Not A Hack Job Kirk Douglas really prepared for playing Doc Holliday.

One of the late Kirk Douglas’ most memorable roles was as Doc Holliday in 1957’s “Gunfight at the OK Corral.”  The actor spent a lot of time preparing for each of his movies, and this Western was no exception. He knew that Holliday had tuberculosis, which showed itself by frequent coughing fits.  Douglas later explained that he planned just how many and what kinds of coughs he would have in each scene so that continuity wouldn’t be a problem once the film was edited together.