Michael Douglas shared an amusing anecdote about competing for Catherine Zeta-Jones’ attention in his new memoir, One Helluva Ride. He recalled how, after they met at the Deauville American Film Festival in 1998, he noticed Kobe Bryant frequently visiting Zeta-Jones’ house, which was located in the Pacific Palisades just below Kobe’s home. Douglas joked about Kobe’s frequent visits, implying he had a penchant for “losing his dog” to excuse his stops.
At the time, Kobe had not yet met his future wife, Vanessa Laine. Despite the geographical distance between New York and Los Angeles, where Zeta-Jones was building her film career, Douglas noted their connection grew through regular phone conversations until they could reunite.
The couple got engaged on New Year’s Eve in 1999 and married on November 18, 2000. However, Douglas also reflected on their brief split in 2013, stating he always hoped they’d reconcile.
Zeta-Jones remembers Kobe fondly, noting their shared ambitions when they were neighbors. Following Kobe’s tragic death in a 2020 helicopter crash, she expressed her sorrow and highlighted the unimaginable loss experienced by his family.
Douglas, now 82, mentioned that Zeta-Jones, 57, has yet to finish reading his memoir but has discussed its contents with him. He expressed no regrets about the candid revelations within the book, which is now available for readers.
