Michael Douglas shares candid details in his new memoir, One Helluva Ride. The 82-year-old actor disclosed that he had an affair with a co-star nearly 20 years younger while filming Basic Instinct in 1992.
Contrary to rumors of an affair with Sharon Stone, Douglas revealed it was actually actress Jeanne Tripplehorn he was involved with. “The truth is, I fell very hard for Jeanne despite our nearly 20-year age difference,” he stated. He also confessed he was ready to leave his wife for her at one point.
During the production of Basic Instinct, Douglas maintained a relationship with Tripplehorn, which ended when filming concluded. “But I will always think of her as an amazing actress and a truly terrific woman,” he added.
At that time, Douglas was still married to Diandra Luker, though they were separated. Luker filed for divorce in 1995. Basic Instinct follows Douglas’ character, detective Nick Curran, involved with Sharon Stone’s crime novelist. Tripplehorn portrayed police psychologist Dr. Beth Garner, also Curran’s lover.
Douglas also admitted to an affair with Kathleen Turner during the 1984 filming of Romancing the Stone. After years of denial, Douglas wrote that they developed a strong relationship due to working closely together under pressure. “Like every other guy in the world at the time, I was knocked sideways by Kathleen,” he expressed.
Turner and Douglas managed to keep their affair private from the public and the movie’s crew. They would secretly meet after filming. The relationship ended after Luker visited them on set, where she made it clear that she and Douglas were still married.
Douglas’s marriage to Luker ended in divorce in 2000. He later married Catherine Zeta-Jones in November 2000. Together, they have two children: son Dylan and daughter Carys.