History of Kevin Costner in Timeline

Kevin Costner is a celebrated American actor and filmmaker recognized with prestigious awards including two Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and a Primetime Emmy Award. His career spans acting and directing, contributing significantly to the entertainment industry.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1975: Costner Begins Dating Cindy Silva

In 1975, Kevin Costner started dating Cindy Silva while in college.

1984: Birth of First Daughter

In 1984, Kevin Costner and Cindy Silva had their first daughter.

1986: Birth of Second Daughter

In 1986, Kevin Costner and Cindy Silva had their second daughter.

1988: Birth of Son

In 1988, Kevin Costner and Cindy Silva had a son.

1990: Academy Awards for Dances With Wolves

In 1990, Kevin Costner received two Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director for "Dances With Wolves".

Loading Video...

1991: Costner Opens Midnight Star Casino

In 1991, Kevin Costner opened the Midnight Star Casino and Restaurant in Deadwood, South Dakota.

1992: Shift to Supporting Democratic Politicians

Starting in 1992, Kevin Costner shifted his political affiliation and began financially supporting Democratic politicians such as Al Gore and Tom Daschle.

1994: Divorce from Cindy Silva

In 1994, Kevin Costner and Cindy Silva divorced after 16 years of marriage, reportedly due to an affair, with Silva receiving an $80 million settlement.

1994: Detmers Commissioned for Tatanka Sculpture

Kevin Costner commissioned Peggy Detmers in 1994 to create a bronze sculpture for his future attraction, Tatanka: The Story of the Bison.

1995: Costner Invests in Oil Separation Technology

In 1995, Kevin Costner invested in a company developing oil separation machines based on a patent he purchased from the U.S. government.

1995: Contribution to Republican Phil Gramm

In 1995, despite largely supporting Democrats since 1992, Kevin Costner contributed to Republican Phil Gramm.

1996: Relationship and Birth of Son with Bridget Rooney

In 1996, Kevin Costner had a brief relationship with Bridget Rooney, resulting in the birth of a son. Also in 1996, he lived with supermodel Elle Macpherson.

June 6, 2004: Opening of Tatanka: The Story of the Bison

On June 6, 2004, Kevin Costner opened "Tatanka: The Story of the Bison" near Deadwood, South Dakota, a $5-million attraction intended to educate visitors about America's westward expansion and the relationship between Plains Indians and bison.

July 2004: Employment Termination and Lawsuit at Midnight Star Casino

In July 2004, Kevin Costner terminated the employment of Francis and Carla Caneva, managers at the Midnight Star Casino, leading to a lawsuit over the value of their shares in the establishment.

September 25, 2004: Marriage to Christine Baumgartner

On September 25, 2004, Kevin Costner married Christine Baumgartner at his ranch in Aspen, Colorado.

February 25, 2007: Grand Marshal at NASCAR Auto Club 500

On February 25, 2007, Kevin Costner was named the ceremonial Grand Marshal of the NASCAR Cup Series' Auto Club 500 at the California Speedway.

October 2007: Worldwide Tour Begins with Kevin Costner & Modern West

In October 2007, Kevin Costner & Modern West, the country rock band Costner founded, embarked on a worldwide tour, with performances in cities such as Istanbul and Rome.

2007: Birth of Son with Christine Baumgartner

In 2007, Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner had a son.

November 11, 2008: Release of Untold Truths Album

On November 11, 2008, Kevin Costner & Modern West released their country album, "Untold Truths", on Universal South Records.

2008: Production of NASCAR Documentary The Ride of Their Lives

In 2008, Kevin Costner collaborated with NASCAR Media Group and CMT Films to produce the NASCAR documentary "The Ride of Their Lives", which he also narrated.

Loading Video...

2008: Campaigning for Barack Obama

In 2008, Kevin Costner publicly stated he had no political ambitions. In the days before the 2008 presidential election, he campaigned for Barack Obama in Colorado, urging young voters to participate enthusiastically.

2009: Birth of Second Son with Christine Baumgartner

In 2009, Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner had their second son.

2009: Spokesman for NASCAR Day and Performance at Charlotte Motor Speedway

In 2009, Kevin Costner was the spokesman for NASCAR Day on May 15 and performed with his band at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 16, also participating as a judge in the Victory Challenge.

2009: Tragedy at Big Valley Jamboree

In 2009, at the Big Valley Jamboree in Camrose, Alberta, a severe thunderstorm caused a stage collapse, resulting in one death and forty injuries, right before Kevin Costner and his band were scheduled to perform. A charity auction was held afterward.

