Daily News from New York, New York • 43

Saturday; August' 5," 1989 'daily news 15 warfare during the war. While I was at Notre Dame Kirk (far visited Michael 24, on set of "Hail, Hero!" his first film, in 1969. Making "Lust for Life" in '56, Douglas (below) became obsessed with his resemblance to Vincent Van Gogh. I 'v zips l4 wk JmM Tvi back home to Los Angeles like a wounded animal, defeated in my last battle to become a star on Broadway. I loved the role of Randle P.

McMurphy and I was determined to see "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's on the screen. I didn't know it would take over 10 years. In 1971 my son Michael came to me. "Dad, let me try to set up 'Cuckoo's Nest' Michael and I became partners. I hoped he could succeed.

I'd do anything to be able to play McMurphy. LOVER: Pier Angeli (I.) was engaged to the infatuated Douglas in 1953 after they made "The Story of Three Loves." He later found she had been seeing other men during their courtship. Once wed to singer Vic Damone, she died in 1971 at age 39 of a drug ir. iMiiiMf irMfii VAtfgl Midshipman School I happened to see the cover of Life magazine. "Hey, I know that girl!" I said.

There, wearing a checked blouse and carrying a parasol, was Diana Dill. I hadn't heard from her in two years. "And you know what else? I'm going to marry her." I wrote a letter to Diana. She was now back in New York modeling during the day and working as a nurse's aide at Bellevue at night. I suggested we get together next time I was in the city.

She agreed. Wartime we had so little time. We were married in New Orleans Nov. 2, 1943. In June of 1944 1 was given an honorable discharge.

Our son was born at 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 25, 1944. Diana wanted him to be named Kirk Douglas Jr. I have never liked the idea of "junior." We compromised by making Michael's middle name the initial Michael K.

Douglas. were living in Laurel Canyon (Calif.) when our second son, Joel, was born in 1946. Things were getting more difficult between Diana and me. Once I said to her, "You know something? You're always happy unless something comes along to make you unhappy. I'm always unhappy unless something comes along to make me happy.

And then I'm not sure I'm happy." I was playing roles I didn't like in pictures I didn't like. Then I was offered a small independent picture based on a Ring Lardner short story. I decided to take the risk and do "Champion." Meanwhile, Diana sued for divorce in February of 19t9 and moved back to New York to an apartment on the West Side with the two boys. We left with respect for each other. I liked Diana very much, and still do.

"Champion" was released in July of 1949. It was a suc cess, a surprise hit (Douglas received an Academy Award nomination.) I was told my father went to see "Champion." When I was being slaughtered by my opponent in the ring my father covered his face. When I was finally winning, Pa got up and yelled, "Issur, give it to him! Issur, give it to him!" If only Pa could have said, Issur, give it to him," when I was a kid. fter my divorce from Diana I drifted around, met a lot of girls. I went out with Rita Hayworth.

Rita was beautiful but very simple, unsophisticated. She used to say, "Men go to bed with Gilda, but wake up with me." I dated Patricia Neal briefly. Patricia was elegant, ntelligent, beautiful. I liked inally, Michael, bless him, succeeded in getting some financ ing. I was going to play McMurphy! "Cuckoo's Nest" and McMurphy occupied all my thoughts.

Then a blow, almost incomprehensible: They wanted somebody else for McMurphy. Why? That was my part. I could create him, make him breathe. But after 10 years of my telling everybody what a great role it was they finally agreed. Oh yes, Kirk.

You're right, Kirk. But now you're too old, Kirk. They went off to shoot the movie my son, my project, my role. Without me. Michael and Jack Nicholson went on to receive five of the top Oscars, over $200 million at the box office a phenomenal success.

Jack Nicholson played my part, McMurphy brilliantly, damn it! He won an Academy Award. But "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" is one of the biggest disappointments of my life. I made more money from that film than any I acted in. And I would gladly give back every cent if I could have played that role. am 70 years old, walk ing briskly to my Beverly Hills office on a beau- itifulday.

I think I hear a timid voice say "Mr. Douglas." I stop and turn and see a very pretty, tall young blond girl. I can spare a minute of my time for a fan; perhaps an aspiring actress who wants my expertise. After all. I have lasted more than 40 years in Hollywood, where stars come and go.

