See Kevin Costner’s Life in Photos as the Oscar-Winning Actor Turns 70
The beloved actor — best known for his roles in ‘The Untouchables,’ ‘Dances with Wolves’ and ‘Yellowstone’ — turns 70 on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025
In 1991, Costner took home two Academy Awards for Dances with Wolves, winning Best Picture and Best Director. In his Best Picture speech with co-producer Jim Wilson, he began, “It’s very easy for people to trivialize what we do sometimes, and they do it in ways of saying, ‘Well, if it’s such a big deal, how come nobody remembers who last year won the Oscar?’ “
“I will never forget what happened here tonight. My family will never forget what happened here,” he said. “My Native American brothers and sisters across the country, especially the Lakota Sioux, will never forget. The people I went to school with will never forget.”
“I will never forget what happened here tonight. My family will never forget what happened here,” he said. “My Native American brothers and sisters across the country, especially the Lakota Sioux, will never forget. The people I went to school with will never forget.”
Kevin Costner’s Childhood
Kevin Michael Costner was born on Jan. 15, 1955, in Lynwood, California, as the youngest of three boys. He grew up nearby in Compton, California, with his parents, welfare worker Shannon and electrician William Costner. In 1978, he graduated California State University, Fullerton with a degree in business.
He became interested in acting near the end of his college career, and an encounter with screen star Richard Burton on the plane encouraged him to pursue it full-time. Speaking to film critic Roger Ebert in 2012, Costner recounted how he approached Burton to ask a few questions.
“I told him, ‘I was hoping to become an actor, and, well, you’re a celebrated actor, but you’re a brawler, you’ve had a lot of marriages, a lot of things … I just want to know, does that kind of life follow an actor? I want to have a life that’s not filled with drama.’ “ he recalled.
Costner continued, “And Burton looked at me and he said, ‘You have green eyes. I have green eyes.’ And he goes, ‘I think you’ll be fine.’ “
He became interested in acting near the end of his college career, and an encounter with screen star Richard Burton on the plane encouraged him to pursue it full-time. Speaking to film critic Roger Ebert in 2012, Costner recounted how he approached Burton to ask a few questions.
“I told him, ‘I was hoping to become an actor, and, well, you’re a celebrated actor, but you’re a brawler, you’ve had a lot of marriages, a lot of things … I just want to know, does that kind of life follow an actor? I want to have a life that’s not filled with drama.’ “ he recalled.
Costner continued, “And Burton looked at me and he said, ‘You have green eyes. I have green eyes.’ And he goes, ‘I think you’ll be fine.’ “
Kevin Costner’s First Movie
His film debut came in 1981 with indie movie Sizzle Beach, U.S.A. — also known as Malibu Hot Summer — as young stable owner John Logan. For his 69th birthday, Costner shared a throwback photo from set with the caption, “Celebrating another year of life today and taking a moment to honor this kid who had big dreams. It’s hard to believe how far we’ve come.”
Kevin Costner’s BreakthrougH
His breakout role came in 1985 with the Western movie Silverado opposite Kevin Kline and Danny Glover. But he became a bona fide movie star following his portrayal of federal agent Eliot Ness in 1987’s The Untouchables and Navy Lt. Cmdr. Tom Farrell in No Way Out. He also starred in two successful baseball-themed movies, 1988’s Bull Durham and 1989’s Field of Dreams.
Even as his star rose, Costner maintained a complicated relationship with fame, telling Time in 1989, “I didn’t set out to be a star. If you do, you engage in manipulation. You do stuff to be liked. I didn’t want to be endorsed; I wanted to be listened to. I had ideas about things.”
Even as his star rose, Costner maintained a complicated relationship with fame, telling Time in 1989, “I didn’t set out to be a star. If you do, you engage in manipulation. You do stuff to be liked. I didn’t want to be endorsed; I wanted to be listened to. I had ideas about things.”
Kevin Costner’s Marriage to Cindy Silva
Costner began dating Cindy Silva in 1975, while the pair were in college, and they wed three years later. The two had three children together, Annie, born in 1984, Lily, born in 1986, and Joe, born in 1988.
In 1989, the movie star told PEOPLE of his first date with Silva, saying, “She was beautiful. She was sweet. She was smarter than me … she represented everything about women that I like.”
The couple split after 16 years of marriage in 1994, and the resulting divorce reportedly ended in an $80 million settlement for Silva. Friends and sources told PEOPLE at the time that although Silva was excited for Costner’s Hollywood ascendance, their relationship became more difficult due to his increasingly demanding schedule.
A longtime friend said, “I think their relationship as individuals will be okay. They have a common love, their kids, who are the most important thing to both of them. I don’t think they’ll have one of those cutthroat relationships. It’s just sad, because they were the perfect couple.”
Reflecting on the divorce in 2012, Costner told The Hollywood Reporter his “faith was shaken” and “no one wants their marriage to end.”
In 1989, the movie star told PEOPLE of his first date with Silva, saying, “She was beautiful. She was sweet. She was smarter than me … she represented everything about women that I like.”
The couple split after 16 years of marriage in 1994, and the resulting divorce reportedly ended in an $80 million settlement for Silva. Friends and sources told PEOPLE at the time that although Silva was excited for Costner’s Hollywood ascendance, their relationship became more difficult due to his increasingly demanding schedule.
A longtime friend said, “I think their relationship as individuals will be okay. They have a common love, their kids, who are the most important thing to both of them. I don’t think they’ll have one of those cutthroat relationships. It’s just sad, because they were the perfect couple.”
Reflecting on the divorce in 2012, Costner told The Hollywood Reporter his “faith was shaken” and “no one wants their marriage to end.”
Kevin Costner Wins 2 OscarS
In 1991, Costner took home two Academy Awards for Dances with Wolves, winning Best Picture and Best Director. In his Best Picture speech with co-producer Jim Wilson, he began, “It’s very easy for people to trivialize what we do sometimes, and they do it in ways of saying, ‘Well, if it’s such a big deal, how come nobody remembers who last year won the Oscar?’ “
“I will never forget what happened here tonight. My family will never forget what happened here,” he said. “My Native American brothers and sisters across the country, especially the Lakota Sioux, will never forget. The people I went to school with will never forget.”
“I will never forget what happened here tonight. My family will never forget what happened here,” he said. “My Native American brothers and sisters across the country, especially the Lakota Sioux, will never forget. The people I went to school with will never forget.”
