Hollywood Hero

In comic books, heroes wear masks and capes.

In real life, heroes are everyday people like you and me

who step up and do what's right on behalf of others.

Movie star Kirk Douglas was like that.

He once risked his own career

to protect the rights of someone who was suffering injustice.

It happened back in the 1950s

when Hollywood became embroiled in a blacklisting scandal

considered by many one of the most unjust

and shameful periods in American history.

Hundreds of actors, writers and directors

were denied work and some even saw the careers ruined.

A man named Dalton Trumbo was one of them.

Prior to the blacklist, he was a prominent screenwriter

who worked on some of the most successful movies of the time.

But when he refused to abandon his right to free speech,

he was blacklisted by every major studio in Hollywood,

which put his career in jeopardy.

But then along came Kirk Douglas

who wanted Trumbo to write the screenplay

for his next movie called Spartacus.

Despite intense opposition, Douglas helped firm,

saving Trumbo's reputation and career

and ending the blacklist.

You and I may not wear a cape than daily life

or consider ourselves anything special,

but the world needs us.

Each of us can step up and become a hero in our families

and in our communities by doing what's right for others.

That's what being a hero is all about.

For more to help you thrive,

go to focusonthefamily.com.

I'm Jim Daley.