The Life of All-American Actor Kevin Costner

Kevin Michael Costner was born on January 18, 1955, in Lynwood, California, to Sharon Rae Costner and William Costner. His mother worked as a welfare worker, while his father was an electrician who later worked for Southern California Edison.

He grew up as the youngest of three boys, though one brother died at birth. That early family story gave his childhood a quieter emotional weight, even before acting, fame, and Western mythology became part of his life. For now, he was just a California kid whose path looked far from Hollywood.