Kirk Douglas delivers cheer to homeless

Hollywood icon Kirk Douglas served up seasonal cheer to homeless people in Los Angeles on Wednesday, dishing up Thanksgiving turkey dinners to the needy for the fifth year in a row.

The 92-year-old star of Spartacus and his wife Anne were joined by hundreds of volunteers to distribute free meals to thousands of people at the Los Angeles Mission on the city's skid row.

The couple are the founders of the mission's Anne Douglas Centre, which helps train homeless women for employment.

"My wife has been trying to help the women that have been forced onto the streets, and she is determined to give them a better life through the Anne Douglas Centre where they have programs that improve and rebuild their lives," Douglas said in a statement.

"We gladly come to serve men and women at Thanksgiving time to give them a good meal and strengthen their desire for a brighter future."

Organisers said nearly a tonne of turkey, 340 kilograms of mashed potatoes, 340 litres of gravy and 360 kilograms of mixed vegetables were distributed at the event.