Michael Douglas revealed in his new memoir, One Helluva Ride, that he carried on an affair with his Basic Instinct co-star Jeanne Tripplehorn during the 1992 production of the film. The 82-year-old actor, who was married to his first wife, Diandra Luker, at the time, confirmed that he reached out to Tripplehorn for her approval before including the details of their relationship in the book, Page Six reported.
The Basic Instinct Affair
Douglas wrote that he "fell very hard" for Tripplehorn despite their nearly 20-year age difference. During the production of the erotic thriller, he admitted he was prepared to leave his marriage for her but ultimately decided against it, fearing that exiting a nearly two-decade-long union to immediately enter another serious relationship would be the "worst thing" for him. According to the Toronto Sun, Douglas noted that the passion viewers saw on screen reflected their genuine relationship. He told Page Six that while he has not seen Tripplehorn in years, he views the period as an "important" relationship and an "important friendship." Douglas wrote that the romance lasted through production before they went their separate ways, and he described Tripplehorn, 63, as a "truly terrific woman" and an "amazing actress."
Douglas Sought Consent from Former Partners
The decision to disclose past relationships was made with the explicit consent of the parties involved. Douglas’ co-writer, Shane Salerno, told PEOPLE that the actor was "incredibly protective" of the women mentioned in the memoir. Douglas confirmed he called his former partners to ensure they were comfortable with the stories being shared, stating, "I didn’t name anybody for the sake of notches on your holster."
Contrast with the Kathleen Turner Revelation
The memoir also details a previously secret romance with Kathleen Turner during the 1984 filming of Romancing the Stone. Unlike the response from Tripplehorn, who Douglas said was "fine" with the inclusion of their story, the revelation regarding Turner prompted a more complex public reaction. According to National Examiner, while Douglas sought Turner’s permission and she ultimately provided it, a source claimed the actress was initially hesitant because she values her privacy. Turner later released a statement to People, dismissing the drama by saying, "Good heavens, what a fuss about something 40 years ago! I love Michael and I look forward to enjoying the book." Douglas wrote that he and Turner, 72, "fell hard for each other" while he and his then-wife were separated and both having extramarital affairs. He noted that they denied the romance during press for Jewel of the Nile, War of the Roses, Romancing the Stone, and The Kominsky Method. Turner responded to the admission on Friday, stating, "That was a lie."
Questions Regarding Memoir Revelations
Did Michael Douglas reveal his affairs to gain publicity?
Douglas stated that he included these stories because he felt it was time to share them, telling Sirius XM’s Andy Cohen that there were "so many good stories" and that he had received permission from the women involved.
Was Catherine Zeta-Jones aware of these stories before publication?
Reports indicate that the memoir covers his 2013 separation from Zeta-Jones and his belief that they would eventually reconcile, which they did. Douglas described the separation as "incredibly difficult" and noted they had been married for more than a decade. He wrote that he loves Zeta-Jones in a way he has never loved any other woman and that they realized they missed each other while seeing one another for their children’s extracurricular activities, school functions, and drop-offs.
What did the public assume about the Basic Instinct cast?
At the time of the film’s release, many viewers assumed Douglas was having an affair with his other co-star, Sharon Stone, due to their intense scenes together. Douglas wrote that the public focus on him and Stone caused them to miss the "real relationship" occurring on set with Tripplehorn.
Production and Release
One Helluva Ride is published by Grand Central Publishing and is available now. The memoir also addresses other personal milestones, including Douglas’ battle with cancer, his cocaine addiction, and his ongoing marriage to Catherine Zeta-Jones. Douglas and Luker, mother of his son Cameron, 47, were married from 1977 to 2000. Following that split, Douglas wed Zeta-Jones in 2000; the couple has a son, Dylan, 26, and a daughter, Carys, 23. Tripplehorn married actor Leland Orser, 66, in 2000.
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