Add a Comment281 comments
Average Guess (81 Votes)
5ft 8.49in (174cm)
5ft 8.49in (174cm)
Charlie said on 4/Apr/06
Going back to Frank2's comment below (where he says Kirk must be standing on a box) this photo is from the 1961 movie The Last Sunset. Kirk was not this tall in the movie. He was a few inches taller than Dorothy Malone, but many, many inches shorter than Rock Hudson. There are several scenes in The Last Sunset where Kirk and Rock are seen together. One in particular comes to mind. They are standing next to each other before their fight scene. You can see both guys feet on the ground. There are no angles or illusions. Rock is at least 8 or 9 inches taller than Kirk. You can appreciate it even more during the fight. Rock looks so much taller. He is huge. It literally looks as if Rock is crushing Kirk during parts of the fight. From the photo Frank2 shows, it seems like Rock is 6 inches taller. No way. Had to be minimum 8 or 9 inches taller than Kirk.
Going back to Frank2's comment below (where he says Kirk must be standing on a box) this photo is from the 1961 movie The Last Sunset. Kirk was not this tall in the movie. He was a few inches taller than Dorothy Malone, but many, many inches shorter than Rock Hudson. There are several scenes in The Last Sunset where Kirk and Rock are seen together. One in particular comes to mind. They are standing next to each other before their fight scene. You can see both guys feet on the ground. There are no angles or illusions. Rock is at least 8 or 9 inches taller than Kirk. You can appreciate it even more during the fight. Rock looks so much taller. He is huge. It literally looks as if Rock is crushing Kirk during parts of the fight. From the photo Frank2 shows, it seems like Rock is 6 inches taller. No way. Had to be minimum 8 or 9 inches taller than Kirk.
Charlie said on 4/Apr/06
Going back to Frank2's comment below (where he says Kirk must be standing on a box) this photo is from the 1961 movie The Last Sunset. Kirk was not this tall in the movie. He was a few inches taller than Dorothy Malone, but many, many inches shorter than Rock Hudson. There are several scenes in The Last Sunset where Kirk and Rock are seen together. One in particular comes to mind. They are standing next to each other before their fight scene. You can see both guys feet on the ground. There are no angles or illusions. Rock is at least 8 or 9 inches taller than Kirk. You can appreciate it even more during the fight. Rock looks so much taller. He is huge. It literally looks as if Rock is crushing Kirk during parts of the fight. From the photo Frank2 shows, it seems like Rock is 6 inches taller. No way. Had to be at least 8 or 9 inches.
Going back to Frank2's comment below (where he says Kirk must be standing on a box) this photo is from the 1961 movie The Last Sunset. Kirk was not this tall in the movie. He was a few inches taller than Dorothy Malone, but many, many inches shorter than Rock Hudson. There are several scenes in The Last Sunset where Kirk and Rock are seen together. One in particular comes to mind. They are standing next to each other before their fight scene. You can see both guys feet on the ground. There are no angles or illusions. Rock is at least 8 or 9 inches taller than Kirk. You can appreciate it even more during the fight. Rock looks so much taller. He is huge. It literally looks as if Rock is crushing Kirk during parts of the fight. From the photo Frank2 shows, it seems like Rock is 6 inches taller. No way. Had to be at least 8 or 9 inches.
leonari said on 22/Mar/06
I have to agree with Frank and I go beyond. At his absolute peak he was probably 5'7.5 but not taller. His son Michael is sooo much taller these days and we all know he ain't even a full 5'10". Kirk looks 5'5 these days and therefor lost about 2.5 inches ,which is a lot but not uncommon for men of his age.
I have to agree with Frank and I go beyond. At his absolute peak he was probably 5'7.5 but not taller. His son Michael is sooo much taller these days and we all know he ain't even a full 5'10". Kirk looks 5'5 these days and therefor lost about 2.5 inches ,which is a lot but not uncommon for men of his age.
