Michael Douglas was careful about the romances he detailed in his new memoir, One Helluva Ride.
“He was incredibly protective,” Douglas’ cowriter Shane Salerno told People in an interview published on Tuesday, October 6, revealing that the Fatal Attraction star, 82, called exes Kathleen Turner and Jeanne Tripplehorn to ask for permission before writing about their relationships.
“I didn’t name anybody for the sake of notches on your holster or something like that. These are people that I’ve had relationships with in my life,” Salerno continued.
Douglas’ memoir marks his first time speaking publicly about his romance with Turner, 72, while making their 1984 blockbuster Romancing the Stone.
“The chemistry I had with Kathleen Turner was so strong, audiences have been certain for years that we were in a relationship together while making the film,” he wrote in an excerpt shared by Page Six. “We both denied it through Romancing the Stone, Jewel of the Nile [in 1985], War of the Roses [in 1989], and even while doing press a few years ago for The Kominsky Method [in 2021].”
Douglas continued, “The truth is that during the production of Romancing the Stone, Kathleen and I fell hard for each other and began a relationship. It wasn’t a fly-by night affair; it grew naturally from how closely we were working together, how much pressure we were under, how much we respected and cared for one another, and how attracted we were to each other.”
Turner addressed her relationship with Douglas in a statement to People.
“Good heavens, what a fuss about something 40 years ago!” she said. “I love Michael, and I look forward to enjoying the book.”
Elsewhere in his book, Douglas detailed his affair with his Basic Instinct costar Tripplehorn, 63, during his marriage to Diandra Luker. (The producer, 70, was married to the Wall Street actor from 1977 to 1995. Their divorce was finalized in 2000. The exes share son Cameron, 47)
“The truth is, I fell very hard for Jeanne despite our nearly 20-year age difference,” Douglas wrote in his book, according to Page Six. “In fact, I was ready to officially leave my wife for Jeanne. I was crazy about her.”
Douglas wrote that he ultimately chose not to end his marriage to Luker to jump into another serious relationship.
“My relationship with Jeanne lasted through production, then we went our separate ways. But I will always think of her as an amazing actress and a truly terrific woman that I was very fortunate to spend time with,” he wrote of his ex.
Following his split from Luker, Douglas tied the knot with Catherine Zeta-Jones in 2000 and welcomed son Dylan, 26, and daughter Carys, 23.
One Helluva Ride is available now.
