Besides being a successful actor, filmmaker, and certified hunk, Kevin Costner has a long
laundry list of peculiar hobbies, unique accomplishments, and fascinating obsessions that most people
don't know about.
In this facts-packed video, we'll be taking a look at some of his lesser-known talents.
As far as his Hollywood career goes, though, Costner is best known for his roles in critically
acclaimed offerings like Dances With Wolves, Field Of Dreams, The Untouchables, The Bodyguard,
JFK, and Bull Durham – to name a few.
According to IMDB, he's appeared in, directed, produced, or written the scripts for over
64 films and television shows
Since 2018, Costner has starred as the main character, John Dutton, on the hit Paramount-produced
Western series Yellowstone.
For his work in cinema and television, Costner has received two Academy Awards, two Golden
Globes, a Primetime Emmy, and two SAG awards.
While it's undeniable that acting is in his blood, the 67-year-old always puts all of
his heart and soul into his various side projects and business ventures.
He's a man of many skills who can quite possibly do just about anything he puts his mind to.
Let's take a look at some of his many passions, fixations, and avocations.
We're pretty confident that after watching this video, you'll never look at Kevin Costner
the same way again.
But first, we're going to take a peek back in time at his upbringing and rise to fame.
Costner's Early Years
Kevin was born on January 18, 1955, in the city of Lynwood, California, and grew up in
Compton, California.
His mom, Sharon Rae, worked as a welfare worker while his dad, William Costner, worked himself
to the bone as a ditch digger and electrician to provide for his family.
Kevin was the youngest of three boys, the second of whom sadly died at birth.
Family was always very important to Kevin growing up.
Not only did his parents instill within him a profound respect for life and a solid work
ethic, but his Baptist roots also pointed his moral compass in the right direction from
an early age.
He was never very academically inclined in school, but he was particularly drawn to sports
– especially football.
In his free time, Kevin took piano lessons, wrote poetry, and sang in his church's choir.
At one point, he expressed that watching the 1963 film How The West Was Won at an early
age 'formed' his childhood.
During his teen years, Costner struggled to make friends and had little confidence in
himself.
Since his dad's job often required his family to move around, Costner attended a number
of schools before finally graduating from Villa Park High School in Orange County in
1973.
He then earned his BA in marketing and finance at California State University in Fullerton,
California.
While in his final year of college, Costner took an interest in acting and dancing.
After graduating, he married his first wife, Cindy Silva, who worked at Disneyland performing
as Cinderella.
On their returning flight from their honeymoon in Puerto Vallarta, the couple had a chance
encounter with actor Richard Burton who had bought up all the seats around him so he could
have some solitude.
Burton agreed to talk with Costner after he got done reading his book.
Costner was at the time taking acting classes, but he had yet to inform his new bride that
his dream was to become an actor.
Once Costner got the chance to speak to Burton, he asked him how he could avoid the kind of
drama that always seemed to follow him.
Burton replied by saying that since he had blue eyes like he also did, he should be fine.
What he actually meant by that is unknown.
Your guess is as good as mine, but apparently, that statement really resonated with young
Costner.
After the plane landed, Burton's limo pulled up to the curb where Costner and his wife
were waiting for a cab and wished Kevin good luck.
The two never spoke again, but Costner still credits Burton with helping start his career.
Reinvigorated by the meeting, Costner started taking acting lessons five nights a week while
working a marketing job to support himself and his wife.
Costner finally made his film debut in the film Sizzle Beach USA which was filmed in
1978 but wasn't released until 1986.
His breakout role, however, was in 1985s Silverado.
That same year, he also starred in Fandango and American Flyers.
From that point onward, Costner experienced a meteoric rise in fame, ultimately becoming
the living legend that he is today.
But enough about his film career, let's talk about his other passions.
Kevin Costner: Country Music Star
Kevin has been a lifelong music lover.
Like we mentioned earlier, he started taking piano lessons when he was just a young boy.
Even though he's this big-time acting star and certified sex symbol these days, he hasn't
given up on his love for all things musical.
In 2007, Costner started the band Kevin Costner & Modern West, and he's been recording and
touring with the band ever since.
