Having apparently peaked at the age of 35 by directing and starring in Dances With Wolves, snapping up two major Oscars for his efforts, Kevin Costner spent the next decade on a professional rollercoaster. His ups have been giddying, and his downs, well, few in Hollywood can rightfully claim to have gone lower. The man's a genuine maverick, a loose cannon. Like Spielberg he's obsessive in his attempts to create new screen legends. And sometimes, sometimes, he manages to pull off that magical stunt.

He was born Kevin Michael Costner on the 18th of January, 1955 in Lynwood, California. His father, Bill, was a ditch-digger who was later to service electricity lines for Edison of Southern California. His mother, Sharon, bore two other boys - Dan, who was born in 1950, and another who died at birth three years later. Bill's work made family life somewhat nomadic and, denied a settled upbringing, Kevin became a dreamer, writing poetry. He also possessed a great interest in and affection for American history and the natural wilderness, which would later bring about Dances With Wolves, and which saw him, at 18, construct his own canoe and follow Lewis and Clark's river-route out to the Pacific.

In his teens Costner sang in the Baptist school choir and attended writing classes, specialising in poetry. Also, despite only being 5' 2" when he graduated from Villa Park High School (he later sprouted to a hefty 6' 1"), he was keen and adept at most sports, starring at basketball, baseball and football. Again, this early penchant for sport, with all its mythologies and internal and external conflicts, would fuel his later work - like Bull Durham, Tin Cup, Field Of Dreams and For The Love Of The Game.

Latest news about Kevin Costner  Stars

Kevin Costner’s ‘Untold Truths’ - Inquirer.net

Kevin Costner’s ‘Untold Truths’ Inquirer.net, Philippines - 14 hours ago It is Kevin Costner, actor-director, with his band Modern West and their debut CD, “Untold Truths.” At the age of 53, Costner decides to go into his first ...

They said it: Kevin Costner - The Star-Ledger - NJ.com

The Star-Ledger - NJ.com

They said it: Kevin Costner The Star-Ledger - NJ.com, NJ - Nov 18, 2008 but every time I do a song it sounds like something in Oklahoma." -- Kevin Costner, who released his debut CD, "Untold Truths," last week, to the Associated ...

Kevin Costner says his music “sounds like Oklahoma” - NewsOK.com

Kevin Costner says his music “sounds like Oklahoma” NewsOK.com, OK - Nov 18, 2008 Film actor/director Kevin Costner and his band Modern West released last week their debut album “Untold Truths,” and recently performed at the Grand Ole ...

Costner indulges passion for music with debut CD - The Associated Press

Costner indulges passion for music with debut CD The Associated Press - Nov 14, 2008 (AP) — He's played Wyatt Earp, Robin Hood and Eliot Ness in the movies, but Kevin Costner says his most natural gig is playing music with his band. ...

Kevin Costner & Modern West * - Orlando Sentinel

Kevin Costner & Modern West * Orlando Sentinel, FL - Nov 14, 2008 Maybe Bull Durham is on my Top 5 list of movies to take with me to a desert island, but I've officially lost patience with Kevin Costner. ...

Kevin Costner and Modern West Play Nashville - CMT.com

Kevin Costner and Modern West Play Nashville CMT.com, TN - Nov 10, 2008 Kevin Costner and his band, Modern West, are performing Monday night (Nov. 10) at The Stage, a honky-tonk on lower Broadway in downtown Nashville, ... MORE MUSIC My Tennessean.com all 2 news articles

Album review: Kevin Costner & Modern West - Los Angeles Times

Album review: Kevin Costner & Modern West Los Angeles Times, CA - Nov 11, 2008 Kevin Costner was onstage Saturday night at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, not filming a scene from a new movie but as a working musician, playing songs ... Kevin Costner releases country CD abc7.com all 2 news articles

Sooner on 'Trading Spaces' - Tulsa World

Sooner on 'Trading Spaces' Tulsa World, OK - 15 hours ago By RITA SHERROW World Television Editor True but, in the case of Gordon E. Holmes II, it wasn't building a baseball field as in the Kevin Costner movie. ...

Kevin Costner releases album - South Wales Evening Post

Kevin Costner releases album South Wales Evening Post, UK - Nov 17, 2008 Kevin Costner claims he's at his most natural when playing music with his band, rather than acting or directing films. The 53-year-old, who releases his ...

Celebrity Briefs - Daily Press

Celebrity Briefs Daily Press, VA - Nov 18, 2008 NEW YORK - He's played Wyatt Earp, Robin Hood and Eliot Ness in the movies, but Kevin Costner says his most natural gig is playing music with his band. ...