Anne Buydens

Anne Buydens (born Hannelore Marx,[1] 23 April 1919) is a German-born American philanthropist, producer, and occasional actress. She has been a member of the International Best Dressed List since 1970.[2][3] She is the widow of actor Kirk Douglas, to whom she had been married for 65 years until his death in 2020.

Anne Buydens
Buydens in 2000
Born
Hannelore Marx

(1919-04-23) 23 April 1919
Hanover, German Reich
Other namesAnne Douglas
OccupationPhilanthropist, producer
Years active1952–present
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 1954; died 2020)​
ChildrenPeter Douglas
Eric Douglas

Personal life

Buydens was born in Hanover, Germany.[4] She was in her adolescence when her family emigrated to Belgium, where she became a Belgian citizen. Buydens continued her education there and in Switzerland before moving to Paris.

Buydens married actor Kirk Douglas on 29 May 1954. She had two sons with him: Peter (born 23 November 1955) and Eric (21 June 1958 – 6 July 2004).[5] Buydens converted to Judaism when she renewed her wedding vows with Douglas in 2004.[6][7] She became a United States citizen in 1959.[1]

Philanthropy

One of Buydens' first forays into philanthropy came on the heels of recovering from breast cancer: With six fellow survivors, Buydens established "Research for Women's Cancers", which raised millions of dollars to help finance a research facility at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Both Kirk Douglas and Buydens were behind the establishment of "Harry's Haven", an Alzheimer's disease unit at the Motion Picture & Television Fund Home in Woodland Hills, which is named after Kirk Douglas's father. The couple was known for their efforts to rebuild playgrounds in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

References
  1. Birth name per naturalization petition (1959), ancestry.com; accessed 19 July 2016. (subscription required)
  2. Staff (1970). "World's Best Dressed Women". The International Hall of Fame: Women. Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on 12 July 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  3. Zilkha, Bettina (2004). Ultimate Style – The Best of the Best Dressed List. p. 116. ISBN 2-84323-513-8.
  4. "The Centennial Couple – Kirk Douglas is 102 and his Wife Anne Just Turned 100!" by Nancy Bilyeau, The Vintage News, April 23, 2019
  5. Douglas, Family. "Douglas History". Retrieved 10 May 2011.
  6. "Hollywood gladiator Kirk Douglas has his eyes set on a third barmitzvah | The Jewish Chronicle". Thejc.com. 20 September 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  7. Bloom, Nate (December 5, 2016). "Jews in the News: Kirk Douglas, Natalie Portman and Max Cassella". Jewish Community Centers and Federation of Tampa.
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