Their friendship began when they were young actors sharing a small New York apartment, long before the success of films like Romancing the Stone and The War of the Roses brought them together on screen.