In Loving Memory of
Anne Laure Douglas
April 23, 1919 – April 29, 2021
Memorial Service was held
on May 6, 2021 at 10:00 AM PST
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It is with great sadness that the Douglas family announces the passing of their matriarch, Anne Douglas, peacefully at home in Beverly Hills at age 102.
As half of a couple considered Hollywood royalty, Anne Buydens first met the movie star in 1953 when he offered her a job as his publicist while in Paris to film “Act of Love.” She said no in flawless English. She also refused his phoned invitation to dinner a few hours later, opting for scrambled eggs at home instead. Unused to turndowns by women, but really needing her skills, he campaigned to change her mind–at least about the short-term job. And so began a working arrangement that turned into mutual respect and love, in part fostered by her wicked sense of humor and his ability to appreciate it.
When “Act of Love” wrapped, Buydens was off to the 6th Cannes International Film Festival for the first of her three-year contract to handle protocol and publicity. Douglas followed her there, studying the script for his next film, “Ulysses,” on the beach. Anne had already been hired to be its unit publicist, so their romance would continue in Italy.
It survived–primarily by correspondence–after Douglas started filming “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,” on locations in the Caribbean and then at the Disney Studio. With an ocean between them, Kirk urged her to come to Beverly Hills as soon as she finished working with the Cannes Film Festival of 1954. She arrived in Los Angeles on April 24th. Six weeks later, seeing her pack to return to Paris, he proposed.
The couple flew to Las Vegas on Saturday afternoon, May 29th, 1954, after Kirk left the studio. It wasn’t romantic, but it was legal and her new husband vowed that someday he would marry her again in a big celebration. He kept that promise for their 50th anniversary on May 29, 2004. They were married for 66 years and had two sons together, Peter and Eric, who joined Michael and Joel from Kirk’s marriage to Diana Dill (whom Anne called “our ex-wife”) as one united family.
The future Anne Douglas was born Hannelore Marx in Hannover, Germany. Her father owned a textile factory and multiple retail shops; her mother was a socialite. After their divorce, Anne stayed with her father who fostered her interest in his business operations before sending her to boarding school in Switzerland. Unwilling to return to Hitler’s Germany, she went to Belgium to continue her studies, which were interrupted when the Nazis bombed Brussels in 1940.
Anne escaped by car with some friends, heading for freedom and France. But traveling with German papers was a liability to them all. For safety’s sake, the friends decided she should marry Albert Buydens to become a Belgian national. She was now Anne Laure Buydens, but the safety was short-lived. The Germans occupied Paris just months after their arrival.
When the conquerors decreed that movies could no longer be shown without German subtitles, Anne’s fluency in German, English, French and Italian enabled her to find work with a French film distributor. The money she earned helped Anne and her friends survive the four year of occupation before Paris was liberated in 1944.
After the war, her company was commissioned to create a weekly series called “Paris Cavalcade of Fashion” for the NBC Television Network in America. With her innate sense of style and connections with the couture houses, Anne was asked to produce it for a successful run of more than two years.
By then, international film production was booming in Paris. John Huston sought out Anne Buydens to work with him directly as his assistant and location manager for “Moulin Rouge.” For the Hollywood premiere, Huston asked her to coordinate the publicity. On the sea voyage back to France, Anne saw her first Kirk Douglas movie, “The Big Trees,” not knowing that within weeks she would meet its star. A decade after the Americans freed Paris, Anne Buydens nee Hannelore Marx, married her American, changing countries–and names–for the last time.
The newly minted U.S. citizen took great pride in her adopted homeland. By her husband’s side, Anne Douglas became a goodwill ambassador for American values; she was honored by the State Department’s United States Information Agency with its Director’s Award for increasing international understanding. It was at President Kennedy’s request that the couple first undertook the mission which they insisted would be at their own expense. Twenty years and 44 countries later, the Douglases decided to concentrate on civic and community causes closer to home.
As Dorothy Chandler’s “lieutenant” in the campaign to build the Los Angeles County Music Center, Anne Douglas convinced moguls and movie stars–including her husband–to double and triple their initial contributions to the cause. After it opened, she dedicated herself to its success. She served on the boards of The Mark Taper Forum and the Center Theater Group for many decades and arranged the Douglas Foundation’s large gift to build the CTG’s Kirk Douglas Theater in Culver City.
She was one of five original founders of the Cedars-Sinai Research for Women’s Cancers, a natural progression from her 38 years of active membership in the Women’s Guild of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and her own recovery from breast cancer.