Frank2 said on 22/Mar/06
Here's Kirk with 5'11" James Mason: Click Here
I'm positive Kirk was on a box for this photo: Click Here
Here's Douglas with 5'8" Dewey Martin: Click Here
With 5'6" Martin Sheen: Click Here
Here's Kirk with 5'11" James Mason: Click Here
I'm positive Kirk was on a box for this photo: Click Here
Here's Douglas with 5'8" Dewey Martin: Click Here
With 5'6" Martin Sheen: Click Here
Sue said on 22/Mar/06
Okay, I relent, after seeing some more of all the photo's, in comparison with others, I don't think he was 5'11" in his prime. With Charles McGraw, he looks a lot more like 5'9" possibly 5'8" in his hey day, but no shorter goddammit!
Okay, I relent, after seeing some more of all the photo's, in comparison with others, I don't think he was 5'11" in his prime. With Charles McGraw, he looks a lot more like 5'9" possibly 5'8" in his hey day, but no shorter goddammit!
Glenn said on 22/Mar/06
Shockingly,Michael always looked 5-8 to me.and I guess kirk fooled me.great men.
Shockingly,Michael always looked 5-8 to me.and I guess kirk fooled me.great men.
Frank2 said on 21/Mar/06
Here's Kirk with his wife and some big guy: Click Here
Kirk with son Michael: Click Here
Here's Kirk with his wife and some big guy: Click Here
Kirk with son Michael: Click Here
Frank2 said on 21/Mar/06
Here's Kirk with 5'7" Charles McGraw: Click Here
Here's shot of Kirk where you can tell he's wearing lifts: Click Here
Kirk with 5'4" Edward G. Robinson: Click Here
Here's Kirk with President Bush: Click Here
Kirk walking with his son Michael: Click Here
Here's another shot showing how Douglas has shrunk to be several inches shorter than his 5'9-1/2" son Michael: Click Here
Kirk with 5'9" Paul Stewart: Click Here
Here's another with son Michael: Click Here
Here's Kirk with 5'7" Charles McGraw: Click Here
Here's shot of Kirk where you can tell he's wearing lifts: Click Here
Kirk with 5'4" Edward G. Robinson: Click Here
Here's Kirk with President Bush: Click Here
Kirk walking with his son Michael: Click Here
Here's another shot showing how Douglas has shrunk to be several inches shorter than his 5'9-1/2" son Michael: Click Here
Kirk with 5'9" Paul Stewart: Click Here
Here's another with son Michael: Click Here
Frank2 said on 21/Mar/06
He was most likely wearing lifts when you saw him. Barefoot Kirk was never more than 5'8". Now he's about 5'5"! When Kirk received his special Oscar, Spielberg stood right next to him on stage and Steven is no more than 5'8" and he towered over him. Remember?
He was most likely wearing lifts when you saw him. Barefoot Kirk was never more than 5'8". Now he's about 5'5"! When Kirk received his special Oscar, Spielberg stood right next to him on stage and Steven is no more than 5'8" and he towered over him. Remember?
Glenn said on 21/Mar/06
Looked 5-9 when I saw him in 1992.
Looked 5-9 when I saw him in 1992.
Charlie said on 20/Mar/06
To Frank2- You're right. No way Kirk is anywhere near 5'11. Interestingly enough, The Last Sunset made in 1961, stars both Kirk and Rock. There are a number of scenes where their height disparity is very evident. Before a good fight scene between Kirk and Rock, they are standing right next to each other arguing. Rock has to be at least 8 inches taller, if not more. He looks absolutely huge next to Kirk. During the fight scene, the huge height difference is just as apparent. Both guys were throwing punches, etc, but you can tell if this were a real fight, Kirk (known as Mr. Tough Guy) would have gotten killed. Rock was nailing Kirk pretty good with his long reach, getting some good punches in. At one point, they began wrestling. Rock was pushing down on Kirk's head and body, while both guys are standing trying to outmuscle each other. Rock's body from the waist to his shoulders are just covering Kirk's entire body, so you hardly see Kirk's body. I realize it's a staged fight, but you know Rock can destroy him. No way a guy only six inches taller would look so much bigger. Rock had to be at least 8 or 9 inches taller. Has anybody else seen the movie? It's actually a good fight scene and you will see Kirk and Rock standing side by side in a number of scenes.
To Frank2- You're right. No way Kirk is anywhere near 5'11. Interestingly enough, The Last Sunset made in 1961, stars both Kirk and Rock. There are a number of scenes where their height disparity is very evident. Before a good fight scene between Kirk and Rock, they are standing right next to each other arguing. Rock has to be at least 8 inches taller, if not more. He looks absolutely huge next to Kirk. During the fight scene, the huge height difference is just as apparent. Both guys were throwing punches, etc, but you can tell if this were a real fight, Kirk (known as Mr. Tough Guy) would have gotten killed. Rock was nailing Kirk pretty good with his long reach, getting some good punches in. At one point, they began wrestling. Rock was pushing down on Kirk's head and body, while both guys are standing trying to outmuscle each other. Rock's body from the waist to his shoulders are just covering Kirk's entire body, so you hardly see Kirk's body. I realize it's a staged fight, but you know Rock can destroy him. No way a guy only six inches taller would look so much bigger. Rock had to be at least 8 or 9 inches taller. Has anybody else seen the movie? It's actually a good fight scene and you will see Kirk and Rock standing side by side in a number of scenes.
Frank2 said on 20/Mar/06
If Kirk was ever 5'11" barefoot then I'll eat my laptop!
If Kirk was ever 5'11" barefoot then I'll eat my laptop!
Sue said on 19/Mar/06
Hey, no wonder Kirk looks so small he's standing next to John Wayne who's 6'4" !! My husband has just done some photoshop image manipulation to remove the perspective on the image of John Wayne and kirk Douglas. As calculated there's between a 5 to 6 inch height difference between them. So yes, he was around 5ft 11 but wow, he's lost a lot of inches since.
Hey, no wonder Kirk looks so small he's standing next to John Wayne who's 6'4" !! My husband has just done some photoshop image manipulation to remove the perspective on the image of John Wayne and kirk Douglas. As calculated there's between a 5 to 6 inch height difference between them. So yes, he was around 5ft 11 but wow, he's lost a lot of inches since.
Frank2 said on 19/Mar/06
I'd say Kirk was at least eight inches shorter than Rock if both men stood side by side in their bare feet. Of course such a thing would never have occurred. In Kirk's autobiography A Ragman's Son he claimed that he felt uncomfortable working with Hudson who he knew to be gay and interested in muscular blonde men. I always found that comment to be somewhat homophobic to say the least. If a person is at ease with their own sexuality then it shouldn't matter who they come in contact with. I remember once being chased around the apartment of a friend of mine who after a few drinks turned out to be gay as an Ungaro Spring Frock. I just laughed. The whole thing was so silly I found it amusing.
I'd say Kirk was at least eight inches shorter than Rock if both men stood side by side in their bare feet. Of course such a thing would never have occurred. In Kirk's autobiography A Ragman's Son he claimed that he felt uncomfortable working with Hudson who he knew to be gay and interested in muscular blonde men. I always found that comment to be somewhat homophobic to say the least. If a person is at ease with their own sexuality then it shouldn't matter who they come in contact with. I remember once being chased around the apartment of a friend of mine who after a few drinks turned out to be gay as an Ungaro Spring Frock. I just laughed. The whole thing was so silly I found it amusing.
Sue said on 18/Mar/06
Kirk looks like he should be a much taller man. As an actor, especially in his younger days his confidence and sexual magnetism just oozes height but obviously the tape measure tells a different story. Height shouldn't maketh man though. At average height for a man or even a bit shorter, he's still a legend.
Kirk looks like he should be a much taller man. As an actor, especially in his younger days his confidence and sexual magnetism just oozes height but obviously the tape measure tells a different story. Height shouldn't maketh man though. At average height for a man or even a bit shorter, he's still a legend.
Charlie said on 15/Mar/06
To Frank2- If I'm interpreting your answer right, if Kirk and Rock were both barefoot, Rock would be at least 8 or 9 inches taller?
To Frank2- If I'm interpreting your answer right, if Kirk and Rock were both barefoot, Rock would be at least 8 or 9 inches taller?
Glenn said on 15/Mar/06
Wow.he seemed 5-9 to me.
Wow.he seemed 5-9 to me.
Frank2 said on 14/Mar/06
Rock was 6'4" barefoot. So if Kirk was wearing his usual height-increasing cowboy boots that gave him an extra three and a half inches I would estimate that Rock (wearing normal cowboy boots with an inch and a half heel) was about six inches taller. Kirk never went before the cameras without his lifts. When I worked at Universal I discovered the actual sandals he wore in Spartacus which were still kept in the wardrobe department. They were specially made to hide an increase of two inches. In the film The War Wagon they built a ramp for Douglas to use when he was in scenes with 6'4" John Wayne. They did the same for the film In Harm's Way.
Rock was 6'4" barefoot. So if Kirk was wearing his usual height-increasing cowboy boots that gave him an extra three and a half inches I would estimate that Rock (wearing normal cowboy boots with an inch and a half heel) was about six inches taller. Kirk never went before the cameras without his lifts. When I worked at Universal I discovered the actual sandals he wore in Spartacus which were still kept in the wardrobe department. They were specially made to hide an increase of two inches. In the film The War Wagon they built a ramp for Douglas to use when he was in scenes with 6'4" John Wayne. They did the same for the film In Harm's Way.
Charlie said on 14/Mar/06
Rock was probably a good 9 or 10" taller than Kirk. I've seen pictures as well from the 60s and I can't decide if Kirk is that "short" or Rock is that "tall." Probably a combination of both. I never would have believed it if I hadn't seen the photos. If Kirk was wearing lifts...I'd hate to see the difference when he removed them.
Rock was probably a good 9 or 10" taller than Kirk. I've seen pictures as well from the 60s and I can't decide if Kirk is that "short" or Rock is that "tall." Probably a combination of both. I never would have believed it if I hadn't seen the photos. If Kirk was wearing lifts...I'd hate to see the difference when he removed them.
Richard said on 14/Mar/06
If Kirk is wearing lifts, how much taller was Rock Hudson than him. I've seen pictures of them on the internet standing side by side. Rock dwarfs Kirk more than John Wayne does.
If Kirk is wearing lifts, how much taller was Rock Hudson than him. I've seen pictures of them on the internet standing side by side. Rock dwarfs Kirk more than John Wayne does.
Frank2 said on 14/Mar/06
Check out the lifts on Douglas in this photo: Click Here Here's Kirk with President Jimmy Carter: Click Here Carter was short. Here he is with a stooping over John Wayne: Click Here Here's Kirk on a box with the Duke: Click Here
Check out the lifts on Douglas in this photo: Click Here Here's Kirk with President Jimmy Carter: Click Here Carter was short. Here he is with a stooping over John Wayne: Click Here Here's Kirk on a box with the Duke: Click Here
jack naidoo said on 12/Mar/06
not everyone loses height because of old age. my father was 6ft 6ins. at twenty and still is at age 88.
not everyone loses height because of old age. my father was 6ft 6ins. at twenty and still is at age 88.
Frank2 said on 27/Feb/06
When Kirk was a young man (without a horn) he was about 5'8". In the film Seven Days in May he wears Frankenstein shoes which puts him at eye level with Fredric March who was 5'10" and a little taller than Whit Bissell who was 5'8". That was the movie where Burt made fun of him. Those silly lifts looked like they boosted his height by at least three inches!
The last time I saw Kirk in person was at a deli in Beverly Hills. He had shrunk down to about 5'5". He's now so bow-legged that it doesn't help his posture.
When Kirk was a young man (without a horn) he was about 5'8". In the film Seven Days in May he wears Frankenstein shoes which puts him at eye level with Fredric March who was 5'10" and a little taller than Whit Bissell who was 5'8". That was the movie where Burt made fun of him. Those silly lifts looked like they boosted his height by at least three inches!
The last time I saw Kirk in person was at a deli in Beverly Hills. He had shrunk down to about 5'5". He's now so bow-legged that it doesn't help his posture.
Tall vs. Short said on 22/Feb/06
Kirk was about 5'9. I watched The Last Sunset, a 1961 movie, with Kirk and Rock Hudson. Rock totally dwarfs Kirk, probably by about 9 inches. There are two scenes where you can really see the difference in height. The first is right before they fight. Kirk and Rock are standing next to one another. Rock looks massive. The other is the actual fight scene. It looks like Rock can crush Kirk with little trouble, by using his enormous size.
Kirk was about 5'9. I watched The Last Sunset, a 1961 movie, with Kirk and Rock Hudson. Rock totally dwarfs Kirk, probably by about 9 inches. There are two scenes where you can really see the difference in height. The first is right before they fight. Kirk and Rock are standing next to one another. Rock looks massive. The other is the actual fight scene. It looks like Rock can crush Kirk with little trouble, by using his enormous size.
Mr Imposter said on 21/Oct/05
Burt Lancaster was a maximum of 6'1 at his peak. He clearly had about four inches over Douglas in "Gunfight at the OK Corral" - I reckon Kirk was 5'9 at his peak, just like his son.
Burt Lancaster was a maximum of 6'1 at his peak. He clearly had about four inches over Douglas in "Gunfight at the OK Corral" - I reckon Kirk was 5'9 at his peak, just like his son.
McFan said on 21/Jul/05
He and Tom Jones were the same height in a 1972 special on TV. Tom Jones claims to be 5'10.5. He's so old he's had to have dropped 2-4 inches and really looks hunched over.
He and Tom Jones were the same height in a 1972 special on TV. Tom Jones claims to be 5'10.5. He's so old he's had to have dropped 2-4 inches and really looks hunched over.
Mr A said on 16/Jul/05
In one of Kirk's books, he said he lost almost three inches in height due to the helicopter crash he was in some years ago. He looked the same height as Tony Curtis in The Vikings and Spartacus so he must be about 5'5-6" now.
In one of Kirk's books, he said he lost almost three inches in height due to the helicopter crash he was in some years ago. He looked the same height as Tony Curtis in The Vikings and Spartacus so he must be about 5'5-6" now.
sam said on 5/May/05
Yeah, you can see he's wearing blatant lifts in a bunch of films, particularly when he's with 6'2"ish guys like Lancaster and Johnny Cash. I don't think he stood more than 5'9" at his peak without lifts.
Yeah, you can see he's wearing blatant lifts in a bunch of films, particularly when he's with 6'2"ish guys like Lancaster and Johnny Cash. I don't think he stood more than 5'9" at his peak without lifts.
Mr. R said on 16/Mar/05
There are a lot of stories from Burt Lancaster making fun of Kirk's height. They did a lot of films together.
There are a lot of stories from Burt Lancaster making fun of Kirk's height. They did a lot of films together.
CelebHeights Editor said on 15/Mar/05
From Burt Lancaster (An American Life) "Burt Lancaster reportedly told a group of autograph-seekers to go ask his costar for an autograph - that is, if they could find him without his elevator shoes on...Douglas was weeping by the time the ribbing was over."
From Burt Lancaster (An American Life) "Burt Lancaster reportedly told a group of autograph-seekers to go ask his costar for an autograph - that is, if they could find him without his elevator shoes on...Douglas was weeping by the time the ribbing was over."
Heights are barefeet estimates, derived from quotations, official websites, agency resumes, in person encounters with actors at conventions and pictures/films.
Other vital statistics like weight or shoe size measurements have been sourced from newspapers, books, resumes or social media.
Celebrity Fan Photos and Agency Pictures of stars are © to their respective owners.