Kevin Michael Costner born January 18, is an American actor and filmmaker. During this time, he directed and starred in the western epic Dances with Wolves , for which he won two Academy Awards : Best Picture and Best Director. From to , he portrayed rancher John Dutton on the Paramount Network drama series Yellowstone , for which he received a Golden Globe award.
Costner was born on January 18, , [ 2 ] in Lynwood, California , and grew up in Compton, California. Costner has stated that he spent his teenage years in different parts of California as his father's career progressed. He has described this time as a period when he "lost a lot of confidence", having to make new friends often. Costner lived in Ventura , then in Visalia.
Costner attended Mt. Whitney High School where he was in the marching band. Costner became interested in acting and dancing while in his last year of college.
At that time, Costner was uncertain about whether he should become an actor, and he approached Burton to ask his advice. Costner has said that Burton encouraged him to pursue acting. Costner credits Burton with inspiring him to become an actor. Having agreed to undertake a job as a marketing executive, Costner began taking acting lessons five nights a week, with the support of his wife. His marketing job lasted 30 days. He took jobs that allowed him to develop his acting skills, by paying his tuition, including working on fishing boats, as a truck driver, and giving tours of movie stars' Hollywood homes.
This work supported the couple while Costner attended auditions. Costner made his film debut in Sizzle Beach, U. The release complications and lack of documentation led many to believe that Costner's debut was in The Touch also known as Stacy's Knights , in with Eve Lilith and Andra Millian. Costner can be seen holding a beer and looking surprised at the sudden halt of celebration. Costner appeared in a commercial for the Apple Lisa and Table for Five in , and, the same year, had a small role in the nuclear holocaust film Testament.
