Kirk Douglas was an American actor and filmmaker who became a leading box-office star during the 1950s. After an impoverished childhood, he made his film debut in The Strange Love of Martha Ivers in 1946 alongside Barbara Stanwyck. Douglas developed a reputation for taking on serious dramatic roles, particularly in westerns and war films, and became known for his explosive acting style. Over the course of his career, he appeared in more than 90 films. The American Film Institute named him the 17th-greatest male star of Classic Hollywood cinema.