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 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.

Announced players who had been selected to Major League Baseball's All Century Team at the 1999 All Star game at Fenway Park in Boston.Voted most erotic male by the readers of the German magazine 'Amica.' [May 1998]Graduated from Villa Park High School in Villa Park, California.Father of Joe Costner (b. 1988), Annie Costner (b. 1984) and Lily Costner (b. 1986)Youngest of three sons of Bill Costner, an electrician and later utilities executive, and his wife Sharon Costner, a welfare worker.Ranked #27 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. [October 1997]Children: (with ex-girlfriend Bridget Rooney) Liam Costner (b. 1996); (with ex-wife Cindy Costner) Anne Clayton Costner (b. April 15, 1984, Lily McCall Costner (b. August 4, 1986) and Joe Tedrick Costner (b. January 31, 1988); (with wife Christine Baumgartner) Cayden Wyatt Costner (born May 6, 2007 at 10:30 pm in Los Angeles at 7 lbs. 14 oz.) and Hayes Logan Costner (b. February 12, 2009 at 8 lbs. 15 oz.).Born at 9:40pm-PST.His first wife, Cindy Costner, played "Snow White" for Disneyland.Chosen by People magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the world. [1991]Chosen by People magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the world. [1990]He turned down the leading role in WarGames (1983), which was played by Matthew Broderick, to play Alex in The Big Chill (1983). His part was later cut.Listed as one of twelve "Promising New Actors of 1986" in John Willis' Screen World, Vol. 38. [1986]He is a supporter of a British soccer team Arsenal.Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#87). [1995]Was considered for the lead in Air Force One (1997) (the part eventually went to Harrison Ford).His frontal nude scene in For Love of the Game (1999) was reportedly deleted after being met with laughter at test screenings.His character in Dragonfly (2002) was written with the intention of Harrison Ford taking the film role. Ford turned down the role to take a year off from movies.Costner & Ford's casting choices have crossed paths many times before. Harrison Ford turned down the Jack Ryan role in The Hunt for Red October (1990) as did Kevin Costner. Harrison Ford instead made Presumed Innocent (1990) and Kevin Costner made his Oscar-winning Dances with Wolves (1990). The Jack Ryan role went to then character actor Alec Baldwin.Harrison Ford later turned down the Jim Garrison role in Oliver Stone's JFK (1991) and Kevin Costner decided to take it after a meeting with the director Stone.The President of the United States role in the mega-blockbuster Air Force One (1997) was written specifically for Kevin Costner. In fact, Kevin Costner helped develop the action film with Beacon Communications and writer Andrew W. Marlowe in 1996. But, Kevin had to eventually pass on the film because of work delays with his futuristic The Postman (1997). Costner called up Harrison Ford personally and offered Harrison a once-in-a-lifetime role. Harrison Ford accepted the role and has always thanked Kevin Costner in interviews for his kind gesture. Air Force One (1997) went on to become one of the highest grossing films of all time.Member of the Delta Chi Fraternity, along with G.D. Spradlin Alan Heitz and Ashton Kutcher.Sioux nation gave Costner a tract of land after making Dances with Wolves (1990). Costner built a golf course on that land.Has starred in two films about John F. Kennedy, but hasn't played Kennedy; the two films are JFK (1991) and Thirteen Days (2000).Before hitting it big in the acting business Kevin worked as a skipper on the ride, the Jungle Cruise, at Disneyland in Anaheim, California.Announced engagement to girlfriend Christine Baumgartner, having been a couple since 1999. [26 June 2003]For his entire career, he has purposely avoided doing sequels to his films. So far, he is one of the few blockbuster stars to never come back for a sequel.Turned down a role in Platoon (1986) because he thought it portrayed American soldiers in Vietnam negatively and didn't want to insult his brother, who was a Vietnam veteran.In his role as Crash Davis in Bull Durham (1988), he states his personal beliefs. One of those beliefs is "...Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone". In his role as Jim Garrison in JFK (1991), he plays a lawyer determined to prove that Oswald did not act alone.Co-owns the Midnight Star casino in Deadwood, South Dakota, which displays some of his movie memorabilia.Opened the Tatanka Interpretive site in Deadwood, South Dakota, in 2003. The site features a bronze statue depicting the Lakota Sioux buffalo hunt. There is also a museum, gift shop, and living history of the Lakota Sioux tribe. Tatanka is the Lakota word for buffalo.On his and Christine Baumgartner's wedding day, there were 500 guests, including: Oprah Winfrey, Bruce Willis, Tim Allen, Don Johnson, Jack Nicholson, Michael Douglas and wife Catherine Zeta-Jones.Owns a 165 acre ranch outside of Aspen.Supports Arsenal Football Club (UK). In 2003 he was working in London and decided to go to a game, only to find out Arsenal were playing away from home, so he booked a private helicopter to take him to the match 160 miles away!He has played at the celebrity golf tournament Pebble Beach, California, every year starting from 1996.He joins Sylvester Stallone, Prince, Roberto Benigni, William Shatner, and Tom Green as being the only actors to direct themselves in performances that would "win" them a Razzie Award for Worst Actor.Some of his favorite films are How the West Was Won (1962), Cool Hand Luke (1967), Giant (1956), The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), The Great Escape (1963), Hombre (1967), 'Searchers, The (1956)_, 'Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The (1962)_, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), and 