Secret Romancing the Stone Romance
Michael Douglas Admits Secret Romance With Kathleen Turner During Romancing the Stone
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Key Points
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Douglas says his marriage to Diandra was already in trouble and that they were both having extramarital affairs; he specifically mentions a recent romance with Romancing the Stone screenwriter Diane Thomas.
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Douglas wrote that he first met Turner over lunch to discuss the role of Joan Wilder and that he instantly liked her; he recalled that they were immediately attracted to each other.
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According to Douglas, neither their fellow cast members nor director Robert Zemeckis knew about the relationship while they were filming.
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Debra Winger was initially selected for the role of Joan Wilder, but Douglas later met Turner over lunch to discuss the part, which Turner ultimately took.
Michael Douglas has finally admitted to a decades-long secret: he and Kathleen Turner had a romantic relationship while filming the 1984 hit Romancing the Stone in Mexico. Muswellbrook Chronicle reports that the 82-year-old actor revealed the affair in his new memoir, One Helluva Ride, breaking years of public denials designed to protect his then-wife Diandra and their son Cameron.
Douglas was separated from Diandra at the time but still legally married. He writes that Turner hesitated about the relationship because she didn't want to interfere with his marriage. The romance ended when Diandra visited the set and grew suspicious, pushing Douglas to return to his wife for their son's sake.
The Secret Meeting That Started It All
Douglas describes first meeting Turner over lunch to discuss the role of Joan Wilder for Romancing the Stone. According to Mandura Mail, he instantly felt attracted to her and liked her immediately. The chemistry was so strong that Turner eventually won the part, beating out initial candidate Debra Winger.
What made the attraction even more complicated was Douglas's marriage situation. His relationship with Diandra was already troubled, and both were having affairs. Douglas specifically mentions a recent romance with Diane Thomas, the film's screenwriter, in his memoir.
Why They Lied for Forty Years
Both Douglas and Turner denied any romance for decades. Blue Mountains Gazette explains that the lies were deliberate—meant to shield Diandra and their young son from public embarrassment. The cover-up worked so well that even their fellow cast members and director Robert Zemeckis had no idea what was happening on set.
Douglas chose to return to Diandra after she visited Mexico and grew suspicious. He prioritized keeping his family together over pursuing his feelings for Turner. The decision ended their romance but didn't destroy their friendship.
A Friendship That Outlasted the Secret
Despite the affair ending, Eden Magnet reports that Douglas and Turner remained friends after Romancing the Stone wrapped. The two actors later worked together again, proving their professional bond survived the romantic chapter. Their ability to move forward made keeping the secret easier over the next four decades.
Now at 82, Douglas felt ready to tell the truth in his memoir. Bendigo Advertiser notes that his confession marks the first time either actor has publicly acknowledged what happened during that Mexico shoot in 1984.
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