Douglas, 80, stunned fans with his candid remarks at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, where he reflected on decades in the industry.
“I’ve had a very busy career,” he said. “I haven’t worked since 2022—on purpose—because I realized I had to stop. I didn’t want to be one of those people who dropped dead on set.”

Douglas earned his first Academy Award in 1976 as a producer of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, and later won again for his iconic role as Gordon Gekko in Wall Street. Throughout the ’80s and ’90s, he became known for portraying powerful, complex men in films like Fatal Attraction and Basic Instinct.

From Wall Street to the Marvel Universe
Younger audiences recognize Douglas as Dr. Hank Pym in Marvel’s Ant-Man franchise. His last appearance came in 2023’s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, but fans shouldn’t expect another return to the MCU.

“I’d never done a green screen picture before,” Douglas told Deadline, explaining that Ant-Man was more about the experience than a long-term commitment. “I did The Kominsky Method because I wanted to try comedy and work with Chuck Lorre.”