Eric Douglas

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Eric Douglas

Born	Eric Anthony Douglas June 21, 1958(1958-06-21) Los Angeles, California United States
Died	July 6, 2004 (aged 46) New York City, New York

Eric Douglas (June 21, 1958 – July 6, 2004) was a stand up comedian who occasionally acted in low budget movies.

He was born Eric Anthony Douglas in Los Angeles, California, the youngest son of actor Kirk Douglas and Belgian mother Anne Buydens. His brother is Peter Douglas and his half-brothers are Michael Douglas and Joel Douglas. Douglas wanted to be an actor from a young age, and often appeared in small roles in movies that starred his father. Douglas played in both small and supporting roles sporadically throughout the 1980s, with a minor role in the hit Eddie Murphy movie "The Golden Child" and the Matt Dillon vehicle "The Flamingo Kid" being his most notable appearances. Eric performed stand-up in New York City comedy clubs with much of his self-deprecating material coming from his status as the 'black sheep' of the Douglas dynasty. He also, performed off-broadway at the Village Gate Theater with the critically acclaimed improvisational comedy troupe Noo Yawk Tawk in the late 1980's. In 1991, he also appeared with his father in "Yellow", the Season 3 finale of the television series Tales from the Crypt as a young officer in World War I brought up on charges of cowardice by his commanding general, who is also his father.

Eric studied at Pitzer College, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, and the London Academy of Dramatic Arts. Eric was regarded as very intelligent by his father, Kirk Douglas, according to the book, The Ragman's Son.

As a teenager, Eric was a friend of Ron Reagan, son of former President of the United States Ronald Reagan.

On July 6, 2004, Douglas was found dead in his New York apartment by a maid who had come in to clean. He was 46 years old. Eric Douglas is interred in the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery, Westwood, California. Eric Douglas' death was caused by an "acute intoxication" by the effects of alcohol, tranquilizers and painkillers.