“Kirk Douglas, known as one of the most beloved tough guys in Hollywood history on screen and a defender of blacklisted artists off screen, died Wednesday at age 103.

“Michael Douglas, the actor’s Oscar-winning son, announced his death in an Instagram post on behalf of the family.

“Douglas, who bravely and publicly fought his way back from a severe stroke in 1996, will be remembered for the grit and determination he showed on screen in action epics like “Spartacus” and “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,” biopics like “Lust for Life” and more intimate character studies like “Lonely Are the Brave.”

“But his commitment to higher ideals in the film industry proved even more dramatic.”

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