If you've read our previous blog all about the history of Clan Douglas, you'll know just how powerful they were and the impact that members of the Douglas family had on shaping the world today. Today we explore some of the famous faces of the Clan ranging from sporting superstars to well-known actors and actresses! Read on to find out all about some of the world's most well known characters carrying the Douglas name.
Michael Douglas
Arguably one of the most famous associates of the name Douglas today, Michael Douglas has been immersed in the entertainment industry almost since birth. His Scottish connection comes from his mother's side of the family who also had English, Irish, Welsh, Dutch, Belgian and French ancestry, so quite a mix! He is an American actor and producer, receiving numerous accolades throughout his life - two Academy Awards and five Golden Globe awards just to name a few. Michael became a driving force in the entertainment industry when he produced a screen rendering of Ken Kesey's novel "One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest" in 1975. Other Michael Douglas films that you might recognise include include Wall Street (1987) and The American President (1995). Did you know that Michael Douglas was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters from The University of St. Andrews in 2006?
Gabby Douglas
Born in Virginia, US, in 1995, Gabby Douglas had quite the rise to fame in her illustrious gymnastics career. At the London Olympic Games in 2012, Gabby became both the first American to claim gold medals in the team and individual all-around events, as well as the first African American to win the all-around title. She also competed in the 2015 World Artistic Championships (which were held in Glasgow), where she won a team gold medal, won by the U.S. After finding her love of gymnastics at an early age, Gabby left her family just aged 14 and moved to Iowa where she started training with prominent coach Liang Chow. A decision that certainly paid off, what a career she had!
Kirk Douglas
Father of the aforementioned Michael Douglas, Kirk Douglas was an American actor, producer, director, philanthropist and writer, often referred to as "one of the most Scottish-sounding of Hollywood superstars". Although Kirk was actually born "Issur Danielovich", he legally changed his name to Kirk Douglas before entering the US Navy prior to World War II. Kirk had a slightly impoverished childhood with immigrant parents and six sisters, however he went on to make his film debut in The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946). He soon developed into a leading box office star throughout the 1950's, known for serious dramas, including westerns and war films. His career included appearing in more than 90 films! Douglas was known for his explosive acting style, which he displayed as a criminal defence attorney in Town Without Pity (1961).
Sir James Douglas
Sir James Douglas, also known as Good Sir James and the Black Douglas, was a Scottish knight who served as one of the chief commanders during the Wars of Scottish Independence. Although he was somewhat overshadowed in time by his heroic leader, Robert the Bruce, the actions and bravery of Sir James Douglas make a critical contribution to the history of 14th Century Scotland and the fierce battling that characterised the Wars of Independence. You can learn more about Sir James Douglas, as well as the origins of Clan Douglas, in our Clan of the Month blog.
Michael John Douglas (Michael Keaton)
Michael John Douglas, known more commonly as Michael Keaton, is an American Actor who started his career in comedic roles and later on transitioned to drama success. Not many people would know that he is actually a Douglas, after being professionally recognised at Michael Keaton. The reason for the name change was because the name Michael Douglas was already active and registered with the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) at the time. Keaton has played key acting roles in many well-known films, including: Batman (1989), Pacific Heights (1990) and Need For Speed (2014). He also starred in the 2002 film A Shot at Glory, which was filmed at various locations throughout Scotland!
Barry Douglas
Barry Douglas is a Scottish professional footballer who currently plays as a left back for English championship side Blackburn Rovers, on loan from Premier League club Leeds United. Earlier in his career, Barry played for Queen's Park and Dundee United in Scotland, before heading abroad. He joined Polish club Lech Poznan in 2013 where he won the Ekstraklasa title with the club and also played in Turkey for a year during 2016 with Konyaspor. His career to date has included 368 appearances and 25 goals!
James "Buster" Douglas
Born in Columbus, Ohio, James Douglas (more commonly known by his nickname "Buster") is a former American professional boxer who competed between 1981 and 1999. He reigned as undisputed world heavyweight champion in 1990 after defeating Mike Tyson. His victory over Tyson is regarded as one of the greatest upsets in sports history. Douglas was the massive underdog going into his fight against Tyson, who was undefeated and considered to be the best boxer in the world. Defying expectations, Douglas knocked out Tyson in the 10th round to claim the WBC, WBA, and IBF titles.
Illeana Douglas
Illeane Douglas is an American actress, director, screenwriter and producer. Born in Quincy, Massachusetts, Illeana began studying acting at the Neighbourhood Playhouse in New York, which lead to a very successful career. She has appeared in four films directed by Martin Scorsese, including The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), New York Stories (1989), Goodfellas (1990) and Cape Fear (1991), and was also in a relationship with Scorsese from 1988 to 1997.
Donna Douglas
Donna Douglas was an American actress and singer, commonly known for her role as Elly May Clampett in The Beverly Hillbillies (1962-1971). Following her successful acting career, Donna became a real estate agent, gospel singer, inspirational speaker and author of books for children and adults. In her younger days, she described herself as a tomboy and just like her character Elly May Clampett, she was extremely fond of animals. During the filming of The Beverly Hillbillies, Donna and fellow actress, Irene Ryan, would annually put on a huge Christmas party for the show's staff and families!
Jack Douglas
Born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, Jack Douglas was born into a theatrical family. Although he had an illustrious career as an actor, Jack's entry into show business was actually as a producer. His father was a producer and Jack followed in his footsteps at an early age, producing his first show aged just 15. He showed no interest in the performing end of the business until one night when one of his actors took ill and, with there being no replacement, Douglas put on the character's costume and did it himself. He enjoyed it so much that he soon gave up producing comedies and began performing in them.
William O. Douglas
William Orville Douglas was an American jurist and politician who served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Nominated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Douglas was confirmed at the age of just 40, one of the youngest justices appointed to the court. He lasted 36 years in his term, which is the longest in the history of the Supreme Court. Throughout his judicial career, he remained a prolific writer, narrating on conversational topics such as history, politics and foreign relations. His books include Of Men and Mountains (1950) and A Wilderness Bill of Rights (1965).
Katie Douglas
Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, Katie Douglas is a retired American professional basketball player. She was known league-wide as one of the most prominent two-way players for her long-range shooting and high scoring abilities. Katie attended Purdue University and graduated in 2001 as a communications major. She helped lead Purdue to a NCAA Women's Division Basketball Championship in 1999 and was a two-time Kodak All-America in 2000 and 2001. After her playing career, Douglas put her communications major to good use and set up her own fitness business.
So there you have it! An insight into some of the most famous faces associated with the name Douglas. Do you have any other stories about Clan Douglas members? We'd love to hear from you!
