Kevin Kline

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17 Feb 2024

Kevin Kline

Kevin Delaney Kline was born on October 24, 1947. He is an American actor known for his prolific career spanning over five decades on both stage and screen. Kline has received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, three Tony Awards, and induction into the American Theatre Hall of Fame in 2003.
Kline's career began on stage in 1972 with The Acting Company. He gained recognition for his performances with The Public Theatre and the New York Shakespeare Festival. Throughout his career, he has won three Tony Awards for his Broadway performances, including Best Featured Actor in a Musical for the original production of On the Twentieth Century in 1978, and Best Actor in a Musical for the revival of The Pirates of Penzance in 1981. In 2003, he portrayed Falstaff in the Broadway production of Henry IV, earning him the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play. In 2017, he won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his role in the revival of Noël Coward's Present Laughter.
Kline made his film debut in the romantic drama Sophie's Choice in 1982. He gained widespread acclaim and won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the comedy A Fish Called Wanda in 1988. His notable film credits include The Pirates of Penzance (1983), Silverado (1985), Cry Freedom (1987), Chaplin (1992), The Pink Panther (2006), Last Vegas (2013), and My Old Lady (2014). He has also lent his voice to characters in animated films such as The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), The Road to El Dorado (2000), and The Tale of Despereaux (2008), as well as the animated series Bob's Burgers (2011–present).

Kevin Kline was born on October 24, 1947, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Margaret Agnes Kirk and Robert Joseph Kline. His father, Robert, was a classical music enthusiast and amateur opera singer who owned The Record Bar, a record store in St. Louis. Additionally, Robert sold toys during the 1960s and 1970s, and his family owned Kline's Inc., a department store chain. Margaret was described by Kevin as the dramatic theatrical character in their family. Kevin's father was Jewish, and his mother was Catholic, and he was raised in his mother's faith. He has an older sister named Kate and two younger brothers named Alexander and Christopher.
Kevin Kline graduated from the Saint Louis Priory School in 1965. In 1997, the school honored him by naming its new auditorium the Kevin Kline Theater. During the dedication ceremony, he performed selections from Shakespeare as a benefit. He then attended Indiana University, Bloomington, where he was classmates with actor Jonathan Banks. Initially studying composing and conducting music, Kline eventually switched to a theater and speech major for his last two years, graduating in 1970. During his time as an undergraduate, he co-founded the Vest Pocket Players, an off-campus theatrical troupe. Kline immersed himself in theater, considering it his passion and focusing all his efforts on it during his university years.

In 1970, Kevin Kline received a scholarship to the newly established drama division of the Juilliard School in New York City. Two years later, he joined fellow Juilliard graduates, including Patti LuPone and David Ogden Stiers, to form the City Center Acting Company, now known as The Acting Company, under the guidance of John Houseman. The company embarked on national tours, presenting performances of Shakespeare's plays, other classical works, and the musical "The Robber Bridegroom," garnering acclaim as one of the most esteemed groups in American repertory theater. During his time at Juilliard, Kline studied singing with Beverley Peck Johnson.
In 1976, Kline left The Acting Company and settled in New York City, making a brief appearance as Woody Reed in the soap opera "Search for Tomorrow." He returned to the stage in 1977 to portray Clym Yeobright opposite Donna Theodore as Eustacia Vye in The Hudson Guild Theater production of "Dance on a Country Grave," a musical adaptation of Thomas Hardy's "The Return of the Native." In 1978, he earned his first Tony Award for his performance as Bruce Granit, a caricature of a matinee idol, in Harold Prince's production of "On the Twentieth Century."
In 1981, Kline starred alongside renowned singer Linda Ronstadt and singer Rex Smith in the New York Shakespeare Festival's Central Park production of Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Pirates of Penzance." His performance as the comically dashing Pirate King earned him another Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical when the production moved to Broadway. In 1983, he reprised his role in the film adaptation of the musical, which also featured Ronstadt, Smith, and Angela Lansbury.
Throughout the years, Kline frequently appeared in New York Shakespeare Festival productions of Shakespearean plays, including leading roles in "Richard III" (1983), "Much Ado About Nothing" (1988), "Henry V" (1984), and two productions of "Hamlet" in 1986 and 1990, the latter of which he also directed. A recording of the 1990 production was aired on PBS, and Kline was lauded as "the American Olivier" by New York Times theater critic Frank Rich for his stage performances.

Kevin Kline made his film debut in 1982 with "Sophie's Choice," where he portrayed the tormented character Nathan opposite Meryl Streep. His performance received praise from critics, with Janet Maslin of The New York Times highlighting his ability to convey both tenderness and cruelty in the role. Streep won an Academy Award for her performance, while Kline received nominations for a Golden Globe Award and a BAFTA Award.
Throughout the 1980s and early to mid-1990s, Kline collaborated with director Lawrence Kasdan on several films. Their partnership began with "The Big Chill" (1983), a critically acclaimed ensemble drama about college friends reuniting after a friend's death. Kline also starred in Kasdan's western film "Silverado" (1985) alongside Kevin Costner and John Cleese. He portrayed Donald Woods in Richard Attenborough's "Cry Freedom" (1987), earning praise for his versatility as an actor.

In 1989, Kline won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the British comedy "A Fish Called Wanda." His portrayal of an inept American ex-CIA thug showcased his comedic talents and earned him widespread acclaim. He continued to explore comedic roles in films such as "I Love You to Death" (1990), "Soapdish" (1991), "Grand Canyon" (1991), and "French Kiss" (1995).
Kline ventured into voice acting with roles in animated films like "The Nutcracker" (1993) and Disney's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1996), where he voiced the character Captain Phoebus. He also starred in the political comedy "Dave" (1993), portraying an ordinary citizen who impersonates the President of the United States. His performance in the film earned him critical acclaim.
In 1997, Kline starred in the comedy "In & Out," playing an acting teacher who is inadvertently outed as gay during an Academy Award acceptance speech. The role earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy. In 1999, he appeared in the Steampunk Western "Wild Wild West" opposite Will Smith.
Despite receiving mixed reviews, "Wild Wild West" performed well at the box office, grossing over $222 million worldwide. Throughout his career, Kevin Kline has demonstrated his versatility as an actor, excelling in both dramatic and comedic roles across film and stage.