Michael Douglas says a drunken confrontation with Julia Roberts during the production of Flatliners damaged their relationship and left him embarrassed for years.
The 82-year-old actor and producer recounts the incident in his memoir One Helluva Ride, placing it during a period when he was struggling with cocaine and alcohol use. Douglas produced the 1990 science-fiction thriller Flatliners, which starred Roberts alongside Kiefer Sutherland, Kevin Bacon, William Baldwin and Oliver Platt.
Douglas writes that he attended a Golden Globes party with his son Cameron while Roberts and Sutherland were also at the event. Roberts was dating her Flatliners co-star Sutherland, to whom she was engaged at the time.
Douglas Says He 'Crossed the Line' With Roberts
Douglas recalled seeing Roberts with her arm around Cameron and said he interpreted the interaction badly while intoxicated. He said his son appeared stunned, prompting him to confront Roberts.
He told Roberts to take her hands off his son and made an insulting reference to the Golden Globe she had won for supporting actress for Steel Magnolias. Douglas later described his behaviour as crossing a line.
The next morning, producing partner Rick Bieber contacted Douglas about the confrontation. Douglas sent Roberts roses and later apologised to her and Sutherland in person at the Flatliners production office.
Douglas said the apologies were enough for the production to move forward. He remained friends with Sutherland but described his relationship with Roberts differently, writing, 'Julia, not so much.'
Incident Came During Douglas' Addiction Struggles
Douglas writes that his cocaine and alcohol use had become severe during the period surrounding the confrontation. He describes a typical night at the height of his addiction as involving several drinks and cocaine, alongside other decisions he now views with regret.
Roberts' career was accelerating at the time. She had starred in Mystic Pizza and won a Golden Globe for supporting actress for Steel Magnolias before Pretty Woman made her a major star in 1990. In Flatliners, she played medical student Rachel Mannus.
Douglas had already established himself as both an actor and producer. He won the Academy Award for best actor for 1987's Wall Street, while his producing credits included the Oscar-winning One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.
Douglas Also Revisits Kathleen Turner Relationship
Elsewhere in One Helluva Ride, Douglas writes about an affair with Kathleen Turner while the pair were making the 1984 adventure film Romancing the Stone in Mexico. Douglas was separated from his first wife, Diandra Luker, but they were still legally married at the time.
Douglas and Luker later reconciled before divorcing in 2000. He married Catherine Zeta-Jones later that year. They have two children, Dylan and Carys, while Cameron is Douglas' son from his marriage to Luker.
Turner responded to the renewed attention by saying she still loves Douglas and looks forward to reading the book.
Roberts has not publicly responded to Douglas' account of the Golden Globes confrontation.
