Michael Douglas Admits to Kathleen Turner Affair 40 Years Later

Michael Douglas Reveals Kathleen Turner Affair

Michael Douglas is opening up about a secret romance with Kathleen Turner that began while the two were filming “Romancing the Stone” in the 1980s. Douglas, now 82, reveals the relationship in his upcoming memoir, “One Helluva Ride.” According to the memoir, Douglas and Turner became romantically involved while filming the 1984 adventure comedy in Mexico. At the time, Douglas was separated from his first wife, Diandra Luker, but they were still legally married. Douglas says the marriage was already experiencing serious problems when his relationship with Turner developed.

A Secret Romance On Set

Douglas recalls being immediately attracted to Turner. The two actors developed a close friendship while working together, which eventually became a secret romance. The pair reportedly kept the relationship private from the rest of the cast and crew. Douglas says they were careful about where they met and made an effort to prevent their relationship from becoming public. The revelation comes roughly 40 years after the release of “Romancing the Stone,” which became a major hit and established Douglas and Turner as one of Hollywood’s memorable on-screen pairings.

Why They Kept It Private

Douglas says he and Turner decided to keep their relationship secret because of the circumstances surrounding his marriage and his family. Turner has previously discussed the strong chemistry between the two actors and acknowledged that she believed they were developing feelings for each other. However, she ultimately decided she did not want to become involved in Douglas’s marriage. Douglas says the situation became more complicated when his wife traveled to Mexico with their son.

The Romance Ended

According to Douglas, the relationship with Turner eventually came to an end. Turner reportedly made it clear that she did not want to interfere with Douglas’s family. Douglas eventually returned his attention to his marriage and family. He and Luker remained married until their divorce was finalized in 2000. Douglas later married actress Catherine Zeta-Jones in 2000. The couple have been together for more than two decades.

They Remained Friends

Despite the end of their romantic relationship, Douglas and Turner continued working together. The pair reunited for “The Jewel of the Nile” in 1985 and “The War of the Roses” in 1989. Decades later, they worked together again on the television series “The Kominsky Method.” Douglas says he and Turner eventually rebuilt their friendship. He also sought Turner’s permission before publicly discussing their past relationship in his memoir. The revelation sheds new light on the chemistry audiences saw between Douglas and Turner on screen and confirms that their connection extended beyond their professional relationship. Douglas’s memoir, “One Helluva Ride,” is scheduled to be released October 6, 2026.