Emmys 2013: Michael Douglas on Mentioning Son Cameron in Acceptance Speech

“Extra’s” Jerry Penacoli spoke with Michael Douglas backstage, just after he won the Emmy for Best Actor for his portrayal of Liberace in HBO movie "Behind the Candelabra," and asked the veteran actor why he gave a shout out to son Cameron, who is currently incarcerated in solitary confinement.

In his acceptance speech, Douglas thanked wife Catherine Zeta-Jones, from whom he is currently separated, and then thanked his oldest son, Cameron, noting that he’s “hoping that… they’ll allow me to see him soon.”

Backstage, Douglas explained to Penacoli, “Cameron is a drug addict and was dealing drugs. He's been in prison for about four and a half years. Unfortunately, there are more drugs in prison. He had a slip and as a result of the slip, the judge gave him the longest sentence in the history of the American penal system -- four and a half more years.”




The actor continued, “He's been in solitary for almost two years, and as a parent, I've been told that I cannot visit him for two years. Granted they've got to do their time, but why would you not want them to see their family? So I've gone from a point of being disappointed with him to being quite angry with our prison systems.”

Douglas also told Penacoli earlier on the red carpet that there was a chance he and Zeta-Jones would reconcile.

“Behind the Candelabra” took home three Emmy statuettes, including the top prize for Best Miniseries or Movie.