Kevin Costner plays Bud Johnson in the new political comedy “Swing Vote,” of which he is also the producer. Costner is well known for signature roles in movies like “Bull Durham,” “Field of Dreams,” and “The Untouchables.”
But it was “Dances with Wolves” that fully showcased Costner’s filmmaking abilities. The 1990 epic Civil War-era western, which he produced, directed and starred in, won seven Oscar Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, as well as a Golden Globe Award.
The California native studied business at Cal State, Fullerton, kicking off a career in marketing before deciding to take the leap into acting. His first major motion-picture role was in “The Big Chill”–and though his scenes were ultimately cut from the film, Costner made an impression on director Lawrence Kasdan who later cast him in “Silverado.”
Since then, Costner has varied his choices within comedy, action, western and drama genres, starring in such popular box-office hits as “No Way Out” and “The Bodyguard.”
In addition to appearing in memorable roles in “JFK” and “Robin Hood: Prince of
Thieves,” Costner re-teamed with his “Bull Durham” director, Ron Shelton, for the hit feature “Tin Cup.”
Other film credits include “A Perfect World,” “For Love of the Game,” “Thirteen Days,” “The War,” “3,000 Miles to Graceland,” “Dragonfly,” and “The Postman,” his second directing effort.
In 2003, Costner returned to the western genre, directing the box-office hit and critically acclaimed film “Open Range,” which he also co-starred in alongside Robert Duvall and Annette Bening. He was next seen with Joan Allen in the drama “Upside of Anger,” followed by Rob Reiner’s “Rumor Has It,” opposite Jennifer Aniston, and the action adventure “The Guardian,” opposite Ashton Kutcher.
Most recently, the actor took on the role of serial killer in the murder mystery “Mr. Brooks.” His newest thriller is “The New Daughter.”
Costner is also producing and lending his voice to The Explorers Guild, Established 1610, an animated series based on a collection of gothic stories that follow a group of Victorian-era adventurers as they travel to the darkest corners of the map. When he is not working on films, Costner plays lead guitar in his band, Modern West, and can be seen playing venues across the country.
