Kevin Costner

Kevin Costner

born on 18/1/1955 in Lynwood, CA, United States

Kevin Costner

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Kevin Costner

visiting Andrews Air Force Base in 2003
Born Kevin Michael Costner
January 18 1955
Lynwood, California, U.S.
Occupation Actor, producer, director; musician
Years active 1974present
Spouse(s) Cindy Silva (1978-1994) Christine Baumgartner (2004present)

Kevin Michael Costner (born January 18, 1955) is an American actor, singer, musician, producer, director, and businessman. He has been nominated for three BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) Awards, won two Academy Awards, and two Golden Globe Awards. Costner's roles include Lt. John J. Dunbar in the film Dances with Wolves, Jim Garrison in JFK, Ray Kinsella in Field of Dreams, Robin Hood in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Crash Davis in Bull Durham, Robert "Butch" Haynes in A Perfect World, Frank Farmer in The Bodyguard and Eliot Ness in The Untouchables. Costner also founded the band Modern West, and has performed with the band since 2007.

Early life

Costner was born in Lynwood, California, the youngest of three sons (the middle of whom died at birth). His mother, Sharon Rae (née Tedrick), was a welfare worker, and his father, William Costner, was an electrician and later utilities executive at Southern California Edison.[1][2] Costner's patrilineal ancestry originates with German immigrants to South Carolina in the 1700s;[3] he also has English and Irish ancestry, and has said that one of his ancestors had "married a Cherokee woman".[3][4][5][6] Costner was raised Baptist.[7] He attended Cabrillo Middle School and Villa Park High School. Costner was not academically inclined. Rather, he enjoyed sports, took piano lessons, wrote poetry and sang in the First Baptist Choir.[1][8] He has stated that a viewing of the film How the West Was Won at the age of seven had "formed" his childhood.[3]

Spending his teenage years in various parts of California as his father's career progressed,[3] Costner has described this as a period when he "lost a lot of confidence", having to make new friends often.[3] Costner lived in Orange County, then in Visalia (Tulare County), attending Mt. Whitney High School, and then back to Ventura, graduating from Buena High School in 1973. He went on to earn a B.A. in marketing and finance from California State University, Fullerton, in 1978.[3]

Post-graduation

Costner became interested in acting while in his last year of college,[3] and on graduation married Cindy Silva. The couple honeymooned in Puerto Vallarta and on the return plane journey had a chance encounter with actor and fellow passenger Richard Burton, who had purchased all the seats around him for solitude. Burton agreed to speak to Costner after he finished his book. Costner, who had been taking acting classes, but had not told his wife about his desire to be an actor, watched Burton closely and approached when Burton gestured. Costner told Burton that he would prefer that his life was not filled with the type of drama that had followed Burton and asked if he would have to tolerate that if he became an actor. Burton replied, "You have green eyes. I have green eyes. I think you'll be fine." After landing, Burton's limousine pulled up to the curb where Costner and Cindy were waiting for a taxi, where Burton wished Costner luck. Costner would never see Burton again, but credits Burton with partially contributing to his career.[1][9]

Having agreed to undertake a job as a marketing executive on return, Costner began taking acting lessons five nights a week, with the support of his wife.[3] His marketing job lasted 30 days. He took work which allowed him to develop his acting skills via tuition, including working on fishing boats, as a truck driver, and giving tours of stars' Hollywood homes to support the couple while he also made the audition rounds.[1]

Career

Acting

Costner allegedly made his film debut in the film Sizzle Beach, U.S.A. Although a biography claims it was actually filmed in the winter of 1978-1979, the film was not released until 1986.

Costner made a very brief cameo in the 1982 Ron Howard film Night Shift, he is listed in the credits as 'Frat Boy #1' and appears at the climax of a frat-style, blow-out party in the New York City morgue, when the music is suddenly stopped by a frantic Henry Winkler, Costner can be seen holding a beer and looking surprised at the sudden halt of celebration.