February 2010: Release of Turn It On and European Tour

In February 2010, Kevin Costner and Modern West released their second album, "Turn It On", in Europe, which was supported by a European tour.

May 2010: BP Tests Costner's Oil Separation Machines

In late May 2010, in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, BP took six oil separation machines from Ocean Therapy Solutions, a company in which Kevin Costner had an interest, for testing.

June 16, 2010: BP Leases Oil-Water Separation Devices

On June 16, 2010, BP entered into a lease agreement with Kevin Costner's Ocean Therapy Solutions for 32 oil-water separation devices to help with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill cleanup.

2010: Birth of Daughter with Christine Baumgartner

In 2010, Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner had a daughter.

2011: Costner Records Radio Spots for National World War I Museum

In spring 2011, Kevin Costner recorded two radio spots for the National World War I Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, which were aired on the Kansas City Royals Radio Network.

June 2012: Jury Rejects Securities Fraud Claims Against Costner

In June 2012, a federal jury rejected securities fraud claims by Stephen Baldwin and Spyron Contoguris against Kevin Costner in a multimillion-dollar oil-clean-up case, ordering Baldwin and Contoguris to reimburse Costner for costs.

July 2012: Performance at Telus World Skins Game

In July 2012, Kevin Costner and his band performed at the 20th annual Telus World Skins Game in Halifax, Nova Scotia, benefiting the IWK Health Centre Foundation.

2012: Golden Globe Award for Hatfields & McCoys

In 2012, Kevin Costner received a Golden Globe Award for "Hatfields & McCoys".

Loading Video...

October 2014: Tribute to British Troops

In October 2014, Kevin Costner sent a tribute to British troops serving around the world, expressing his gratitude for their work.

2015: Co-Authors The Explorer's Guild

In 2015, Kevin Costner co-authored "The Explorer's Guild: A Passage to Shambhala", a hybrid adventure novel and graphic novel, with John Baird, Stephen C. Meyer, and Rick Ross.

2017: Closure of Midnight Star Casino

Kevin Costner closed the Midnight Star Casino in 2017.

December 22, 2019: Endorsement of Pete Buttigieg

On December 22, 2019, Kevin Costner endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg at a rally in Indianola, Iowa.

2020: Costner Co-Founds HearHere App

In 2020, Kevin Costner became a co-founder, podcast narrator, and investor in Woody Sears's new audio entertainment travel app, HearHere, narrating audio stories for travelers.

2020: Sale of Midnight Star Casino

In 2020, Kevin Costner sold the Midnight Star Casino.

August 12, 2021: MLB at Field of Dreams Game Appearance

On August 12, 2021, Kevin Costner led the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox onto the field at the MLB at Field of Dreams game in Dyersville, Iowa, and delivered a brief speech.

August 2022: Production Begins on Horizon: An American Saga

In August 2022, Kevin Costner commenced production on "Horizon: An American Saga", a Western epic planned as a series of four films, with Costner starring in and directing the project.

November 2022: Filming Wraps on First Horizon Film

By November 2022, production had concluded on the first "Horizon" film, which had been in production for approximately 220 days.

2022: Endorsement of Liz Cheney

In 2022, Kevin Costner endorsed Republican Liz Cheney for reelection in the United States House of Representatives election in Wyoming.

May 2023: Production Underway for Subsequent Horizon Films

As of May 2023, Kevin Costner had initiated production for the next installments in the "Horizon: An American Saga" film series.

May 2023: Christine Baumgartner Files for Divorce

In May 2023, Christine Baumgartner filed for divorce from Kevin Costner.

2023: Golden Globe Award for Yellowstone

In 2023, Kevin Costner received a Golden Globe Award for "Yellowstone".

Loading Video...

February 20, 2024: Finalization of Divorce from Christine Baumgartner

On February 20, 2024, Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner finalized their divorce.

June 2024: Release of Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1

In June 2024, "Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1" was released, receiving mixed reviews and performing poorly at the box office.

Loading Video...

August 16, 2024: Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2 Release Delayed

Originally slated for release on August 16, 2024, the poor box-office performance of Chapter 1 led to an indefinite delay for Chapter 2 of "Horizon: An American Saga".

2024: Cindy Silva Settlement Adjusted for Inflation

In 2024, Cindy Silva's settlement from her 1994 divorce with Kevin Costner would be equivalent to $153 million when adjusted for inflation.

2025: Reports of Power Struggles on Yellowstone Set

In 2025, The Hollywood Reporter indicated that the production of "Yellowstone" was filled with conflicts, contributing to a tarnished perception of Costner within the Hollywood community.

Loading Video...