On the mend: Michael Douglas has signed on to play Liberace in a new film which begins shooting in the springOscar winning actor Michael Douglas has been in treatment for throat cancer since August.
But the 66-year-old star is so eager to return to work that he has signed on to take the lead role in the Steven Soderbergh directed biopic Liberace which begins shooting in May.
The film will chronicle the life and fame of the extroverted and celebrated pianist and also stars fellow Oscar winner Matt Damon.
The veteran actor recently spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about his treatment and revealed that he will learn in January if the cancer has been eliminated.
Doctors have told him that his type of cancer has an 80% cure rate.
Douglas admitted to the weekly trade magazine that his diagnosis has brought him closer to his 93-year-old father Kirk, with whom his relationship has always been strained.
'He really made an effort,' Michael said.
'He was back here almost 10 days. He came over everyday. He was great.'
Larger than life: During his heyday, which spanned the 50s and 70s the always flamboyant Liberace was the highest paid entertainer in the worldHe voiced his understanding for the reasons behind the breakdown in their relationship in the past.
'In those key years, when Kirk was doing five movies a year, if we saw him it was only out of his guilt,' Douglas says.
He also acknowledges that he may have repeated that pattern with his own son, Cameron Douglas, 31, who was recently jailed on drug-related charges.
'I'm sure it's not easy, either, being a third generation,' Douglas says. 'Kirk was all-consumed, was overworked. Probably like myself at a certain time in my life.'
Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas pose with their children, Dylan (L), age 10, and Carys (R), age 7, along with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse
source: dailymail