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PEOPLE & ARTS Thursday 27 February 2020

Michael Douglas, Zeta-Jones to co-host Jerusalem ceremony

By JOSEF FEDERMAN projects promoting diver- work in the Broadway hit
Associated Press sity and inclusiveness in the "A Little Night Music." Her
JERUSALEM (AP) — Holly- Jewish world. other films include "Ocean's
wood power couple Mi- "Catherine and I look for- 12," "The Terminal," and "The
chael Douglas and Cath- ward to returning to Israel, Mask of Zorro" and "Traffic."
erine Zeta-Jones are set to a country our entire fam- The Genesis Prize was inau-
return to Israel as co-hosts ily loves so much," Douglas gurated in 2014 and is run
of this year's Genesis Prize said in a statement. "We in a partnership between
ceremony. are particularly honored the private Genesis Prize
The Genesis Prize Foun- to have the opportunity to Foundation and the chair-
dation announced on host the ceremony honor- man's office of the Jewish
Wednesday that the pair ing a true Jewish hero, Na- Agency, a nonprofit that
would co-host the June 18 tan Sharansky." works closely with the Israeli
event, where former So- Douglas said the visit will government to serve Jew-
viet dissident and Israeli also be a way for his fam- ish communities worldwide.
politician Natan Sharan- ily to honor the memory of Other previous winners in-
sky is to be honored as the his father, Kirk Douglas, who In this Jan. 19, 2020 file photo, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael clude Michael Bloomberg,
2020 laureate. Douglas, 75, died on Feb. 6 at the age Douglas arrive at the 26th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, in violinist Itzhak Perlman,
Los Angeles, California.
was the 2015 winner of the of 103. Kirk Douglas, born Is- Associated Press sculptor Sir Anish Kapoor
prestigious $1 million prize, sur Danielovitch and raised and New England Patriots
granted each year in rec- in a religious home, recon- oring his father's cinematic recent "Ant-Man" superhe- owner Robert Kraft. The
ognition of professional nected with his Jewish roots legacy. Douglas, who has ro movies. He also won an 2018 winner, actress Nata-
achievement, contribution in his later years and had a acted and produced in Emmy and Golden Globe lie Portman, pulled out of
to humanity and commit- strong connection to Israel. dozens of films over a five- for his portrayal of Liberace the prize ceremony be-
ment to Jewish values and "His re-discovery of his Jew- decade career, won the in the 2013 HBO production cause she did not want to
Israel. He is recognized for ish faith, his passion for his Academy Award for best "Behind the Candelabra." appear to be endorsing
his cinematic work and ad- heritage has been a guid- actor for his role as ruthless Zeta-Jones, 50, won the Israeli Prime Minister Benja-
vocacy for disarmament as ing light for me, passed financier Gordan Gekko Academy Award for Best min Netanyahu. The same
a U.N. Messenger of Peace. down to my children," in the 1987 movie "Wall Supporting Actress in the year, Supreme Court Jus-
Douglas, whose mother Douglas said. Street." Other films have in- 2002 musical "Chicago" tice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
wasn't Jewish and who The foundation said that cluded "Fatal Attraction," and collected the 2010 received the foundation's
himself is intermarried, di- during Douglas' visit, it will "Basic Instinct," "Romancing Tony Award for Lead Ac- first Lifetime Achievement
rected his award toward hold a special event hon- the Stone," "Traffic" and the tress in a Musical for her Award.q