When Anne Douglas read about unsafe school playgrounds in Los Angeles School District schools in The Los Angeles Times, she was determined to fix them all. She convinced her husband the only way to fund the massive endeavor was to auction most of their art collection at Christie’s. By 2008, ten years after the Kirk and Anne Douglas Playground Award program began, 403 schools had refurbished play spaces. Anne and Kirk Douglas attended every dedication. Kirk said, “She did all the work, and I got to come along and play with the kids.”
The Anne Douglas Center for Women at the Los Angeles Mission began with a tour of the facilities to provide shelter for the homeless of Skid Row. “But where do the women sleep?” she asked. Appalled to learn there were just a few beds for them, separated from the men by a hanging bedsheet, a new project for The Douglas Foundation was born. For nearly 30 years, the Center has been providing rehabilitation and new life skills for hundreds of women. Every year, its founder celebrated her birthday by having lunch at the Mission with her “girls.”
To date, The Douglas Foundation has contributed more than $118 million to worthy causes. In 2012, The Foundation announced additional gifts of $50 million to five nonprofits, including the Kirk Douglas Theater, the Anne Douglas Center, The Motion Picture and Television Home’s Alzheimers and dementia unit, Sinai Temple’s Kirk and Anne Douglas Childhood Center, and St. Lawrence University’s Kirk Douglas full scholarships for minority students. It will continue its good works under Anne Douglas’s appointed administrators.
Over the years, Anne Douglas received countless recognitions of appreciation. One of the most meaningful was the Jefferson Award for Greatest Public Service of a Private Citizen, which she received at the Kennedy Center in Washington in 2003. But perhaps her greatest recognition came from her husband when he said:
“ I often wonder what would have happened to me if I hadn’t married Anne. I might not have survived without her business acumen and her finely-honed instincts. She saved me from financial ruin when she persisted in her distrust of my long-time lawyer and surrogate father, who indeed stole the fortune he told me I had. She saved my life when she refused to let me fly to New York on Mike Todd’s plane which crashed, killing everyone aboard. She gave me tough love when I had my stroke and thought I would never speak or work again. Anne is selfless, compassionate and loyal to a fault. She also has a wicked sense of humor and can make me laugh in English, French and German.”
Anne Douglas is survived by children Peter, Michael and Joel; daughters-in-law Catherine and Lisa; seven grandchildren: Cameron, Dylan, Carys, Kelsey, Tyler, Jason and Ryan; two great-grandchildren Lua Izzy and Ryder, parented by Cameron Douglas and Viviane Thibes; and a sister, Merle Werbke of Berlin, Germany. Anne was predeceased by her son Eric in 2004 and her husband Kirk in 2020.
Donations in her memory may be made to the Anne Douglas Center at the Los Angeles Mission, 141 El Camino Drive, Suite 209, Beverly Hills, CA 90212.
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I loved Anne she was beautiful, classy, firm, wise and kind. Today as I write and watch her memorial, it is her late son Eric’s 63rd birthday (June 21st, 2021). I loved Eric and was very close with him until he passed on July 6th, 2004. Eric and I met on the night of February 25th, 1990 in Beverly Hills, CA at a reception for the American Film Market, I worked in marketing at Nelson Film Entertainment the company that hosted the evening. I appreciated Anne so much as a stabilizing force, when I would consult with her as I would through the years, regarding various work projects I was doing with Eric. One night, Eric and I were attending the cinematographers awards with Anne and Kirk and we met them at their house on Rexford. We got in the limo and Kirk started singing and we all joined in for the short ride to The Beverly Hilton. As we drove by, Anne saw the sea of fans, photographers and paparazzi and she immediately directed the driver to take us to the kitchen entrance of the hotel, so we could easily get into the event without all the mayhem outside. That was Anne, knowing how to seamlessly and elegantly move through the often chaotic sometimes over the top style of our industry. She was always very kind to tell me how she appreciated the good and grounding example I provided to Eric. I had spoken to her so many times about life happenings with Eric — she was ‘always’ there. She was a true example of grace under fire, steadfast, strong fun and loving. I do miss her friendship and sisterly and motherly support. She was one of God’s finest – I feel honored to have known her. She can rest in peace now with her loving Kirk and dear Eric.
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It would be impossible to contain the impact you, dearest Mamacita, have had on my life. From the
night we met at Harry’s Bar in London in 1983, and bumped into each other a few months later in LA, you have been the mother I never had. To know your unconditional love, the naughty sense of humor we
shared, and to learn so much from you has been the privilege of a Lifetime. I can’t share more because
it all feels too raw and intimate, but you were the perfect role model and most loyal of friends.