He appeared in a commercial for the Apple Lisa and Table for Five in 1983, and, the same year, had a small role in the nuclear holocaust film Testament. Later, he was cast in The Big Chill and filmed several scenes that were planned as flashbacks, but they were removed from the final cut.[3] His role was that of Alex, the friend who committed suicide, the event that brings the rest of the cast together. All that is seen of him are his hair and his slashed wrists as the mortician dresses his corpse in the movie's opening scenes.[10] Costner was a friend of director Lawrence Kasdan, who promised the actor a role in a future project.[3] That became 1985's Silverado and a breakout role for Costner.[3] He also starred that year in the smaller films Fandango and American Flyers.

Full-blown movie star status for Costner arrived in 1987, when he starred as federal agent Eliot Ness in The Untouchables and in the leading role of the thriller No Way Out.[3] He solidified his A-list status in the baseball-themed films Bull Durham (1988) and Field of Dreams (1989).[3]

Costner's next success came with the epic Dances with Wolves (1990).[3] He directed and starred in the film and served as one of its producers.[3] The film was nominated for 12 Academy Awards and won seven, including two for him personally (Best Picture and Best Director).[3] The same year saw the release of Revenge, in which he starred along with Anthony Quinn and Madeleine Stowe, directed by Tony Scott (Costner had wanted to direct it himself).

He followed this with Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991), the Oliver Stone-directed JFK (1991), The Bodyguard (1992), and Clint Eastwood's A Perfect World (1993), all of which provided box office or critical acclaim.[3]

He then took the title role in the biopic Wyatt Earp (1994), directed by Kasdan. It received bad reviews and flopped at the box office. The science fiction-post-apocalyptic epics Waterworld (1995) and The Postman (1997), the latter of which Costner also directed, were both commercial disappointments and both largely regarded by critics as artistic failures.[3] However, The Postman results were worse than Waterworld and ended up "winning" five Golden Raspberry Awards, including Worst Picture, Worst Actor and Worst Director for Costner.[11]

Costner then starred in the golf comedy Tin Cup (1996) for Ron Shelton, who had previously directed him in Bull Durham.[3] He developed the film Air Force One and was set to play the lead role of the President, but ultimately decided to concentrate on finishing The Postman instead. He personally offered the project to Harrison Ford.

His career revived somewhat in 2000 with Thirteen Days, in which he portrayed a top adviser to John F. Kennedy. The western Open Range, which he directed and starred in, received critical acclaim in 2003, and was a surprise success commercially. He received some of his best reviews for his supporting role as retired professional baseball player Denny Davies in The Upside of Anger, for which he received a nomination from the Broadcast Film Critics Association and won the San Francisco Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor.

After that, Costner starred in The Guardian and in Mr. Brooks, in which he portrayed a serial killer. In 2008, Costner starred in Swing Vote. Costner was honored on September 6, 2006 when his hand and foot prints were set in concrete in front of Grauman's Chinese Theatre alongside those of other celebrated actors and entertainers.

In 2010, The Company Men debuted on the Sundance Festival starring Costner with Ben Affleck. It had good reviews. It was released in cinemas worldwide in January 2011. The film was considered to be an Oscar contender, but did not get a nomination.

Costner announced that he would be returning to the director's chair for the first time in seven years in 2011 with A Little War of Our Own. The film is about a local sheriff who must keep his town from erupting into violence during World War II. The other lead role is that of a German U-boat captain. The screenplay is by Dan Gordon, who co-wrote another sheriff movie for Costner, 1994's Wyatt Earp. In January 2012 Costner had to admit funding did not come through, and that he still hopes to make it in 2013.

He was also about to team up again with director Kevin Reynolds in Learning Italian. Costner would play a CIA agent stationed in a coastal Italian town in order to keep an eye on a KGB operative. However, the movie did not get past pre-production phase because they could not get the money together and it is currently not known if the movie will ever be made.

He also appears, as a special cameo, in Funny or Die's "Field of Dreams 2: Lockout".

Warner Bros. confirmed that Costner would portray Jonathan Kent in the upcoming rebooted Superman film, Man of Steel, directed by Zack Snyder.[12] In 2011, Costner confirmed his role in Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained.[13] Later on, it was announced that Costner had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts, most likely to be the tv-series directed by Kevin Reynolds called Hatfields & McCoys.

