Kevin Costner's Main TV Roles Show Character(s) Hatfields and McCoys 'Devil' Ans… 500 Nations Himself - H… Sunday Morning Shootout Kevin Costner

Main Movie Roles 2010 - The Company Men 2009 - The New Daughter 2008 - Swing Vote 2007 - Mr. Brooks 2005 - Rumor has it... 2005 - The Upside of Anger 2003 - Open Range 2002 - Dragonfly 2001 - 3000 Miles to Graceland 2000 - Thirteen Days 1999 - Message in a Bottle 1999 - For Love of the Game 1997 - The Postman 1996 - Tin Cup 1995 - Waterworld 1994 - The War 1994 - Wyatt Earp 1993 - A Perfect World 1992 - The Bodyguard 1991 - Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves 1991 - Madonna: Truth or Dare 1991 - JFK 1990 - Dances with Wolves 1989 - Field of Dreams 1988 - Bull Durham 1987 - The Untouchables 1987 - No Way Out 1985 - Fandango 1985 - Silverado 1985 - American Flyers 1983 - The Big Chill 1983 - Testament 1982 - Night Shift 1982 - Frances

BIOGRAPHY:

Kevin was born in Lynwood, California, on January 18, 1955, the third child of Bill Costner, a ditch digger and ultimately an electric line servicer for Southern California Edison, and Sharon Costner. His older brother, Dan, was born in 1950. A middle brother died at birth in 1953. His Dad's job required him to move regularly, which caused Kevin to feel like an Army kid, always the new kid at school, which led to him being a daydreamer. As a teen, he sang in the Baptist church choir, wrote poetry, and took writing classes. At 18, he built his own canoe and paddled his way down the rivers that Lewis & Clark followed to the Pacific. Despite his present height, he was only 5'2" when he graduated high school. Nonetheless, he still managed to be a basketball, football and baseball star. In 1973, he enrolled at California State University at Fullerton, where he majored in business. During that period, Kevin decided to take acting lessons five nights a week. He graduated with a business degree in 1978 and married his college sweetheart, Cindy Costner. He initially took a marketing job in Orange County. Everything changed when he accidentally met Richard Burton (I) on a flight from Mexico. Burton advised him to go completely after acting if that is what he wanted. He quit his job and moved to Hollywood soon after. He drove a truck, worked on a deep sea fishing boat, and gave bus tours to stars' homes before finally making his own way into the films. After making one soft core sex film, he vowed to not work again if that was the only work he could do. He didn't work for nearly six years, while he waited for a proper break. That break came with The Big Chill (1983), even though his scenes ended up on the cutting room floor -- he was remembered by director Lawrence Kasdan when he decided to make Silverado (1985). Costner's career took off after that.


TRIVIA:

• Member of the Delta Chi Fraternity, along with 'G.D. Spradlin' (qv) 'Alan Heitz' (qv) and 'Ashton Kutcher' (qv).
• His favorite movies are long epics with a lot of stories.
• (1986) Listed as one of twelve "Promising New Actors of 1986" in John Willis' Screen World, Vol. 38.
• He turned down 'Jeff Bridges (I)' (qv)' role in _Jagged Edge (1985)_ (qv).
• Played golf several times with former President 'Ronald Reagan (I)' (qv) in the early 1990s.
• Some of his favorite films are _How the West Was Won (1962)_ (qv), _Cool Hand Luke (1967)_ (qv), _Giant (1956)_ (qv), _The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)_ (qv), The Great Escape (1963), _Hombre (1967)_ (qv), 'Searchers, The (1956)_, 'Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The (1962)_, _Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)_ (qv), and 'Magnificent Seven, The (1960)_.
• He turned down the part of Adam Gibson in _The 6th Day (2000)_ (qv) because of family commitments. The role later went to 'Arnold Schwarzenegger' (qv).
• Has done more baseball themed films than any other actor.