Kevin Costner

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20 Feb 2024

Kevin Costner

Kevin Michael Costner, born on January 18, 1955, is an American actor, filmmaker, and musician who has received numerous accolades throughout his career, including two Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and a Primetime Emmy Award.
Costner rose to prominence with roles in several notable films such as "The Untouchables" (1987), "Bull Durham" (1988), "Field of Dreams" (1989), "JFK" (1991), "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" (1991), "The Bodyguard" (1992), "A Perfect World" (1993), and "Wyatt Earp" (1994). He achieved significant acclaim for his work on the western epic "Dances with Wolves" (1990), a film which he directed and starred in, earning him two Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director.

Throughout his career, Costner has showcased his versatility by taking on various roles in both acting and directing capacities. He directed and starred in films like "Waterworld" (1995), "The Postman" (1997), and "Open Range" (2003). Additionally, he has appeared in numerous other notable films, including "Silverado" (1985), "No Way Out" (1987), "Tin Cup" (1996), "Message in a Bottle" (1999), "For Love of the Game" (1999), "Thirteen Days" (2000), "Mr. Brooks" (2007), "Swing Vote" (2008), "The Company Men" (2010), "3 Days to Kill" (2014), "Draft Day" (2014), "Black or White" (2014), "McFarland, USA" (2015), and "The Highwaymen" (2019). He has also taken on supporting roles in films such as "The Upside of Anger" (2005), "Man of Steel" (2013), "Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit" (2014), "Hidden Figures" (2016), "Molly's Game" (2017), and "Let Him Go" (2020).

On television, Costner has had notable roles, including portraying Devil Anse Hatfield in the miniseries "Hatfields & McCoys" (2012), for which he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. Since 2018, he has starred as John Dutton in the Paramount Network original drama series "Yellowstone," a role that has earned him critical acclaim, as well as nominations for a Screen Actors Guild Award and a Golden Globe Award.

Kevin Michael Costner was born on January 18, 1955, in Lynwood, California, and was raised in Compton, California. He is the youngest of three boys, with one of his brothers tragically dying at birth. His parents, William and Sharon Costner, had backgrounds in welfare work and electrical utilities, respectively.
Costner's heritage includes German ancestry from immigrants who arrived in North Carolina in the 1700s, as well as English, Irish, Scottish, and Welsh roots. He was raised in the Baptist faith and spent his formative years in California, where he attended various schools due to his father's career moves.

During his school years, Costner showed a passion for sports, particularly football, and was involved in extracurricular activities such as playing the piano, writing poetry, and singing in the church choir. He has cited watching Western films, particularly "How the West Was Won" in 1962, as a childhood influence that sparked his love for the genre.
After graduating from Villa Park High School in 1973, where he also played baseball, Costner went on to attend California State University, Fullerton (CSUF), graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1978. During his time at CSUF, he became a member of the Delta Chi fraternity.
Costner's interest in acting was piqued during his final year of college. A chance encounter with actor Richard Burton on a flight returning from his honeymoon led to Burton encouraging him to pursue acting. This encounter motivated Costner to take acting lessons and ultimately embark on a career in Hollywood.

Initially unsure about becoming an actor, Costner decided to give it a shot, taking various odd jobs to support himself and his family while attending auditions and honing his craft through acting lessons. Despite starting a job as a marketing executive, he quickly realized that his true passion lay in acting, leading him to pursue it wholeheartedly.
With the support of his wife, Costner dedicated himself to his acting aspirations, taking on diverse roles and gradually building his career in the entertainment industry. His determination and talent eventually paid off, propelling him to become one of Hollywood's most celebrated actors and filmmakers.

Kevin Costner's early film career saw him making his debut in "Sizzle Beach, U.S.A." (1981), though the film faced release complications and wasn't widely seen until later. His first notable appearance was in "Night Shift" (1982), directed by Ron Howard, where he played a minor role as "Frat Boy #1" in a memorable scene set in a morgue.
Costner's early filmography also includes a commercial for the Apple Lisa and roles in "Testament" (1983) and "Table for Five" (1983). He was initially cast in "The Big Chill" (1983) and filmed scenes as Alex, a character whose suicide brings the rest of the cast together, but his scenes were ultimately cut from the final version of the film.

However, his breakthrough came with Lawrence Kasdan's "Silverado" (1985), where he had a prominent role that showcased his talent and charisma. Costner also appeared in smaller films such as "Fandango" and "American Flyers" in the same year. Additionally, he collaborated with Kiefer Sutherland in an episode of Steven Spielberg's "Amazing Stories."
These early roles laid the foundation for Costner's successful career, leading to further opportunities and establishing him as a rising star in Hollywood.

In 1987, Kevin Costner achieved movie star status with his roles in two successful films. He portrayed federal agent Eliot Ness in "The Untouchables" and starred in the leading role of the thriller "No Way Out." These performances showcased his versatility and acting prowess, solidifying his position as an A-list actor in Hollywood.
Costner continued his streak of success with baseball-themed films in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He starred in "Bull Durham" (1988) and "Field of Dreams" (1989), further cementing his reputation as a leading man.
In 1990, Costner partnered with producer Jim Wilson to establish Tig Productions, which produced their first film, the epic "Dances with Wolves." Costner directed and starred in the film, which received critical acclaim and won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. This project marked a significant milestone in Costner's career and further established him as a prominent figure in Hollywood.

The following years saw Costner starring in a diverse range of films. He portrayed Robin Hood in "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" (1991), which was a commercial success despite receiving mixed reviews. Costner also starred as District Attorney Jim Garrison in Oliver Stone's "JFK" (1991), earning a Golden Globe nomination for his performance.
Costner's collaboration with Whitney Houston in the romantic drama "The Bodyguard" (1992) became a pop-culture phenomenon and achieved considerable financial success. He continued to showcase his acting range with roles in Clint Eastwood's drama "A Perfect World" (1993) and the western biopic "Wyatt Earp" (1994), directed by Lawrence Kasdan.
Despite these successes, some of Costner's films in the mid-1990s, such as "The War" (1994), received less attention from audiences and critics. Nevertheless, Costner's talent and star power remained evident, allowing him to continue his successful career in the entertainment industry.