Actor Michael Douglas has confirmed in an excerpt from his upcoming memoir, One Helluva Ride, that he and actress Kathleen Turner engaged in a secret affair while filming Romancing the Stone in 1984. The revelation, published by People, marks the first time Douglas has publicly acknowledged the relationship, which both parties denied for decades.
Douglas stated in the memoir that he and Turner were "immediately attracted" to each other during production. He described Turner as "smart, funny, and sexy with a deep, sultry voice that became her signature." The actor noted that his marriage to Diandra Luker was in a "bad place" at the time, and both were involved in extramarital affairs. Douglas was "technically married, but separated" when the affair began. The relationship lasted throughout the filming of Romancing the Stone and ended when Luker confronted Turner, reminding them that Douglas was still married.
Turner and Douglas continued to work together professionally after the affair concluded. They starred in the sequel The Jewel of the Nile (1985) and later in The War of the Roses (1989). Luker filed for divorce from Douglas in 1995 after 18 years of marriage. The actor acknowledged in the memoir that they kept the affair secret for decades to protect their son, Cameron Douglas, and to avoid public scrutiny.
Douglas wrote that the relationship "grew naturally" from their close working relationship under significant pressure. He emphasized that the affair was not brief but developed over time due to mutual respect, care, and attraction. Turner has not publicly responded to Douglas’s revelation as of the time of reporting.
The memoir excerpt provides new details about the timeline of the affair, including Douglas’s admission that he had previously been involved with Romancing the Stone screenwriter Diane Thomas before meeting Turner. The actor described his marriage as strained but noted that he attempted to reconcile with Luker for the sake of their son before eventually divorcing.
Romancing the Stone was a commercial success, grossing $115 million at the box office. The film’s sequel, The Jewel of the Nile, also performed well financially. Douglas’s memoir is scheduled for release on May 13, 2025 and includes reflections on his career, personal life, and the pressures of fame.