1910: Birth of Edmund Bacon
Edmund Bacon, who would later become Kevin Bacon's father, was born in 1910.
1916: Birth of Ruth Hilda Holmes
Ruth Hilda Holmes, who would later become Kevin Bacon's mother, was born in 1916.
July 8, 1958: Birth of Kevin Bacon
On July 8, 1958, Kevin Norwood Bacon, an acclaimed American actor known for both leading and character roles, was born.
1975: Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Arts
At the age of 16, in 1975, Kevin Bacon's passion for the arts was further ignited when he received a full scholarship to the Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Arts at Bucknell University, where he honed his theatrical skills under the guidance of Glory Van Scott.
1978: Feature Film Debut
Kevin Bacon made his feature film debut in the comedy "National Lampoon's Animal House" in 1978.
1979: Appearance in "Search for Tomorrow"
Bacon briefly worked on the television soap opera "Search for Tomorrow" in New York in 1979.
1980: Appearance in the Horror Film "Friday the 13th"
Kevin Bacon appeared in the iconic slasher film "Friday the 13th" in 1980.
1980: Role in "Guiding Light"
Kevin Bacon took on a role in the television soap opera "Guiding Light" in New York, from 1980 to 1981.
1981: Stage Performances in New York
Bacon participated in notable stage productions in New York, including "Getting Out" at the Phoenix Theater and "Flux" at Second Stage Theatre during their 1981-1982 season.
1982: Stage Performances in New York
Bacon participated in notable stage productions in New York, including "Getting Out" at the Phoenix Theater and "Flux" at Second Stage Theatre during their 1981-1982 season.
1982: Critical Acclaim for "Diner"
Bacon starred in the critically acclaimed film "Diner" in 1982, which earned him recognition for his acting talent.
1982: Obie Award and Broadway Debut
In 1982, Kevin Bacon's talent was recognized with an Obie Award for his performance in the play "Forty Deuce." The same year, he made his Broadway debut in "Slab Boys," sharing the stage with then-emerging actors Sean Penn and Val Kilmer.
1984: Critical Acclaim and Typecasting Following "Footloose"
Following the success of "Footloose" in 1984, Bacon received critical acclaim but also faced typecasting in similar roles, which he navigated in his subsequent film choices.
1984: Breakthrough Role in "Footloose"
Kevin Bacon's breakout role came in 1984 with the musical-drama film "Footloose," which garnered critical acclaim and box office success.
1987: Cameo Appearance in "Planes, Trains and Automobiles"
Kevin Bacon made a memorable cameo appearance in John Hughes's popular comedy "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" in 1987.
September 4, 1988: Marriage to Kyra Sedgwick
Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick were married on September 4, 1988, after meeting on the set of the PBS production of "Lemon Sky."
1988: Starring in "She's Having a Baby"
Bacon starred in another John Hughes comedy, "She's Having a Baby," in 1988.
1989: Birth of Travis Sedgwick
Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick's first child, Travis Sedgwick, was born in 1989.
1990: Success in Different Genres
Bacon found success in two distinct genres in 1990, starring in the comedy/horror film "Tremors" and the thought-provoking drama "Flatliners."
1990: Success with "Tremors" and "Flatliners"
Bacon took on both comedic and dramatic roles in 1990, starring in the comedy/horror film "Tremors" and the thriller "Flatliners."
1991: Appearance in "JFK"
Bacon appeared in Oliver Stone's political thriller "JFK" in 1991.
1991: Transition to Character Roles
By 1991, Kevin Bacon began to consciously shift his focus from leading man roles to character acting, recognizing it as a path to collaborate on high-quality projects with acclaimed directors.
1991: Death of Ruth Hilda Bacon
Kevin Bacon's mother, Ruth Hilda Bacon, passed away in 1991.
1992: Birth of Sosie Ruth
Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick's second child, Sosie Ruth, was born in 1992.
1992: Role in the Legal Drama "A Few Good Men"
Kevin Bacon took on the role of a prosecuting attorney in the military courtroom drama "A Few Good Men" in 1992.
1994: Golden Globe Nomination for "The River Wild"
Kevin Bacon's performance in the 1994 adventure thriller "The River Wild" earned him a nomination for a Golden Globe Award.
1994: Starring in "The River Wild"
Bacon starred alongside Meryl Streep in the adventure thriller "The River Wild" in 1994.
1995: Starring in "Apollo 13"
In 1995, Bacon starred in the blockbuster hit "Apollo 13," further solidifying his presence in Hollywood.
1995: The Bacon Brothers Formation
Kevin Bacon and his brother Michael formed the band The Bacon Brothers in 1995, going on to release seven albums.
1995: Critical Acclaim for "Murder in the First"
Kevin Bacon's performance in the 1995 film "Murder in the First" earned him critical acclaim and the Broadcast Film Critics Association Award.
1996: Appearance in "Sleepers"
Bacon played a dark role in the drama "Sleepers" in 1996.
1996: Directorial Debut and Diverse Roles
In 1996, Bacon made his directorial debut with the television film "Losing Chase," which was nominated for three Golden Globe Awards, winning one. The same year, he took on diverse roles in "Digging to China" and "Telling Lies in America."
1996: Directorial Debut with "Losing Chase"
Kevin Bacon made his directorial debut in 1996 with the television film "Losing Chase."
1997: Starring in "Picture Perfect"
Bacon showcased his comedic side in the romantic comedy "Picture Perfect" in 1997.
1998: Producing and Acting in "Wild Things"
Expanding his horizons in the film industry, Kevin Bacon served as executive producer for the thriller "Wild Things" in 1998, also taking on a supporting role in the film.
1999: Starring in "Stir of Echoes"
Bacon starred in the supernatural thriller "Stir of Echoes," directed by David Koepp, in 1999.
