Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner romance: Basic Instinct actor admits secret relationship; here's who he was married to at the time

For more than 40 years, Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner stuck to the same public story. Their chemistry in Romancing the Stone was real, but nothing happened off screen. Michael Douglas now says that was not the truth.

Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner romance

In an excerpt from his new memoir, One Helluva Ride, the actor reveals that he and Turner became romantically involved while filming the 1984 hit in Mexico. At the time, Douglas was separated from his then-wife, Diandra Douglas, but they were still legally married. The information is taken from an exclusive report by PEOPLE.

Michael Douglas was married to Diandra Douglas at the time he says he had the relationship with Kathleen Turner during the filming of Romancing the Stone in 1984. Douglas and Diandra had married in 1977 and later divorced in 2000. Michael Douglas married Catherine Zeta-Jones that same year.

How did Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner become involved?

Douglas writes in One Helluva Ride that he and Turner were immediately attracted to each other after meeting to discuss her role in Romancing the Stone. He had initially wanted Debra Winger for the part, but that did not work out, and Turner eventually became Joan Wilder opposite Douglas's Jack Colton.

The film was shot in Mexico, and Douglas says their connection grew as they spent long days working together.

In the memoir excerpt, Douglas writes: “Kathleen was smart, funny, and sexy with a deep, sultry voice that became her signature. I instantly liked her, and we were immediately attracted to each other.”

He also explains that his marriage was already in serious trouble. He and Diandra were separated when he left for Mexico, although he was still married. They shared a young son, Cameron.

Douglas says the relationship with Turner developed quietly. He describes the two as becoming friends first, then co-stars and eventually lovers.

According to his memoir, they kept the relationship away from the rest of the production. Douglas writes that even director Bob Zemeckis and co-star Danny DeVito did not know what was happening. For years, however, the public story remained different.

Why did Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner deny the romance?

Douglas says he and Turner repeatedly denied that they had been romantically involved. They maintained that the strong attraction audiences noticed was simply chemistry between two actors. That story continued through Romancing the Stone, The Jewel of the Nile, The War of the Roses and, years later, their work on The Kominsky Method.

Douglas now writes: “That was a lie.”

He says the explanation was simple: he wanted to protect his wife and son. The memoir describes the denial as something he and Turner maintained for four decades.



Turner had also spoken about the attraction in a PEOPLE interview several years ago. At the time, she said, “Oh I was yearning, babe, but he was still married... It was that wonderful sexual tension, you know? When you really, really know you want somebody — and I’m saying it went both ways — and you can’t have them…”

The relationship eventually ended after Diandra brought Cameron to Mexico. Douglas writes that Diandra became suspicious and spoke with Turner, making it clear that she and Douglas were still married. That changed things for Turner, according to Douglas. He says she did not want to interfere, and the two ended their relationship. Douglas returned to Diandra, saying he did it for Cameron, though he later wrote that they should not have gotten back together.

The marriage eventually ended in divorce. Douglas later married Catherine Zeta-Jones in 2000. Turner also moved on, marrying real estate developer Jay Weiss. Despite everything that happened during the filming of Romancing the Stone, Douglas and Turner remained friends.

They worked together again on The Jewel of the Nile and The War of the Roses, and later reunited for The Kominsky Method. Douglas writes that when he and Turner worked on The Jewel of the Nile, they were able to repair their friendship. He also says he asked Turner for permission before including their old relationship in his memoir.

One Helluva Ride is scheduled for release on October 6, 2026. The excerpt was published by PEOPLE from Douglas's memoir, with the book published by Grand Central Publishing.

FAQs

Was Michael Douglas married when he dated Kathleen Turner?
Yes. He was separated from Diandra Douglas but was still legally married.

When did Douglas and Turner begin their relationship?
Douglas says it began while they were filming Romancing the Stone in Mexico.