Born:
January 18, 1955
in
California
Best Known For:
Dances with Wolves.
Early-life:
Born in Lynwood, California, on January 18, 1955, the third child of Bill and Sharon Costner. His dad's job as a telephone engineer required the family to move regularly, which unsettled the youngster and led to him being a daydreamer. He claims he wasn't gifted academically, but he eventually went to California State University to study marketing and finance. A chance meeting aboard a plane with Richard Burton inspired him to turn his back on a business career and pursue acting.
Career:
Costner believed his break would come in 1983's The Big Chill - but he was cut from the final film. However, director Lawrence Kasdan cast him in Silverado, which boosted his career. His first major leading role arrived in 1987 in The Untouchables. Since then he has picked up a Best Director Oscar for Dances with Wolves, and had box-office hits with The Bodyguard, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Field of Dreams and JFK. He has struggled to find successful projects in recent years, but Open Range in 2003, which he starred in as well as directing and producing, was a return to form. He won a 2012 Emmy Award for his role in miniseries Hatfields & McCoys. He's also appeared in Mr Brooks, The Guardian and Man of Steel.
Quote:
'Real heroes are men who fall and fail and are flawed - but win out in the end because they've stayed true to their ideals and beliefs and commitments.'
Trivia:
Away from acting, Costner is a keen golfer and plays in a country music band.