Kirk Douglas obituary mistakenly published by People

NEW YORK, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- People magazine mistakenly published an obituary for Kirk Douglas on its website, People.com.

The 97-year-old actor is still living, and readers began to notice the mistake Sunday. The headline included the words "DO NOT PUB," and while the time stamp read 3 p.m. ET on Monday, September 29, it is unclear when the piece was actually published.

The article has since been removed, and links to the obituary redirect to the People.com homepage.

Did you know that according to a People Magazine obit, Kirk Douglas has been dead since September? (h/t @NedRaggett) pic.twitter.com/pH8YSzgRbr

— Thierry (@tcote) December 1, 2014

It is common practice for news outlets to pre-write obituaries and add in pertinent information -- "TK" for "to come" -- after the person's death. Douglas will celebrate his 98th birthday December 9, and last appeared on film in Illusion in 2004.