Kirk Douglas To Receive Honor

BERLIN (AP) â€” Kirk Douglas, who led with his famous chin in epics such as ``Spartacus,'' will receive an honorary award at next year's Berlin International Film Festival. <br><br>Organizers

Tuesday, December 5th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

BERLIN (AP) â€” Kirk Douglas, who led with his famous chin in epics such as ``Spartacus,'' will receive an honorary award at next year's Berlin International Film Festival.

Organizers said the 83-year-old tough guy ``embodies the quintessence of the pioneering spirit and typical American individualism.''

``Beyond his screen work, he has been extremely committed to social issues and America's democratic ideals,'' festival director Moritz de Hadeln said.

Douglas, who will receive the Golden Bear prize, has starred in some 80 films and was nominated for an Academy Award for his work in ``Champion'' (1949), ``Lust for Life'' (1956) and ``The Bad and the Beautiful'' (1952).

The son of Russian Jewish immigrants, Douglas helped break the power of the Hollywood blacklist when he hired screenwriter Dalton Trumbo to write the gladiator film ``Spartacus.''

He won an honorary Oscar in 1995, just months after suffering a stroke. It was not immediately clear if he would attend the annual Berlin festival, scheduled for February.