Not bad for the ragman's son. She looks up at me adoringly. I suck in my gut, puff out my chest, slap a bicep. She says, "Wow! Michael Douglas' father!" 1988 by Kirfc Douglas. Excerpted from "The Ragman's Son," by Kirk Douglas.

Reprinted by peratission of Simon Scaoster. Distributed by Special Features Syndicatioa Sales. Next Week 'If I Can Dream: The Elvis Presley Story' I overdose. were both looking forward to having a child. (Peter Douglas was born Nov.

23, 1955.) And I was about to produce my first movie on my own. I named my production company the Bryna Co. after my mother. When I told Ma, she sent me the longest note she ever wrote. How she must have labored over it: "God bless you, my son.

Mother." I still have it. I wanted the Bryna Co. to produce and me to star in "Lust for Life," Irving Stone's 1934 best seller about Vincent Van Gogh. It turned out to be the most painful film I ever made. To me, acting is creating an illusion, showing tremendous discipline, not losingyour-self in the character you're portraying.

But I felt myself going over the line, into the skin of Van Gogh. Not only did I look like him, I was the same age he had been when he committed suicide. It was a frightening experience. That way lies madness. I've never said this before; these are things I don't want to admit to myself or think about.

(Douglas was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance.) In 1963 1 finished filming "Seven Daysn May" and headed for New York to do a dramatization of a book I was crazy about "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." I had movie rights. I played Randle P. McMurphy and I took no salary. We tried out in New Haven, Boston rave reviews. A hit! I was on my way home Broadway.

Nov. 14, 1963. Opening night in New York. The reviews were murderous, death to the play, "Cuckoo's Nest" closed Five months later. I crawled her a lot.

But she was madly in love with Gary Cooper. They were having a passionate love affair. Gene Tierney I adored. It was a wonderful relationship. But she had some strange habits.

She insisted, like a mischievous girl, that when I came to see her at night I did not ring the doorbell. She would leave the window to her bedroom open and I would climb in. It was fine with me. My co-star in "The Story of Three Loves" (1953) was Pier Angeli (real name: Anna Maria Pierangeli), a 19-year-old Italian girl who had huge dark-eyes and a refreshing innocence. She was virginal, with a beautiful body and infectious laugh.

By the time the picture was finished we had made a commitment to be engaged. Pier went back to Europe. After filming "The Juggler" in Israel I went to Rome. I called Pier's number. "Pier no here." In broken English I heard that she was with her family in Sardinia.

I finally got through to her. "Pier! What are you doing in Sardinia? You knew I was coming to Rome." "I'm so sorry. But my mother and sister wanted to come and you know that I have to go with them." I was in Paris for the first time, filming "Act of Love." I tried to get someone to handle public relations for me and be a general assistant Everybody suggested Anne Buydens. She had been di rector John Huston's assis tant. I found her striking.

She said she did not think the position was right for her. This miffed me. I walked her to her car and said, "Au revoir." But I mind. I swallowed my pride and asked her again to help me. Finally, she agreed.

I tried what I thought were subtle plans to seduce her. But whatever I tried failed. I had been piling on all this charm and all this malarky. I learned something: Men never realize that they are more attractive after they become themselves. liked Anne very much.

But I was engaged to Pier Angeli, who was now in South America. Anne said nothing about her. Finally, my soon-to-be child bride, Pier, was com- 'Gene Tierney I adored. But she had some strange habits; ing to Paris to spend New Year's Eve with me. At midnight Pier and I kissed.

No passion. I couldn't figure it out Finally, I put a name on it: unhappy. I was always running after her and she was just a little child her mother led around by the hand. The whole relationship was a silly fantasy. Pier said, "If that's the way you feel, maybe we shouldn't be engaged." I said, "Maybe so." Anne told me what she'd known all along about Pier: Pier was always with a man.

Pier was in London with Dean Martin when she had told me she was with Mamma. I closed the door on Pier. In 1971, at 39, Pier closed the door on herself with pills, another casualty of Hollywood. Anne and I were married on May 29, 1954. Soon, we couldn't get Anne out of my.