Kevin Costner

Kevin Michael Costner is an American actor, filmmaker, and musician born on January 18, 1955. Over a career spanning more than five decades, he has established himself as a prominent figure in film and television, earning numerous accolades including two Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and a Primetime Emmy Award, as well as nominations for three British Academy Film Awards.

Costner was born in Lynwood, California, and grew up in Compton, California, as the youngest of three boys to William, an electrician and utilities executive, and Sharon Costner, a welfare worker. Raised Baptist, he attended several schools throughout California, including Mt. Whitney High School and Villa Park High School, graduating from the latter in 1973. While not academically inclined, he played sports, took piano lessons, wrote poetry, and sang in the First Baptist Choir. He earned a BA from California State University, Fullerton in 1978. Costner became interested in acting during his final year of college and was inspired to pursue a career in acting following a chance airplane encounter with actor Richard Burton.

Costner made his film debut in Sizzle Beach, U.S.A. (1981) and appeared in small roles in projects such as Night Shift (1982) and Testament (1983). After his scenes were cut from The Big Chill, director Lawrence Kasdan cast him in the 1985 western Silverado, which served as a breakout role. Costner achieved star status in 1987 with leading roles in The Untouchables and No Way Out. His prominence was further established through his performances in baseball-themed films such as Bull Durham (1988) and Field of Dreams (1989).

In 1990, Costner formed Tig Productions with producer Jim Wilson and directed and starred in the epic western Dances With Wolves. The film was a major critical success, winning seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for Costner. Throughout the 1990s, he starred in and produced notable films such as Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991), JFK (1991), The Bodyguard (1992), A Perfect World (1993), Wyatt Earp (1994), Waterworld (1995), Tin Cup (1996), and The Postman (1997), which he also directed. He later directed and starred in the western Open Range (2003).

Costner expanded his body of work with roles in films across various genres, including Thirteen Days (2000), The Upside of Anger (2005), Mr. Brooks (2007), The Company Men (2010), Man of Steel (2013), Hidden Figures (2016), Molly's Game (2017), and Let Him Go (2020). On television, he portrayed Devil Anse Hatfield in the 2012 miniseries Hatfields & McCoys, earning a Primetime Emmy Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a Golden Globe Award. From 2018 to 2024, he played rancher John Dutton on the drama series Yellowstone, receiving a Golden Globe Award in 2023.

In addition to his acting and filmmaking, Costner is the singer for the country rock band Kevin Costner & Modern West, which he founded with encouragement from his then-wife Christine. His recent projects include starring in, directing, and producing the multi-part western epic Horizon: An American Saga, with its first installment released in 2024. From May to June 2025, he hosted the eight-part documentary series Kevin Costner's The West on the History Channel.