I already miss you like hell ………….
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Sisters by chance , friends by choice !
I miss you so much , my best friend. My heart hurts.
But the gratitude for your deep love and care will eventually win out over the pain.
One day we shall have the
„Golden Hour“ again, you Kirk and my husband and I ,
Sitting on cloud 155 with our
Vodkas or Whiskeys gossiping about all you people.
Merle
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Anne was a wonderful woman in every way. The closest of friends to my Mom, Dad, grandparents, great grandparents and our entire family for decades. Anne was family and she treated all of us as such. The joy she exuded when our son, Holden, was born was palpable and she shared it with all of us often. All her conversations and cards thereafter included the name Oma. We will always love her and miss her and cherish the time and memories we had and have and show pictures of Anne holding Holden to him so he can know he met and was loved by the incredible Anne Douglas.
Brian, Barbara, Clara & Holden
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Anne,
It was a privilege to know you thought of me as a friend
There are not words to express how much Odette and I admired you.
You were truly one in a billion and just not replaceable
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Legend Gone and end of an Era of Class …
Anne your with Kirk again and I think that gives us all some comfort in knowing this .
Sending Love to The Douglas Family in this sad times of Loss
Love Dr. Joe Sugerman & Odette Sugerman
💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕
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For twenty years, my husband Aris and I were privileged to be counted among the friends of Anne and Kirk. For twenty years, they treated us like family, and welcomed us into their amazing life. Anne was generous to a fault, and the epitome of charm, wit, elegance, and sophistication. She was an amazing woman, who redefined the meaning of thoughtfulness and caring. and she did it all with style and a generosity of spirit that should be an inspiration for all. We loved her dearly, and will miss her always.
Ilene Nagel and Aris Demetrios
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I met Anne at a dinner party in London during Wimbledon fortnight in 1985, hosted by Princess Jah, in honour of HRH Princess Michael of Kent. When she learned that I was coming to Los Angeles to live with my fiancé, Gary Hendler, she insisted I call her when I arrived. She then took me under her wing and guided me through the strange waters of Hollywood’s social scene. When I asked her why she was so kind to me, she replied, “I know what it’s like to come here from Europe and feel like a fish out of water. It gives me pleasure to give you the benefit of my experience”. Anne was forever radiant, giving, caring and wise. She has been a pillar in my life for almost forty years, and I am going to miss her dreadfully. I send my condolences to all the family, and grieve with you for your loss.
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Anne Chérie ,
You were every thing to me ,my best friend .You were a giver and I learnt so much from you .
you leave a deep hole in the folds of my heart where you ‘ll remain cherished forever .
I adored you .
I know we will see each other again . I am sure we will .
RIP Anne
Dany
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I first met Anne through our mutual friend, skin care expert Vera Brown. The three of us did a lot of good works, and had many lunches and wonderful times together. When Vera passed away, Rhonda Flemming and I gave the eulogies at her memorial at Hillcrest, and Anne couldn’t be there on that day, so she said to me, “Kelly, lets you and I have our own private memorial for Vera.” So we did. We had it not on our knees anywhere, but at Orso Restaurant, as Vera would have liked. Over drinks, Anne did some Jewish prayers and I did some Science of Mind prayers; Vera was both.
I so love Anne — she was smart, warm, kind, strong, generous, loyal, tireless, beautiful, and funny as hell. I won’t tell you to rest in peace, darling girl, because you never rest. You and Kirk are continuing your work to benefit humanity, and you are loving each other fiercely for eternity. Kelly Lange
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Mrs. Douglas, I can not thank God enough to get to know you and be on your side for over 18 years. You were my best teacher and my best boss. Thank you for all the wonderful memories you left me you will live forever on my heart and my mind.
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Thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Douglas I had the honor of working at the Anne Douglas Center for Women for many years. I saw the miracle though the Center and God’s Grace changing the women in our program for the best.
She enriched so many lives…including mine.
I will miss you Mrs. Douglas
May God Bless and keep you,
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With a heavy heart, we feel so blessed to have had the wonderful memories of all the amazing years that we shared with Anne and her sometimes “mischievous “ Kirk. They bought a special joy into our lives as the did for so many others. May we all continue to bask in the warmth of their love and friendship. Peggy & Jim Greenbaum
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Beautiful Anne Douglas has the most loving, giving, humanistic heart in history. She is truly one of a kind, and so easy to love.
