Michael Douglas (82) Confirms Secret ‘Romancing the Stone’ Affair With Kathleen Turner After Decades of Denial

Michael Douglas has been promising an unfiltered look at his life for months. When he announced his memoir, he said he wanted to tell the real story rather than the highlight reel shaped by headlines or box office numbers. The book also promises to cover his relationship history, his marriage to Catherine Zeta-Jones, his battle with stage four cancer and his son Cameron’s struggles.

Now the first big excerpt is out, and it goes back to one of the most beloved adventure comedies of the 1980s. ‘Romancing the Stone’ follows romance novelist Joan Wilder, played by Kathleen Turner, as she travels to Colombia to rescue her kidnapped sister with the help of adventurer Jack Colton, played by Douglas. The film was released on March 30, 1984, and earned over $115 million worldwide.

Audiences have long wondered whether the sparks were real. In his new memoir, ‘One Helluva Ride,’ the 82-year-old actor says they were. Douglas reveals that he and Turner began a secret romantic relationship while filming ‘Romancing the Stone’ in Mexico, after spending four decades denying that anything happened between them.

He says the denial was a lie meant to protect his wife and son. At the time, he was married to Diandra Luker, with whom he shares son Cameron, but the two were separated. By his account, they were both having extramarital affairs, and he had recently been involved with the film’s screenwriter, Diane Thomas.

According to the excerpt, he would sneak into Turner’s hotel room after everyone was asleep. Costar Danny DeVito and director Robert Zemeckis had no clue about the affair.

The romance ended midway through the shoot, when Luker brought Cameron, then 5, to visit his dad on set. Luker grew suspicious, spoke with Turner and made clear that she did not consider her husband available. Turner did not want to interfere, and the two ended things.

Douglas says he went back to Luker for Cameron’s sake, but he now believes they should not have gotten back together. The couple stayed married until 2000. It is a candid admission from a star who has rarely discussed this period publicly.

Turner, now 72, has already responded. She told People she was surprised at the fuss over something that happened 40 years ago, adding that she loves Michael and looks forward to enjoying the book. Douglas says he asked her for permission before sharing the story, and the pair’s friendship has endured.

The casting itself has a story behind it. Douglas initially wanted Debra Winger for the role of Joan, but when that did not work out, he met Turner for lunch to discuss the part. He has previously said on Rob Lowe’s ‘Literally!’ podcast that Winger lost the part after an incident in which she bit his arm.

Douglas and Turner went on to reunite for ‘The War of the Roses’ and later ‘The Kominsky Method,’ keeping their on-screen partnership alive for decades. The memoir arrives on Oct. 6, with People publishing the exclusive excerpt on Oct. 2. Fans who spent years suspecting that the chemistry was real now have their answer.

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