Country music

Main article: Kevin Costner & Modern West

Costner is the singer in Kevin Costner & Modern West, a country rock band which he founded with the encouragement of his wife Christine. They began a worldwide tour in October 2007, which included shows in Istanbul and Rome. The group also performed at NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Daytona International Speedway and Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, NC.

The band released a country album, Untold Truths, on November 11, 2008 on Universal South Records. The album peaked at #61 on the Billboard Top Country Albums and #35 on the Top Heatseekers chart. Three singles ("Superman 14", "Long Hot Night" and "Backyard") have been released to radio, although none have charted. The single "Superman 14" has been made into a live music video.

In 2009, they went on tour with opening act The Alternate Routes. In August, at the Big Valley Jamboree in Camrose, Alberta, Costner and the band were scheduled next on stage when a severe thunderstorm struck, collapsing the stage and stands on the main stage. One person was reported dead and forty injured.[14] Later, an auction was held to raise money for the two young sons of the woman killed. A dinner with Costner was auctioned off for $41,000. Two guitars, one autographed by Costner, helped raise another $10,000 each.[15]

A second Kevin Costner and Modern West album, Turn It On, was released in February 2010 in Europe[16] and was supported by a European tour.[17]

Other ventures

Baseball

Several of Costner's films have included a baseball theme. They include Chasing Dreams, Bull Durham, Field of Dreams, For Love of the Game and The Upside of Anger, in which his character is a former pro baseball player.

He has a home in Austin, Texas and sometimes appears at University of Texas baseball practices and games. Costner is a close friend of Longhorns baseball coach Augie Garrido from Garrido's days coaching at Cal State Fullerton, the actor's alma mater. He cast Garrido to play the role of the Yankee manager in For Love of the Game. He tries to attend every College World Series game that Cal State Fullerton plays in Omaha, Nebraska.

Costner is a partial owner of the Zion, Illinois-based Lake County Fielders independent baseball team team in the North American League. The Fielders name is an homage to Field of Dreams, with the logo showing a ballplayer standing amid a field of corn.[18][19]

Business interests

Costner owns 100% of the Midnight Star casino, in Deadwood, South Dakota. The casino, its sports bar Diamond Lil's, and its restaurant Jake's are named after characters and locations from the movie Silverado. The facility contains posters, costumes, and other memorabilia from Costner's films.

In July 2004, Costner fired Francis and Carla Caneva, who managed the Midnight Star. A judge subsequently ordered Costner to pay a percentage of $6.1 million to buy out the Canevas as his business partners. In October 2006, Costner asked the South Dakota Supreme Court to re-examine the ruling, as an accountant hired by the actor had determined the market value of the casino to be $3.1 million.[20]

In 1995, Costner began developing oil separation machines based on a patent he purchased from the US government. The machines developed by the company were of little commercial interest until the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, when BP took six of the machines from a company in which Costner owned an interest, Ocean Therapy Solutions, for testing in late May 2010.[21] On June 16, 2010 BP entered into a lease with Ocean Therapy Solutions for 32 of the oil-water separation devices.[22]. Although Spyron Contoguris and Stephen Baldwin previously sold their interests in Ocean Therapy Solutions in mid-June to another investor in the company, they filed a lawsuit in Louisiana District Court claiming $10.64 million for securities fraud and misrepresentation. The suit claims that Costner kept a meeting with BP secret from them, and the secret meeting resulted in an $18 million down payment on a $52 million purchase and that after the down payment but before any announcement another investor used part of the downpayment to buy out their shares, thus excluding them from their share of the profits from the total sale.[23] The suit claims that, despite public statements by Costner, Ocean Therapy Solutions, BP and others to the contrary, Baldwin and Contogouris were told that BP was still testing the machines and had not yet committed to lease the machines from Ocean Therapy Solutions and that the other investor in Ocean Therapy Solutions purchased their shares for $1.4 million to Baldwin and $500,000, to Contogouris.[24].

