Kevin Kline

As of 2018, has appeared in one movie nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: The Big Chill (1983). A few of his movies often get nominated for acting Oscars and/or for other categories including Best Original Screenplay, Best Costume Design, etc.

Has collaborated with director Lawrence Kasdan [to date, September 2015] in cinema movies on six occasions. The films are Silverado (1985), Grand Canyon (1991), French Kiss (1995), The Big Chill (1983), Darling Companion (2012) and I Love You to Death (1990).

The Kevin Kline Awards were first presented on March 20, 2006 in honor of the actor, a St. Louis native and Priory School graduate. The awards recognize outstanding achievement in Professional Theatre in the Greater St. Louis Area. They honor theatre artists and productions in over 20 categories.

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7000 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California December 3, 2004.

Has appeared with wife Phoebe Cates and their two children, Owen Kline and Greta Kline, as a family of four in The Anniversary Party (2001).

He was awarded a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame at 6630 Delmar Boulevard in St. Louis, Missouri on May 17, 1998.

Inspired the Kevin Kline Mustache Principle, according to movie critic Roger Ebert: Kline always has facial hair in comedies, but is clean-shaven in dramatic roles. There are several exceptions to the rule, most notably In & Out (1997), Silverado (1985) and Wild Wild West (1999) (although in the latter, he did wear a beard and mustache to play President Ulysses S. Grant).

Is one of the few actors alongside Harrison Ford, Arnold Schwarzenegger, etc. to audition for Alan Parrish for the early development of Jumanji (1995).

Became a father for the second time at age 46 when his wife Phoebe Cates gave birth to their daughter Greta Simone Kline, aka Greta Kline, on March 21, 1994.

Has played presidents and their doubles twice to date: he played Dave and President Bill Mitchell in Dave (1993), and Artemus Gordon and President Ulysses S. Grant in Wild Wild West (1999).

Has portrayed two famous movie swashbuckler stars: Douglas Fairbanks in the film Chaplin (1992) and Errol Flynn in the film The Last of Robin Hood (2013). Both stars had appeared on-screen as Robin Hood (Fairbanks in Robin Hood (1922) and Flynn in The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)).

Became a father for the first time at age 43 when his wife Phoebe Cates gave birth to their son Owen Joseph Kline, aka Owen Kline, on October 14, 1991.

Kline could play classic roles such as Hamlet in Great Performances: Hamlet (1990); or a swashbuckling actor like Douglas Fairbanks in Chaplin (1992); or a comedic role in Soapdish (1991). In all the films that he has worked in, it is hard to find a performance that is not well done.

Turned down the role of Bruce Wayne in Batman (1989), which went to Michael Keaton.

With his role as Otto "Don't call me Stupid!" West in the film A Fish Called Wanda (1988), Kline would win the Oscar for Supporting Actor.

He was considered for the role of Dan Gallagher in Fatal Attraction (1987), which went to Michael Douglas.

Has appeared with John Cleese in Silverado (1985), A Fish Called Wanda (1988) and Fierce Creatures (1997). He would later appear in Pink Panther (2006), but was replaced in the sequel by none other than Cleese. His castmate in that film is Steve Martin, with whom he previously appeared in Grand Canyon (1991). Kline went on to appear on stage as Cyrano de Bergerac, while Martin played a modern Cyrano-like character in Roxanne (1987).

His work in the ensemble cast of The Big Chill (1983) would again be highly successful, so that when Lawrence Kasdan wrote Silverado (1985), Kline would again be part of the cast.

Though this appears that his feature debut was in Sophie's Choice (1982), Kline had actually completed The Pirates of Penzance (1983) before going on to co-star with Meryl Streep, but the release of 'Pirates' was sufficiently delayed, enabling 'Sophie' to receive an earlier release.

Won an Obie Award in 1980/1981 for his role as The Pirate King in "The Pirates of Penzance".

On the stage, Kline has won two Tony Awards for his work in the musicals "On the Twentieth Century" (1978) and "The Pirates of Penzance" (1981).

In 1975, he met with director Steven Spielberg about playing Matt Hooper in Jaws (1975) (played by Richard Dreyfuss). Kevin said that he knew someone who was an oceanographer and thought he could play one. Spielberg then told him "I don't want someone who knows someone who is an oceanographer, I want someone who is an oceanographer." Richard Dreyfuss then got the role.

Kevin Kline was born in St. Louis, Missouri, to Margaret and Robert Joseph Kline, who owned several stores. His father was of German Jewish descent and his mother was of Irish ancestry. After attending Indiana University in Bloomington, Kline studied at the Juilliard School in New York. In 1972, Kline joined the Acting Company in New York which was run by John Houseman. With this company, Kline performed Shakespeare across the country.

Received his Bachelor's degree in Speech and Theatre from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana (1970).

Attended and graduated from the Saint Louis Priory School in St. Louis, Missouri (1965).

After working on the Television soap Search for Tomorrow (1951), Kline went to Hollywood where his first film was Sophie's Choice (1982). He was nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance.