Michael Douglas Is A "Solitary Man"

This was written by CBSNews.com's KEN LOMBARDI

While many aging actors have trouble landing star roles in new projects, Michael Douglas has managed to stay on top in a career spanning at least four decades.

That's due in no small part to his willingness to tackle age-appropriate performances.

While in his 40s, Douglas was no stranger to roles depicting high-powered middle-aged men at the top of their games. Consider his turn as a Manhattan attorney who opts out of an extra-marital affair with the obsessed Glenn Close in 1987's hit thriller, "Fatal Attraction."

That same year, the actor won an Academy Award for his depiction of the morally-questionable broker Gordon Gekko in Oliver Stone's chilling examination of corruption on "Wall Street."

Now in his 60s, Douglas prepares for the onscreen release of his return as the aging Gekko (now newly-released from a long prison sentence and seemingly rehabilitated from his "greed is good" mantra of the 1980s). He stars in Stone's sequel, "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps," with young actors Carey Mulligan and Shia LeBouf.

In addition to this highly anticipated repairing of Stone and Douglas, the actor has also taken on a somewhat similar role in a new drama, "Solitary Man," which opened in select theaters last weekend.; It co-stars Danny DeVito, Jenna Fischer from TV's "The Office", Mary-Louise Parker, Jesse Eisenberg, and fellow Oscar-winner, Susan Sarandon.

Just before leaving for Cannes to promote the new "Wall Street" sequel, Douglas spoke with CBSNews.com about why he chose the role.

"'Solitary Man' was one of the best scripts I've read in a long time," he said adding that he also welcomed the opportunity to finally work with Sarandon on a film. Of her performance, he said, "It's really good acting when you come in for a short period of time and make it feel like it's a lifelong relationship, which I think she did."

Douglas stars as Ben, a womanizing New York car salesman who divorces his wife (Sarandon) and begins a life of decadence and irresponsibility after learning of a potential health issue. Ben comes into conflict with his level-headed adult daughter (Fischer), while engaging in a risky sexual relationship with the teen-aged daughter of his current girlfriend (Parker).

Despite this, Douglas said, Ben should not be totally dismissed. "I like this character," he said. I love digging a hole for a guy. Getting him way down and saying, 'How are you going to get out of this predicament?' And then sort of watching how somebody kind of rises out of it."

Critics also seemed to sympathize with Ben; "Solitary Man" currently maintains a favorable "Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Bolstered with praise from both critics and audiences, it's likely Douglas will continue to depict older men.

Just don't call him Grandpa.

Watch CBSNew.com's Interview With Michael Douglas Here: