A STAR BY ANY NAME

Reading your cover story on Michael Douglas (“Who Said Romance Was Dead?” by Michael Walker, Dec. 4) reminded me of an experience when I was an executive in charge of talent of the feature division of CBS Theatrical, Cinema Center Films.

I attended a production of “Desire Under the Elms” at UC Santa Barbara. A young actor, Michael Douglas, played the lead. Impressed with his talent, I gave him a card and told him to call me when he returned to L.A.

I had no idea who this young actor was when we decided to test him for the 1969 film “Hail, Hero!” It was then that he told me who his father was, but I was sworn to secrecy. Michael’s position was that if he were cast in the film, it would be because of his talent, not his namesake.

Oddly enough, the director of “Hero” was David Miller, who had directed Kirk in “Lonely Are the Brave” years earlier. In viewing the tests, David kept remarking how familiar the young actor looked. It was not until the decision was made to cast Michael that I told them about his father.

ROBERT C. THOMPSON

Santa Monica