90 year-old screen legend Kirk Douglas is promoting his latest memoir, “Let’s Face It,” a talkative book that discusses his take on life after 9 decades and two close brushes with death. In 1991 he suffered severe back injuries after a helicopter he was in crashed into a light stunt plane, killing two young people. The pain and recovery from the crash led him to turn to the Jewish religion, and as he lay in bed he read the Torah, calling it “the best screenplay ever written.”

The elder Douglas also had a stroke in 1996, which resulted in speech problems. Another life changing event was the loss of youngest son Eric, Michael’s half brother, who died of a drug overdose in 2004.

Kirk has been married to the same woman, his second wife Anne, for 53 years. Anne, who grew up in Belgium, was new to the country and struggling with the language when she married the screen star after meeting him in Paris. He says he was attracted to “Her vicious sense of humor.” In a chapter in “Let’s Face It” titled “Romance Begins at Eighty,” Douglas tells how he surprises his wife, a breast cancer survivor, with little romantic gestures.

As to how to make your marriage last, he says that it’s about focusing on how you can make a difference as a couple. “Be understanding of each other, but don’t focus only on your relationship. Reach out and be concerned with the world around you.” [From JewishJournal.com]

Douglas urges us, the Internet generation, to do what we can to heal this messed-up world. He is promoting his book via YouTube using the video below and on MySpace. He says “I believe in the power of the internet. This is the first book that I am promoting virtually because I am hoping that my universal message will spread on blogs and websites. We live in a global world and the future is in the hands of the younger generation.” Here’s an excerpt from the book:

I started life as a poor boy who didn’t have enough to eat, I became a crook. The next door neighbor had a fine tomato garden — tomatoes are my favorite vegetable. One day when I sneaked in the garden and picked a big ripe tomato, the owner shot some buckshots in my ass. That ended that. My next victim was on the other side where my neighbor had chickens. I love eggs, and where do you find eggs? Where the chickens are. In the early morning I would quietly sneak into the barn and grab a few eggs, sometimes eggs that were lying under the chicken. I love raw eggs. I would crack them open and swallow them on the spot. The owner must have gotten wise, he moved the chickens.

I graduated to more daring ventures. There was a fruit stand at the corner with fruits and vegetables attractively displayed. I walked by for a preliminary survey and spotted a big luscious tomato. My mouth water and I went back and deftly swiped the tomato. A hand reached out and grabbed me. I was looking up in the face of a tall stern man. “Does that tomato belong to you?” he asked. I was frightened, I answered, “no sir.”

“It belongs to the store keeper who paid for it and he was selling it to make money to take care of his family. Do you understand?” his voice became very harsh. “Yes sir,” I answered timidly.

“Well don’t ever take things that don’t belong to you,” and he gave my arm a final squeeze. It hurt. “Do you understand?” he said menacingly. “Yes sir.” He let me go.

Again I was caught and decided never to steal again, but I always thought I could have been a good crook.

[From Press Release for "Let's Face It"]

“Let’s Face It” is Douglas’ 11th book. Among his works are other memoirs, novels and children’s books.

Kirk Douglas has three surviving children, actor Michael Douglas, and producers Joel Douglas and Peter Vincent Douglas. IMDB lists 89 films to his credit.

Kirk Douglas is shown at a book signing yesterday at Barnes and Noble in Encino, CA. Thanks to Splash News.

Here’s his video from YouTube, which is a cute compendium of his film clips and was made some time ago: