Kevin Costner

Kevin Michael Costner (born January 18, 1955) is an American film actor and director who has often produced his own films.

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January 18 - 1955 - American - Actor - Director

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Born in Lynwood, California to parents of German, Irish, and Native American descent, Costner spent his teenage years and pre-actor adulthood in Orange County, California, graduating from Villa Park High School in Villa Park, California in 1973, and earning a B.A. in business from California State University, Fullerton in 1978. He became interested in acting while still in college, and began taking acting lessons five nights a week. Costner later went onto work with a California marketing firm briefly, due to a chance encounter with actor Richard Burton, who struck up a conversation with Costner. Burton had advised the young man that if he wanted to pursue acting, that he should give everything up completely and go after it with both hands. With his wife behind him, Costner worked on fishing boats, as a truck driver and gave tours of star's Hollywood homes to support them.

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Lynwood, California - German - Irish - Native American - Orange County, California - Villa Park, California - 1973 - B.A. - California State University, Fullerton - 1978 - Actor - Richard Burton

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Costner's most popular success was with the epic Dances with Wolves. He directed and starred in the film and served as one of two producers. The film was nominated for twelve Academy Awards and won seven, including two for him personally (Best Picture and Best Director). Almost all of his film efforts after that success have been criticized for being too long and overly serious, and for squandering financial resources. The science-fiction epics Waterworld and The Postman were both considered major disappointments at the box office. However, Waterworld grossed $264 million worldwide from a $175 million budget (according to IMDB).

Related Topics:
Dances with Wolves - Academy Award - Best Picture - Best Director - Waterworld - The Postman

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