The Life of All-American Actor Kevin Costner

At the 1991 Academy Awards, Dances with Wolves won seven Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director for Costner. The victory transformed him from a successful leading man into one of the most powerful figures in Hollywood almost overnight.

The win was especially meaningful because he had taken such a personal risk to make the film. He had spent his own money, defended an unfashionable genre, and trusted his instincts as a new director, and now Hollywood was rewarding the gamble on its biggest stage.