Born in Lynwood, California on January 18, 1955, Kevin Costner is an American actor, producer, and Academy Award-winning director. He studied in McKevette School, Cabrillo Jr. High School and Buena High. He spent his teenage years in various parts of California and graduated from Villa Park High School in 1973. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in business in 1978 from California State University in Fullerton.
Kevin Costner’s interest in acting was developed during college. He took on a job as a marketing executive while taking acting lessons five nights a week. His film debut was in the 1974 film Sizzle Beach, U.S.A. when he was 19. The film wasn’t released until 1986. Costner appeared in a commercial in 1983 and was cast in The Big Chill, but his scenes were deleted from the final cut. In 1985, Kevin Costner was given his breakout role, as Jake in Silverado. He was also in smaller films like Fandango and American Flyers.
His movie star status finally came two years after, when he was cast as Eliot Ness in The Untouchables. He also became the lead star in the thriller No Way Out. In baseball films Bull Durham and Field of Dreams, Costner found his way to the top.
Kevin Costner received his greatest success in the film Dances with Wolves, the epic adventure in 1990. He directed, produced and acted in the film, which was nominated for 12 Academy Awards. In 1991, he appeared in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and JFK. These were followed by The Bodyguard in 1992 and A Perfect World directed by Clint Eastwood.
Some disappointments in his career included the lead role in the biopic Wyatt Earp, and the sci-fi Waterworld and The Postman. He was also cast in the comedy Tin Cup, and his career was revived with Thirteen Days in 2000. Critical acclaim was given to the 2003 western Open Range, which he directed and starred in. Kevin Costner was honored on September 6, 2006 at the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre when his hand and foot prints were set in concrete.