'Magnificent Seven, The (1960)_.Some of his favorite directors are Frank Capra, George Stevens, John Sturges, Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola and Steven Spielberg.Movies he likes are Red River (1948), Ben-Hur (1959), Lawrence of Arabia (1962), and Spartacus (1960).His favorite movies are long epics with a lot of stories.His favorite genre is the Western.Turned down the role of Bill in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) and Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004) to direct Open Range (2003) instead.Along with Warren Beatty, Clint Eastwood, Mel Gibson, Richard Attenborough and Robert Redford one of 6 people to win an Academy Award for "Best Director", though they are mainly known as actors.Has done more baseball themed films than any other actor.Goes to Omaha, Nebraska, during the summer for the College World Series if California State Fullerton (his alma mater) qualifies for the tournament.He and his second wife, Christine Baumgartner, honeymooned in St. Andrews, Scotland. Their honeymoon coincided with the annual Dunhill Links Celebrity Golf Tournament, where regulars include Samuel L. Jackson, Tom Cruise, and Michael Douglas.From 2005-2006, he had owned a home in the Hollywood Hills. But, in April 2006, he had sold his 10,000-square-foot Spanish Hacienda, on an acre behind gates, his five bedrooms plus staff quarters, a media room, a billiards room, a tennis court, a gym, a pool, a spa and grassy yards. Sold for $11.5 million to "American Idol: The Search for a Superstar" (2002) host Ryan Seacrest.In April 2006, he spent $28.5 million on an oceanfront 17-acre ranch in Santa Barbara County, California. He and wife, Christine Baumgartner, are raising horses on their new ranch.Has two films on the American Film Institute's 100 Most Inspiring Movies of All Time. They are Dances with Wolves (1990) at #59 and Field of Dreams (1989) at #28.From the mid-1990s, following the commercial and critical failure of his ambitious science-fiction epic Waterworld (1995), his box office appeal waned somewhat, reviving slightly with the political drama Thirteen Days (2000).Was considered for the role of Col. James Dolittle in Pearl Harbor (2001) but turned it down. The part went to Alec Baldwin.Was considered the role of Cleveland Heep in Lady in the Water (2006) but the studio couldn't contact Costner. The part was given to Paul Giamatti instead.Supported Bill Clinton in the 1992 and 1996 presidential elections.Once was a bus driver for tours to stars' Hollywood homes.Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. (11 August 2003).Kevin and his wife, Christine Baumgartner, are expecting their first child together (8 February 2007).Costner is frequently cited as a celebrity Republican, although he no longer is. He did socialize and golf with President George Bush, and in 1992 the Bush re-election campaign leaked word that he would appear in a commercial for the President. Costner, then a registered Republican, had no intention of aiding Bush, according to a close associate. He was a Clinton supporter. "We had to tell the Bush campaign to stop saying he was going to do ads," the associate says. Before the 1996 election, Costner switched his registration to Independent. He gave $5,000 to the Democratic Party and attended the Democratic National Convention. Still, he continues to receive invitations to GOP fund raisers, and in February 1999 the New York Times referred to him as a Republican. "He's not a particularly political guy," says the associate.Was attached to the role of "Sgt. John McLoughlin" in World Trade Center (2006).His production companies are TIG Productions and Treehouse Films.Publicly called for increased gun controls following the Virginia Tech massacre.Graduated from the same college as Gil Menchaca.Played golf several times with former President Ronald Reagan in the early 1990s.In both The Upside of Anger (2005) and Mr. Brooks (2007), songs by New Zealand indie band The Veils are featured in scenes in which he is on the phone with another character.Former fashion model.Singer of "Kevin Costner and Modern West", a rock/country band which he recently founded with the encouragement of his wife Christine. In October 2007, he was on a worldwide tour with the band including sold out shows in Istanbul and Rome.Has German, Irish and Cherokee ancestry.Got to know Richard Burton on the return plane from his honeymoon with Cindy in Puerto Vallarta, who advised him to give everything up completely if he wanted to pursue acting (1978).Although often compared with Gary Cooper, he has himself named James Stewart as the western star who has most influenced his work. As a child he was particularly fond of the five westerns Stewart made for director Anthony Mann.Has twice taken roles refused by both Harrison Ford and Mel Gibson. The first was "Eliot Ness" in The Untouchables (1987), the other was Jim Garrison in JFK (1991).He turned down Jeff Bridges' role in Jagged Edge (1985).Was considered for the role of General Munro in The Fifth Element (1997).He turned down the part of Adam Gibson in The 6th Day (2000) because of family commitments. The role later went to Arnold Schwarzenegger.Announced that he and his wife, Christine, are expecting their second child. [October 16, 2008].His role in Bull Durham (1988) was originally written for Kurt Russell.Made his directorial debut in Dances with Wolves (1990).A skilled equestrian, he did his own riding in The Postman (1997).In an interview with Michael Kay on CenterStage, Kevin Costner cited O.J. Simpson as his favorite athlete.Was in consideration for the part of Lester Burnham in American Beauty (1999) but Kevin Spacey, who went on to win a Best Actor Oscar for his performance, was cast instead.He and his country rock band, Kevin Costner & Modern West played a concert at the Romania Film Festival on October 03, 2009 in the city of Arad.