Who starred as Randle P. McMurphy in the original Broadway stage production of 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' (1963)?

Not only did Kirk Douglas star as Randle Patrick McMurphy in the 1963-64 production of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" when it hit Broadway, he also purchased the film rights to the play based on Ken Kesey's iconic novel about life in an insane asylum. It had been his intention to play the role in the movie, however he couldn't find a studio game enough to take on the project.

As he grew older, Douglas passed the rights on to his son Michael, realising that age had caught up with him and that he could no longer be a convincing McMurphy on screen. The film eventually came into being in 1975 with Jack Nicholson in the leading role.

The movie was directed by Miloš Forman and co-starred Louise Fletcher as 'Big Nurse' Ratched. It is now considered to be one of the greatest films ever made, being only the second movie to win all five major Academy Awards (Best Picture, Actor in Lead Role, Actress in Lead Role, Director, and Screenplay) - a rare feat.

As a matter of interest, 'It Happened One Night' (1934) won the big five, including Best Actor to Clark Cable, Best Actress to Claudette Colbert and Best Director to Frank Capra.

The only other movie to achieve this honor was 'The Silence of the Lambs' (1991), with Anthony Hopkins taking out Best Actor, Jodie Foster as Best Actress and Jonathan Demme as Best Director.