Kevin Costner

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Born: 18th January, 1955
Country: USA
Occupation: Actor, Director, Producer.

Kevin Costner's early career was plagued by insignificant roles and movies, and sometimes his performance didn't even make it on to the screen - most famously when the flashbacks to his character Alex in The Big Chill landed on the cutting room floor.

However the man frequently refereed to as a modern day Gary Cooper ,eventually attracted audience attention with leading roles in 1987's big screen version of The Untouchables, and the thriller No Way Out. From then on there followed hit after hit leading to his crowning moment Dances With Wolves. As well as being a box office hit the "revisionist" Western won Costner Oscars® for directing (his debut behind the camera) and Best Picture.

For a few years after this Kevin Costner continued to do no wrong at the box office (even if the critics weren't impressed by some of the films served up . His The Bodyguard co-star Whitney Houston's performance of "I Will Always Love You" made a more lasting impression than the movie itself. In fact the song was so popular that it was played to death and many people now wince at the memory of it!

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By the mid 90's though, Costner's appeal was failing to persuade audiences to see past the flaws in a string movies. Most famously 1995's Waterworld. The "Kevin's Gate" tag, which had been labelled on Dances With Wolves while it was in production, this time came home to roost when the then "most expensive movie ever made" sank at the box office (like it's floating set did during filming).

It took a return to the subject of sport and romantic comedy in Tin Cup for both audiences and critics to remember there was something special about Costner. Now with the release of For Love of the Game garnering favourable reviews perhaps Costner's star is in the ascendence again. You tell us!

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Why We're Talking About Him:

They say still waters run deep, and there's certainly more to Kevin Costner's performances than his looks (which in repose can seem bland, however he's got a killer smile which makes all the difference <g>). He has - albeit more successfully in certain types of roles - a charisma that makes audiences take notice. While he may appear very laid back he can deliver dialogue, or convey emotion, in such a way that has us eating out of his hand - and have us ladies swooning all over the place! :-)

The very fact that his career has had such noticeable ups and downs just makes him more fascinating. Love him or hate him (and many movie-goers just do not see the attraction) Kevin certainly provides us with plenty to talk about.

[Kevin Costner Movie Picks]

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