In January 2009, Costner agreed to take part in a commercial that was aired outside of the US for Turkish Airlines. Costner had not flown with Turkish Airlines before, but said, "I have received commercial proposals before. What is important is to work with a company that gives importance to its clients. That is why I have chosen Turkish Airlines." Costner, who is not of Turkish descent, also said that working with Turkish Airlines "is a very important step in my life." (UTC) [25]

Philanthropy

Costner serves on an honorary board for The National World War I Museum in Kansas City. In spring 2011, he recorded two radio spots for the museum that were aired on Kansas City Royals Radio Network.[26]

NASCAR

Costner was named ceremonial Grand Marshal of the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series' Auto Club 500 which took place on February 25, 2007, at the California Speedway.[27] In 2008, he worked with the NASCAR Media Group and CMT Films to help produce the NASCAR Documentary, The Ride of Their Lives which would be released in 2009. Costner would be the narrator for that documentary. Also in 2009, he was named the spokesperson for NASCAR Day which took place on May 15. The next day, May 16, he and his country music band would perform in the infield of Lowe's Motor Speedway as well as participate as a judge in the 2nd annual Pennzoil Victory Challenge before the 25th Running of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.

Personal life

Relationships

While in college, Costner was a member of Delta Chi fraternity.[1] He started dating fellow student Cindy Silva in March 1975, and their subsequent marriage three years later produced three children: Anne "Annie" Clayton (born April 15, 1984), Lily McCall (born August 4, 1986), and Joseph "Joe" Tedrick (born January 31, 1988). The couple divorced in 1994 after 16 years of marriage. He has a son, Liam (born in 1996), with Bridget Rooney, with whom he had a brief relationship following his divorce.[28]

In 1996, he cohabited with supermodel Elle MacPherson.[29]

On September 25, 2004, Costner married his girlfriend of four years, German-American model and handbag designer Christine Baumgartner,[30] at his ranch in Aspen, Colorado. Costner took his new bride for a canoe ride on a lake following the ceremony. The couple honeymooned in Scotland.[31] Their first child, Cayden Wyatt Costner, was born on May 6, 2007 at a Los Angeles hospital.[32] Their second son, Hayes Logan, was born on February 12, 2009,[33] and their third child, a daughter named Grace Avery, was born on June 2, 2010.[34]

Sports

The actor plays regularly in celebrity golf tournaments, including the PGA Tour's annual pro-am at Pebble Beach, California and the BMW Pro-Am held each April in Greenville County, South Carolina. Costner is a member at Birnam Wood Golf Club in California.

Costner is a fan of the London football team Arsenal F.C. While filming Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, he had the opportunity to attend a game and has followed the team ever since.[35]

Political activism

Since 1992, Costner has financially supported a variety of Democratic Party politicians, including Al Gore and Tom Daschle, but also made contributions to the Republican Party's Phil Gramm as late as 1995.[36] He said publicly in 2008 that he has no ambition to run for political office, adding "I've lived quite a colorful life."[37]

In the final days before the 2008 election, Costner campaigned for Barack Obama, visiting various places in Coloradoa state in which he has a home. In his speech, Costner stated the need for young voters to get to the polls, early and with enthusiasm. "We were going to change the world and we haven't," Costner said at a Colorado State University rally. "My generation didn't get it done, and we need you to help us."[38]