George Shapiro
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Anne, you truly were the mom to thousands of homeless women over the years. Your care and compassion are renowned in their lives. The Center truly is an extension of your home as you often reminded us. You were royalty but you were also related to us all in our humanity. I will forever miss our 4/23 birthday celebrations and your love for Kathy’s chocolate chip cookies. Here’s to afternoons on the patio with Kirk and cookies forevermore. Love Herb and Kathy.
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Mom,
When they made you they broke the mold. You were the all time best mother – always there when needed and I’ll miss you greatly.
Much luv,
Peter
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Dear Mrs Douglas:
At some point, I let you know that I knew how to speak a little German, and didn’t we have fun with that!!!
I have some wonderful, ‘fun’ memories of you, which I will always cherish. Thank You for the Memories!!
With Great Fondness, Nancy
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Mrs. Douglas is a great boss.
All the bosses in the world should learn a lesson from her. Look at her staff – every one is a tough nut. No worry.
She will crack you and make you love her.
She has lived her life to the fullest. I bet she is busy planning her memorial service from the above.
Love you and miss you forever.
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Dear Anne,
I had the greatest pleasure of meeting you much later on on your life. You welcomed me into your home and made me feel at such ease. I will never forget so many of the stories that you and Kirk experienced in all your years together.
Now you are reunited with your love, you will both have a wonderful new vantage point and no doubt will continue to inspire and guide those here.
Your legacy will live on forever.
With love Siân
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Anne’s beautiful smile always lit up a room. Anne’s pure and generous heart and soul has helped so many in need. I treasure our over thirty years of friendship and believe in eternal life. Anne is reunited with Kirk and so many others who have gone on before her. Sending Anne’s family, staff and friends so much love, prayers and comfort Alexandra Sheldon and Eddie Reasoner
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Dear Anne,
Dear Anne,
You set an example for all women to follow, You approached life straight on with honesty and grace. You gave endlessly to those in need taking women out of their despair and giving them another chance at life. Your memory will live on forever through those you helped, through their children, and their children’s children, and all of us who love you so much. I will miss you DEEPLY, but I will think of the extraordinary life you and Kirk led, your extraordinary love for each other. and the many happy times the four of us spent together.
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Dear Anne,
Thank you for all the wonderful times you gave us with your family. Your humor, intelligence, savoir-faire, and loving ways will forever live in our hearts.
Love, Nipper
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Gone but never forgotten!
1997 first Cedars Sinai woman’s cancer courage award and founder along with kelly Chapman Meyer and the late Renette Ezralow Marion Laurie and honorary chairs Kate Capshaw Stephen Spielberg Rita Wilson Tom Hanks only one of many such honors …
Elegant humorous brilliant!
we will miss you.dearest friend
Rest In Peace for ever with you’re beloved Kirk 💕Marion Laurie
Beloved friend
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Anne was truly one of the loveliest ladies I have been priviledged to know.
She understood the true meaning of friendship and practiced it.
I will forever treasure her handwritten notes of thanks or praise or just love.
Anne you will be missed by all.
Fondly,
Connie
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Dear Anne, from the time we met when you lived across the street from our house, you welcomed me to your amazing life and family. Over 50 years of friendship will stay with me forever! I know Kirk welcomed you home and will now be with him forever! So much love and friendship will forever be remembered!! Love, Dee
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Deepest condolences to the beautiful Douglas Family, Anne’s dear Friends and her longtime loyal and caring Staff. Anne and Kirk Douglas are a love story for the ages. Destiny led Anne to Kirk and the world has benefitted from their long and loving union in countless ways and will continue to do so for generations to come. Anne’s legacy of charitable giving of her time, immense talent and resources is a true inspiration. I would say “Rest in peace Anne” but she and Kirk are no doubt just getting started on their latest adventure together so instead I wish them eternal spring, joy and love!
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There are just so many fond memories of Mrs. Douglas, too many to share! Her passion, vision and legacy at the Anne Douglas Center for Women has left us truly blessed, inspired and hopeful as we serve women in need. Thank you for the love, warmth compassion and vision. You are loved and will be truly missed.
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Our very dear friend Anne made her mark on all who met her…Gracious & witty and loyal…and always the perfect hostess …
We will miss you, dear lady as you join your beloved Kirk….
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Anne was such a dear & special friend…Gracious & witty company always and she will be very much missed… Rest in peace lovely lady with your dear, Kirk….
Eve & Michael Williams-Jones
Rougemont
Switzerland
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I was so fortunate to be friends with this wonderful woman,she was the best.
