Michael Douglas is sharing his insights on the experience of raising children later in life, highlighting both the joys and the challenges that come with it.
During an interview with the Telegraph on April 20, the 79-year-old Oscar winner shared an anecdote about a visit he made to his children’s college. He recounted how, on that occasion, he was mistakenly assumed to be their grandfather.
“I told the outlet, ‘This is not my grandfather’s day, this is parents’ day.’ I emphasized, ‘I am a parent!’ That was definitely a tough moment.”
Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, both 54 years old, have been happily married for almost 24 years. The couple is blessed with two children, a son named Dylan, who is 23 years old, and a daughter named Carys, who is 21. In addition to their children together, Michael Douglas also has a 45-year-old son named Cameron Douglas from his previous marriage to Diandra Luker.
During her high school graduation, Douglas shared an amusing anecdote from 2021 when he was mistakenly identified as Carys’ grandfather. However, he took it all in good humor and laughed it off.
“I won’t take it personally. They’re just trying to be nice,” he said at the time.
Douglas may not be Carys’ grandfather, but he is definitely a proud granddad to his eldest son Cameron’s two children: Lua, who entered the world in 2017, and Ryder, who was born in 2020.
During his interview with the Telegraph, Douglas candidly discussed his feelings of regret for not being present during his oldest son’s upbringing, which he attributed to the demands of his career in the entertainment industry.
“Cameron’s experience during that period was incredibly difficult… I found myself constantly overwhelmed and burdened by my professional responsibilities. Unfortunately, my family ended up taking a backseat to my work and the needs of our country. It was quite different from when Catherine and I first started our journey together.”
“He said that you have already done enough work and now you were more interested in enjoying the opportunity and spending time with the kids.”
Despite his age, Douglas expressed his gratitude for having his children in his life during his 50s, 60s, and 70s, referring to them as “extraordinary beings.”
“I have to thank their mum and Catherine for their incredible support. They have been an absolute joy to have in my life. We haven’t encountered any major issues, and we’ve shared many beautiful moments together,” he expressed gratefully.
Douglas and Zeta-Jones find themselves as “empty nesters” now. Dylan successfully completed his studies at Brown University in 2022, while Carys still has one more year of college left, as shared by Douglas.
On April 20, Carys celebrated her 21st birthday, and Instagram was flooded with heartwarming tributes from Douglas and Zeta-Jones.
Douglas shared a heartwarming photo of himself and his daughter, striking a pose on the red carpet.
“Happy 21st birthday, my darling Carys! You bring immense joy to me and to the world,” he wrote as a caption for the picture.
Carys as a baby and toddler was featured in a photo carousel shared by Zeta-Jones.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Catherine Zeta-Jones expressed her love and gratitude for her daughter’s presence in her life. The actress shared a photo of her daughter and wrote, “You are the joy of my life. Watching you grow into the amazing woman you are today has been a precious gift that I am truly grateful for. I never take it for granted and cherish every single day with you. Thank you for being yourself. You hold a special place in my heart. Love you so much, Mama.”