Filmography

List of film credits
Year Title Role Notes
1981 Malibu Hot Summer John Logan
1982 Chasing Dreams Ed
1982 Night Shift Frat Boy #1
1982 Struggle Joe, Policeman #2
1982 Frances Luther (Man in Alley) qualified for Screen Actor's Guild card
1983 Stacy's Knights Will Bonner
1983 Table for Five Newlywed husband
1983 Big Chill, TheThe Big Chill Alex scenes deleted
1983 Testament Phil Pitkin
1984 Gunrunner, TheThe Gunrunner Ted
1985 Fandango Gardner Barnes, Groover
1985 Silverado Jake
1985 American Flyers Marcus Sommers
1986 Sizzle Beach, U.S.A. John Logan filmed in 1974
1986 Shadows Run Black Jimmy Scott
1987 Untouchables, TheThe Untouchables Eliot Ness
1987 No Way Out Lt. Cmdr. Tom Farrell
1988 Bull Durham Crash Davis
1989 Field of Dreams Ray Kinsella
1990 Revenge Michael 'Jay' Cochran also executive producer
1990 Dances with Wolves Lieutenant John J. Dunbar
  • Academy Award for Best Picture (shared with Jim Wilson)
  • Academy Award for Best Director
  • Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture Drama (shared with Jim Wilson)
  • Golden Globe Award for Best Director Motion Picture
  • Directors Guild of America Award for Best Director
  • Producers Guild of America Award for Motion Picture Producer of the Year (shared with Jim Wilson)
  • NominatedAcademy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role
  • NominatedGolden Globe Award for Best Actor Motion Picture Drama
  • NominatedBAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role
  • NominatedBAFTA Award for Best Picture
  • Nominated BAFTA Award for Best Direction
  • Silver Bear for an outstanding single achievement - 41st Berlin International Film Festival[39]
1991 Madonna: Truth or Dare Himself documentary (uncredited role)
1991 Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves Robin Hood
  • also producer
  • Razzie Award for Worst Actor
1991 JFK Jim Garrison NominatedGolden Globe Award for Best Actor Motion Picture Drama
1992 Amazing Stories: Book One Captain Episode: "The Mission", archive footage
1992 Oliver Stone: Inside Out Himself documentary
1992 Bodyguard, TheThe Bodyguard Frank Farmer also producer
1993 Perfect World, AA Perfect World Robert 'Butch' Haynes
1994 Century of Cinema, AA Century of Cinema Himself documentary
1994 Wyatt Earp Wyatt Earp also producer
Razzie Award for Worst Actor
NominatedRazzie Award for Worst Picture
1994 War, TheThe War Steven Simmons
1995 Waterworld Mariner
  • also producer and uncredited director
  • NominatedRazzie Award for Worst Actor
  • NominatedRazzie Award for Worst Picture
  • NominatedRazzie Award for Worst Director
1996 Tin Cup Roy 'Tin Cup' McAvoy NominatedGolden Globe Award for Best Actor Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
1997 Sean Connery, An Intimate Portrait Himself documentary
1997 Postman, TheThe Postman The Postman
  • also director and producer
  • Razzie Award for Worst Actor
  • Razzie Award for Worst Picture
  • Razzie Award for Worst Director
  • Razzie Award for Worst Original Song
  • NominatedRazzie Award for Worst Picture of the Decade
  • NominatedSaturn Award for Best Actor
  • NominatedSaturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film
1999 Message in a Bottle Garret Blake also producer
NominatedRazzie Award for Worst Actor
1999 For Love of the Game Billy Chapel NominatedRazzie Award for Worst Actor
1999 Play It to the Bone Ringside Fan Cameo
2000 Thirteen Days Kenny O'Donnell also producer
2001 3000 Miles to Graceland Thomas J. Murphy
2001 Road to Graceland Murphy (voice) animated short
2002 Dragonfly Joe Darrow
2003 Open Range Charlie Waite also director and producer
2005 Upside of Anger, TheThe Upside of Anger Denny Davies San Francisco Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor
2005 Rumor Has It Beau Burroughs
2006 Guardian, TheThe Guardian Ben Randall
2007 Mr. Brooks Mr. Earl Brooks also producer
2008 Swing Vote Bud Johnson
2009 New Daughter, TheThe New Daughter John James
2010 Company Men, TheThe Company Men Jack Dolan
2013 Man of Steel Jonathan Kent