2000: Film Appearances and MPAA Controversy
In 2000, Kevin Bacon appeared in three films: "Hollow Man," "Where the Truth Lies," and "My Dog Skip." He attracted controversy for his criticism of the MPAA's decision to rate "Where the Truth Lies" NC-17 instead of R, citing a double standard in their treatment of violence versus sexual content.
2003: Performance in "Mystic River"
Bacon delivered a compelling performance in Clint Eastwood's critically acclaimed drama "Mystic River" in 2003.
2003: Hollywood Walk of Fame Star
In recognition of his significant contributions to the entertainment industry, Kevin Bacon received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2003.
2003: Mystic River Release
Kevin Bacon starred alongside Sean Penn and Tim Robbins in Clint Eastwood's critically acclaimed film "Mystic River" in 2003.
2004: Appearance in "The Woodsman"
Bacon starred in the independent drama "The Woodsman" in 2004, showcasing his versatility as an actor.
2004: The Woodsman and Critical Acclaim
Kevin Bacon received critical acclaim and an Independent Spirit Award for his challenging role as a pedophile on parole in the 2004 film "The Woodsman." He was also nominated for best actor for his performance.
2005: Directing "Loverboy"
Bacon directed the independent drama film "Loverboy" in 2005.
2005: Beauty Shop Release
Kevin Bacon starred alongside Queen Latifah in the comedy film "Beauty Shop" in 2005.
2005: Public Statement on Religious Beliefs
Kevin Bacon stated that he does not "believe in God" in a 2005 interview with The Times, while also clarifying that he is not anti-religion.
2005: Death of Edmund Bacon
Kevin Bacon's father, Edmund Bacon, passed away in 2005.
2008: Part of the Historical Drama "Frost/Nixon"
In 2008, Bacon joined the cast of the historical drama "Frost/Nixon," directed by Ron Howard.
2008: Appearance in will.i.am's "It's a New Day" Video
Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick appeared in will.i.am's music video for "It's a New Day," released after Barack Obama won the 2008 presidential election.
February 21, 2009: Taking Chance Premiere and Award Wins
Kevin Bacon's performance in the HBO film "Taking Chance," which premiered on February 21, 2009, earned him both a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
2009: Award-Winning Performance in "Taking Chance"
In 2009, Kevin Bacon received both a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award for his moving portrayal of Lt. Col. Michael Strobl in the HBO original film "Taking Chance."
July 15, 2010: X-Men: First Class Casting Announcement
On July 15, 2010, it was announced that Kevin Bacon would play the villain Sebastian Shaw in "X-Men: First Class."
2011: X-Men and Crazy, Stupid, Love Released
Kevin Bacon appeared in two films released in 2011: "X-Men: First Class" as the villain Sebastian Shaw and "Crazy, Stupid, Love" as a co-worker involved in an affair.
2011: Appearance on Finding Your Roots and Support for Reproductive Rights
In 2011, Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick discovered they are ninth cousins once removed on the PBS show "Finding Your Roots." That same year, they appeared in a video promoting the "Bill of Reproductive Rights."
2011: Roles in "Crazy, Stupid, Love" and "X-Men: First Class"
In 2011, Bacon showcased his range by appearing in both the romantic comedy "Crazy, Stupid, Love" and the superhero film "X-Men: First Class."
March 2012: Performance in "8"
In March 2012, Kevin Bacon participated in a performance of Dustin Lance Black's play "8," a staged reenactment of the trial against California's Prop 8 ban on same-sex marriage. The performance was held at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre and broadcast on YouTube as a fundraiser for the American Foundation for Equal Rights.
2012: Google "Bacon Number" Feature
In 2012, Google briefly introduced a search engine feature that calculated an actor's "Bacon Number."
2012: EE Advertising Campaign Begins
Kevin Bacon began appearing in a major advertising campaign for EE in the United Kingdom in 2012, playing on the "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon" concept.
2013: Starring in "The Following"
Bacon took on the lead role in the Fox drama series "The Following" in 2013.
2013: The Following Premiere and Saturn Award Win
Kevin Bacon began starring as Ryan Hardy in the FOX television series "The Following" in 2013. His performance earned him a Saturn Award for Best Actor on Television that same year.
2013: Boston Marathon Bombing
The Boston Marathon bombing, which Kevin Bacon's 2016 film "Patriots Day" is about, took place in 2013.
2015: Interest in Returning to Tremors Franchise
Kevin Bacon expressed interest in returning to the "Tremors" franchise in a 2015 Huffington Post interview, though he did not appear in "Tremors 5: Bloodline" that year.
2015: Black Mass Release
Kevin Bacon appeared in the crime film "Black Mass," starring Johnny Depp, in 2015.
2015: U.S. Egg Industry Spokesperson
Kevin Bacon became a commercial spokesperson for the U.S. egg industry in 2015.
2015: Conclusion of "The Following"
After a successful run, Kevin Bacon's time on the Fox drama series "The Following" concluded in 2015.
2016: Lead Role in "I Love Dick"
Bacon starred in the title role for Amazon Prime Video's series "I Love Dick," which premiered in 2016.
2016: Appearance in "Patriots Day"
Bacon was part of the ensemble cast in the biographical drama "Patriots Day," which centered around the Boston Marathon bombing, in 2016.
2016: Patriots Day Release
Kevin Bacon starred in "Patriots Day," a film about the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, in 2016.
2017: End of "I Love Dick"
Bacon's time on the Amazon Prime Video series "I Love Dick" came to an end in 2017.
2019: Starring in "City on a Hill"
Bacon began starring in the Showtime series "City on a Hill" in 2019, further showcasing his versatility as an actor.
2022: End of "City on a Hill"
After a successful run, "City on a Hill" concluded its run in 2022.