Kevin Costner

Movies he likes are Red River (1948), Ben-Hur (1959), Lawrence of Arabia (1962), and Spartacus (1960).

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), The Searchers (1956), The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), and The Magnificent Seven (1960).

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).

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.

He turned down Jeff Bridges's role in Jagged Edge (1985).

Listed as one of twelve "Promising New Actors of 1986" in John Willis' Screen World, Vol. 38. [1986]

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.

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).

Father of Joe Costner (b. 1988), Annie Costner (b. 1984) and Lily Costner (b. 1986)

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.

His role in Bull Durham (1988) was originally written for Kurt Russell.

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.

Played golf several times with former President Ronald Reagan in the early 1990s.

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.

Sioux nation gave Costner a tract of land after making Dances with Wolves (1990). Costner built a golf course on that land.

Chosen by People magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the world. [1991]

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.

Has starred in two films about John F. Kennedy, but hasn't played Kennedy; the two films are JFK (1991) and Thirteen Days (2000).

Has done more baseball themed films than any other actor, except for Dennis Haysbert, who played Pedro Cerrano in all three Major League movies, as well as being in Mr. Baseball (1992).

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.

Supported Bill Clinton in the 1992 and 1996 presidential elections.

Spoke at the funeral of his The Bodyguard (1992) costar, Whitney Houston, on February 18, 2012.

Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#87). [1995]

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).

He has played at the celebrity golf tournament Pebble Beach, California, every year starting from 1996.

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.), Hayes Logan Costner (b. February 12, 2009 at 8 lbs. 15 oz.) and Grace Avery Costner (b. June 2, 2010).

Ranked #27 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. [October 1997]

Was considered for the lead in Air Force One (1997) (the part eventually went to Harrison Ford).

Was considered for the role of General Munro in The Fifth Element (1997).

A skilled equestrian, he did his own riding in The Postman (1997).

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.

Voted most erotic male by the readers of the German magazine 'Amica.' [May 1998]

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.

His frontal nude scene in For Love of the Game (1999) was reportedly deleted after being met with laughter at test screenings.

Announced engagement to girlfriend Christine Baumgartner, having been a couple since 1999. [26 June 2003]

He turned down the part of Adam Gibson in The 6th Day (2000) because of family commitments. The role later went to Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Was considered for the role of Col. James Dolittle in Pearl Harbor (2001) but turned it down. The part went to Alec Baldwin.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. (11 August 2003).

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.

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.

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.

Was attached to the role of "Sgt. John McLoughlin" in World Trade Center (2006).

Kevin and his wife, Christine Baumgartner, are expecting their first child together (8 February 2007).

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.

Announced that he and his wife, Christine, are expecting their second child. [October 16, 2008].

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.

Kevin and his wife, Christine Baumgartner, are expecting their third child in June, 2010 [March 17, 2010].