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Douglas Recalls Kobe's Attempts to 'Win Over' Zeta-Jones
8 Oct
Summary
- Michael Douglas revealed Kobe Bryant was his neighbor while dating Catherine Zeta-Jones.
- Bryant reportedly made excuses to visit Zeta-Jones' home when they lived nearby.
- Zeta-Jones paid tribute to Bryant after his tragic death, remembering their first meeting.
During the early stages of his relationship with Catherine Zeta-Jones, Michael Douglas faced an unexpected admirer: Kobe Bryant. The two stars were dating in the late 1990s, with Douglas based in New York and Zeta-Jones in Los Angeles.
Bryant, who had not yet met his future wife Vanessa, lived below Zeta-Jones' home in the Palisades. Douglas recounted in his memoir how the Lakers player frequently found excuses to visit Zeta-Jones' residence. He humorously noted that Bryant often claimed to have 'lost his dog' as a reason to stop by.
Zeta-Jones, whose film career was rapidly ascending, was often away on production, which helped her and Douglas maintain their connection through phone calls. They became engaged on New Year's Eve 1999.
Five months before Bryant proposed to Vanessa Laine in May 2000, Douglas proposed to Zeta-Jones. Years later, following the tragic helicopter crash that claimed Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna in January 2020, Zeta-Jones shared a heartfelt tribute. She recalled meeting Bryant when they were both young and ambitious, ironically noting the 24-year age difference between her and Douglas mirrored Bryant's iconic Lakers jersey number.
