Michael Douglas opened up about his temporary separation from Catherine Zeta-Jones in 2013, describing the experience as "incredibly difficult".
Writing in his new memoir, One Helluva Ride, the actor recalled moving into a nearby rental so he could remain close to their children, Dylan and Carys.
The couple later reconciled and Michael’s reflections come as they prepare to celebrate their 26th wedding anniversary in November.
Michael reflects on their separation
"The entire ordeal was incredibly difficult," Michael wrote. He explained that spending time apart ultimately helped them reconnect. Looking back from a different place in their relationship, he added: "Today, our marriage is stronger than ever."
© InstagramMichael also discussed that chapter during a conversation with Diane Sawyer for Good Morning America, which aired on October 6. "We both had to change," he told the journalist.
The Wall Street star described their separation as a pause that allowed them to reconsider their relationship and communicate differently. Sometimes, he explained, couples need the space to "just talk as two human beings".
© InstagramHow Michael fell for Catherine
The actor’s memories of their difficult period sit alongside affectionate recollections of the beginning of their romance.
Michael told Diane that Catherine first caught his attention when he watched her in the 1998 film The Mask of Zorro. Reading a magazine profile afterwards, he was encouraged to discover that she liked older men.
They subsequently met at the Deauville Film Festival in France in 1998 and married in November 2000.
© Getty ImagesTheir family now includes son Dylan, 26, and daughter Carys, 23. Michael also shares his eldest son, Cameron, with his former wife, Diandra Luker.
Their touching birthday exchange
The couple recently celebrated another occasion together: their shared September 25 birthday. Michael turned 82, while Catherine celebrated her 57th birthday, with both stars marking the day publicly.
"Happy Birthday Catherine! I love you always and forever!" Michael wrote alongside a photograph of the couple and a passage from his memoir about falling for her.
Catherine shared a photograph of them kissing in blue water, celebrating the pleasure of sharing her birthday with her husband.
The affectionate exchange came less than a year after their silver wedding anniversary. For that milestone in November 2025, Catherine reflected on walking down the aisle towards Michael and thanked him for their years together.
© Getty ImagesLooking back on family life
Michael’s memoir explores his childhood as the son of Kirk and Diana Douglas, his Hollywood career and the personal challenges he has faced along the way.
In his conversation with Diane, he also recalled a tender moment during his cancer treatment, when his father dressed as a clown to lift his spirits.
Reflecting on the relationships that have shaped him, Michael discussed the opportunities he was given to reconnect with both his father and his eldest son. Catherine remains central to that account. In the closing pages of his book, he described her as his "partner for life".