The country-rock outfit embarked on its first world tour in October of 2007 and released
their first full-length album, Untold Truths, in November of 2008.
They have since put out an additional four studio albums and have performed live at various
venues across the United States, Canada, and Europe.
Costner's band's latest release is titled Tales From Yellowstone, and it's clear that
his role on the Yellowstone TV show has influenced his music in a large way.
Each of the album's 16 tracks was written from the perspective of his character John
Dutton.
If you listen real closely while watching the third season, you'll hear several songs
from the album featured in a handful of episodes.
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Stay tuned to learn all about some of Kevin Costner's weirdest side jobs.
Costner Used To Be A Partial Owner Of A Minor League Baseball Team
Much like his love for music, Kevin Costner has never lost interest in his boyhood love
for sports – and his favorite sport happens to be baseball.
As you're probably already aware, Costner has appeared in several films that include
a baseball theme – a few of which, like Chasing Dreams, Field of Dreams, and Bull
Durham, are even considered to be among his best.
Since Costner has a home in Austin, Texas, he tries to make it to as many Texas Longhorn
games and practice sessions as possible.
Since he was good friends with former Longhorns coach Augie Garrido from back in his Cal State
days, Costner cast Garrido to play the role of the Yankees manager in his 1999 film For
Love of the Game.
Costner used to be a partial owner of the now defunct Zion, Illinois minor league team
the Lake County Fielders.
The Fielders were a member of the since-disbanded Northern League in 2010 and joined the North
American League the following year.
In April 2012 the team announced that they would not be fielding a team that season,
and they subsequently disbanded.
Costner Developed Tech To Clean Up The Ocean
In 1995, Costner began work developing oil separation machines based upon a patent that
he had purchased from the United States government.
While his machines were of little interest commercially at first, after the Deepwater
Horizon oil spill in 2010, BP bought five devices from the company Costner had ownership
in, Ocean Therapy Solutions.
Later that year, BP entered into a leasing agreement with the company for 32 of the oil-water
separation machines.
Costner Opened Museum In South Dakota
In 2004, Costner opened up a 3,000 square ft. museum called Tatanka: The Story of the
Bison a mile south of Deadwood, South Dakota, along US Route 86.
His intention was for the attraction to serve as an educational and emotional place for
people to learn the history of America's historic expansion westward.
The facility has a large interactive center featuring hands-on exhibits, a retail section,
a dining area, and a small theater.
The museum's centerpiece is a large bronze sculpture of a buffalo jump commissioned by
artist Peggy Detmers.
Costner Opened A Casino And Restaurant
In 1991, Kevin opened the Midnight Star Casino and Restaraunt in Deadwood, South Dakota.
After establishing the business, Costner hired a couple named Francis and Carla Caneva to
manage the business while giving them each an ownership share of the company while also
paying them salaries and bonuses.
Costner terminated their employment in 2004 while requesting that they agree to an amicable
disassociation.
They declined and ended up suing Costner to buy their shares based upon double the amount
of their fair market value.
They won their case in the lower court, but after Costner appealed, they lost in the South
Dakota Supreme Court.
Costner subsequently closed the business in 2017 and sold it in 2020.
Costner Wrote A Book And Narrates A Podcast
In 2015, Costner co-authored a hybrid adventure novel/graphic novel entitled The Explorer's
Guild: A Passage to Shambhala alongside author John Baird, researcher Stephen Meyer, and
chief illustrator Rick Ross – no relation to the rapper.
More recently, in 2020, Costner teamed up with Woody Sears to launch the audio entertainment
travel app HearHere.
Costner narrates some of the audio podcasts for the service, which provides travelers
exploring the United States with stories, information, and history about the people
and places that they encounter in their voyages.
Who knew that Kevin Costner had so many different interests and hobbies?
It's a wonder that he has the time to devote to all of these things considering how much
of his life is already devoted to his acting and filmmaking career!
Did you know that Kevin Costner was once a co-owner of a minor league baseball team?
And were you aware that he developed machinery meant to help clean up the ocean after an
oil spill?
Let us know in the comments.
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