She and Kirk attended the USOpen tennis event in New York with me a few times.
They were such great guests.
We visited with them in Palm Springs and LA and of coarse loved it all.
Condolences to all the Douglass family,you are so blessed to have been in the company ofAnne and Kirk,true legends in America.
Jack Mills
USTennis Association
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I have been Anne’s friend for 40 years, we met through mutual friends that were visiting L.A from Israel and were friends Anne and Kirk, they were invited to dinner at the Douglases who lived just few minutes walk from my , I dropped them in time and 20 minutes later got a call from Anne asking us to come and join them for dinner, I declined politely but Anne insisted, I said we will take a rain check for the dinner but will come over for desert.
We never met the Douglases before and I was very excited to meet them,
When we walked to the living room Anne got up and introduced us as if she knew us for for long time
, I remember we did stop talking, a new friendship was born, on that evening Anne and I became very close friends, ( BFF).I saw the Douglases every Sunday after my regular visit to the farmers market, and brought Kirk his strawberries he loved so much , if I was out of town Kirk sent me a massage ‘where are you, we are starving” I laughed so much.
I can go on and on with stories of our adventures , we had so much fun. sometimes Merle was visiting from Germany and the fun was doubled!
Anne is gone, and I am left with the memories which I will treasure forever.
I loved her very much, she said to me just few weeks ago, ”Rama, I love you so much, to the moon and back”.
Rest in Peace my dearest friend. you will be missed by all who knew you.
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To a great woman and a true friend. I don’t know anyone who has done more good for more people. I will miss you very much. Louise
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I am truly honored and blessed to have known your parents and so very sorry for the
loss of your beautiful mother…
I was Jerry Epstein’s significant other (lynda oschin) for three and a half years during which time we were privileged to share special times with them.
Sending heartfelt condolences to you on behalf of Jerry and me.
Beautiful memories of beautiful times passed.
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One special woman One special couple. They have touched our lives and we are forever grateful. Anne’s wisdom, sensitivity, caring for others is a model for all of us to live by, we consider ourselves lucky to have gotten to know her. She will be missed but never forgotten.May she rest in peace along with her amazing late husband Kirk . Condolences to the entire family
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We will sorely miss having Anne in our lives .
Loyal friend , smart , beautiful ,and classy to her fingertips .
She lit up the room .
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Having worked alongside my late husband Roger Davis at the William Morris Agency located directly next door to the Bryna Company offices, Kirk and Anne’s offices. We worked closely with both Kirk and Anne, and got to know them not only as clients, but became good friends of both Kirk and Anne.
It is now with a heavy heart, and great sadness that I send my heartfelt and deepest condolences to the Douglas Family for the loss of their beloved Matriarch.
I, along with the world that she touched will miss this wonderful woman for her kindness, her sense of humor, and her Philanthropic efforts that helped so many people throughout many walks of life. I wish her God’s speed, and may she rest in peace.
Laura Davis
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I respected her so much, she was like a queen, way above of all the woman I knew!
She helped all of us unconditional!
I will miss her so much, her smart, human, diplomatic and loving personality. Her fabulous sense of humor!
So many faboulouse stories!
She never looked down on anybody.
Rest in peace beautiful Mrs Anne Douglas!
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I’ve had the privilege of knowing Anne since 1983. She was the power behind the Douglas Throne and also the Queen! Last year I had the honor of helping bring the Kirk and Anne story to the theater so more people could see what love and devotion really looks like!
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Anne Douglas called me to train Kirk after his old trainer had passed away. She ended up working out with me 4 days a week at the country club, as we both conspired to get Kirk to work out with me as well. Anne was one of the smartest, bravest and strongest women I’d ever met. She lit up every room that she walked into. I used to tell her all the time that she was truly the super star! I loved her with all my heart, and I will always be grateful for the time I was able to spend with her. I know she and Kirk will be joyously laughing down at us from above.
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It’s been a joy and an honor to know Ann Douglas.
judi davidson
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Gone but never forgotten!!
1997 First Research for Women’s Cancer Unforgettable evening .
Courage Award.
Original Founder. With Kelly Meyer Marion Laurie the late Renette. Ezralow along with honorary Chairs Stephen Spielberg Kate Capshaw Tom Hanks Rita .. helping to raise approximately 70 million dollars in the past 20 years.to prevention and cure for women’s cancer
god bless you sweet dreams brilliant humors Anne sweet dreams Rest In Peace! Beautiful dear Friend.. Marion
My loving elegant Brilliant dearest friend.