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Todd Keith, Kevin Costner: The Unauthorized Biography, Ikonprint Publishers: Southwark, London (1991)
  2. Adherents.com's Guide to Movies
  3. 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 Stated on Inside the Actors Studio, 2001
  4. Barnes, Harper, Costner's Waltz With The West ... He takes the Indians' side in making his directing debut, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 18, 1990. URL accessed on December 9, 2007.
  5. "Pursuing The Dream", Time Magazine Jun. 26, 1989
  6. Kempley, Rita, Kevin Costner in the Land of `Wolves'; The Director: Reclaiming Boyhood Dreams, The Washington Post, November 9, 1990. URL accessed on December 9, 2007.
  7. KEVIN COSTNER PLOWS HIS OWN `Field of Dreams', The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution, May 6, 1989. URL accessed on December 9, 2007.
  8. Kevin Costner biography. bestmediareviews.org, The Pierian Press, 2003. videocassette. Traveling Light Media, 2003. Media Review Digest, MRD05052940. (18 May 1743). Retrieved on [[[5 Sep 2010]]].
  9. Roger Ebert, Kevin Costner: 'I'll never make a sequel.', Sun-Times, July 3, 2008.
  10. The Big Chill at IMDB, trivia
  11. Internet Movie Database. 18th Annual Golden Raspeberry Awards. Retrieved on 2010-11-02.
  12. Kevin Costner Confirmed for Superman! | Superhero Hype
  13. Kit, Borys (2011-07-18). Kevin Costner to Train Slaves in 'Django Unchained'. The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 2011-07-19. Retrieved on 2011-07-19.
  14. You must specify title = and url = when using {{cite web}}.. AP via The New York Times (August 2, 2009). Retrieved on August 2, 2009.
  15. Lees, Nick, Katz likely culprit behind mystery $41,000 bid, Edmonton Journal, August 12, 2009.
  16. New Album "Turn It On" News Kevin Costner & Modern West
  17. New Tour Dates Announced / New Album In the Works News Kevin Costner & Modern West
  18. "Major League Hopes Pinned on the Minors." New York Times. April 5, 2009.
  19. Zion, IL 2010 Northern League Expansion Team Named the Lake County Fielders." Lake County Baseball.com. May 27, 2009.
  20. Costner appeals in casino wrangle, BBC
  21. Robbins, Liz, If You Build It , The New York Times, May 19, 2010.
  22. Examiner: Kevin Costner sells 32 oil spill machines to BP to recycle 6 million gallons of water a day (photos).
  23. Kate Ward. Stephen Baldwin spills lawsuit on Kevin Costner.
  24. Detroit Free Press, Friday, December 24, 2010, page 3C
  25. http://www.eturbonews.com/7213/kevin-costner-star-turkish-airlines-ad
  26. Costner Lends Voice to Museum
  27. Kevin Costner Named Grand Marshal
  28. Perry, Simon, "Kevin Costner, Wife Christine Are Expecting."], People, February 9, 2007.
  29. Pringle, Gill., Kevin Costner Gets an Elle of a Girl., Sunday Mirror, June 3, 1996.
  30. Kappes, Serena and Jason Bane "Kevin Costner Marries Girlfriend in Aspen." People. September 26, 2004.
  31. "Costner marries at Colorado ranch." BBC. September 27, 2004.
  32. Nudd, Tim. "Kevin Costner, Wife Have a Baby Boy." People. May 7, 2007.
  33. Silverman, Stephen M. "It's Another Boy for Kevin Costner." People. February 13, 2009
  34. Michaud, Sarah (March 17, 2010). Seventh Child on the Way for Kevin Costner. People. Retrieved on May 27, 2010.
  35. Open Range Kevin Costner Q&A. indielondon.co.uk.
  36. FreshMeat:Celebrity Donations. FreshMeat.com.
  37. Comedy Central:Kevin Costner (August 6, 2008). Retrieved on August 24, 2009.
  38. Trevor Hughes, Celebrities, officials push CSU student vote, Fort Collins Coloradoan, October 29, 2008, p. A1. URL accessed on August 26, 2009.
  39. Berlinale: 1991 Prize Winners. berlinale.de. Retrieved on 2011-03-22.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Kevin Costner

  • AMC's Photo Gallery : Kevin Costner, Hollywood Icon
  • KevinCostner.com Official website
  • Kevin Costner at the Internet Movie Database
  • JewReview.net interview with Kevin Costner
  • Kevin Costner Biography, filmography and awards
  • Films They Would Rather Forget Shadows Run Black
This page was last modified 12.02.2012 05:49:26

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