Michael Douglas has admitted that he and Kathleen Turner were secretly dating during the filming of Romancing the Stone, and Turner is now calling the whole thing a tempest in a teapot. The Fatal Attraction star revealed the affair in a new excerpt from his memoir One Helluva Ride, published exclusively with People on Thursday. Turner responded on Friday with a blunt statement that reads as equal parts amused and dismissive.
Douglas wrote that he and his then-wife, Diandra Douglas, were separated during the 1984 production, and that both were having extramarital affairs. He said Kathleen and he fell hard for each other and began a relationship, vowing to keep it private. The couple denied the chemistry for years across multiple films.
The Official Story Was a Lie
Douglas detailed the cover story the pair told audiences for decades. “The chemistry I had with Kathleen Turner was so strong, audiences have been certain for years that we were in a relationship together while making the film,” he wrote. “We both denied it through Romancing The Stone, Jewel of the Nile, War of the Roses, and even while doing press a few years ago for The Kominsky Method.”
“The official story went as follows: Yes, we confessed, we had amazing chemistry. Yes, we were both, as Kathleen said, ‘terrible flirts,’ and yes, we were both tempted, but nothing ever happened between us,” he wrote. “That was a lie.”
“Good heavens what a fuss about something 40 years ago!”
That is how Turner responded, according to a statement she shared with People. She added: “I love Michael and I look forward to enjoying the book.”
What Douglas Said About the Affair
In the excerpt, Douglas explained why he and Turner kept their romance hidden for so long. He said they lied about the relationship for 40 years “to protect my wife and son.” He also said the affair was not a casual dalliance but something that developed slowly over time.
“It wasn’t a fly-by-night affair; it grew naturally from how closely we were working together, how much pressure we were under, how much we respected and cared for one another, and how attracted we were to each other,” he wrote. “Like every other guy in the world at the time, I was knocked sideways by Kathleen…”
He added that director Bob Zemeckis and co-star Danny DeVito were unaware of the relationship. “They were completely in the dark,” Douglas wrote. “I don’t think even they suspected a thing.”
The Moment the Relationship Ended
Douglas described a turning point during a set visit when Diandra grew suspicious and spoke with Turner directly. “She made it clear to her that we were still married,” he wrote.
“Her view of the terms of our separation was different from mine,” he said. “This gave Kathleen pause. She didn’t want to interfere.” After that visit, Douglas wrote, the affair ended and he returned to Diandra.
Turner’s Response Is Understated
Turner’s statement was brief and pointed. She acknowledged the history without indulging the gossip, and she closed with a promise to read the book. That is the full extent of her public reaction.
The brevity of her reply suggests she sees the admission as a matter of record rather than a revelation that demands further attention.
Why the Affair Mattered
The affair spanned four films, and audiences suspected it from the beginning. Douglas noted that audiences had been certain for years that the two were romantically involved, but the actors denied it repeatedly. Now he has confirmed it himself.
The admission changes the reading of those films slightly. The chemistry that audiences assumed was acting was actually something deeper between the leads.
The Timeline of the Affair
| Film | Year |
|---|---|
| Romancing the Stone | 1984 |
| Jewel of the Nile | 1985 |
| War of the Roses | 1989 |
| The Kominsky Method | Later |
| Memoir excerpt | Now |
What Comes Next
Turner has said she plans to read the book.
For now, the story is settled. Turner and Douglas were secretly dating during Romancing the Stone, and they both denied it publicly for decades. Now Douglas has confirmed it himself.
The affair ended, and the book is coming out. For now, the actress’s reaction sums it up perfectly: good heavens, what a fuss about something 40 years ago.
Source material: ““Good Heavens”: Kathleen Turner Reacts to Michael Douglas’ Memoir Bombshell About Their Secret Romance During ‘Romancing the Stone’ Filming,” The Hollywood Reporter.
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