AceShowbiz -

Kirk Douglas is alive and kicking, despite an obituary posted by PEOPLE that caused uproar online. "The announcement of my death is premature," the father of actor Michael Douglas told USA TODAY in response to the magazine's error. "I'm looking forward to turning 98 next week."

The early tribute was erroneously published just a week before Kirk's birthday this coming December 9. The article was dated September 29, 2014 with the title "DO NOT PUB Kirk Douglas Dies." It has since been removed, but many fans have screen-captioned and spread it on Twitter.

Kirk Douglas: not dead yet, but @peoplemag must think he�s close https://t.co/uh9tGjbpxa pic.twitter.com/Ej1UXBWIaE

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— Evan Smith (@evanasmith) December 1, 2014

"Kirk Douglas, one of the few genuine box-office names to emerge just as TV was overtaking American culture in the years right after World War II, died TK TK TK. He was 97 (DOB 12/9/1916) and had been in good health despite having suffered a debilitating 1996 stroke that rendered his speech difficult," it read.