Career Timeline of Kevin Spacey: Major Achievements and Milestones
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Kevin Spacey made an impact.
Kevin Spacey is an American actor celebrated for his stage and screen performances. His accolades include two Academy Awards, a BAFTA, a Golden Globe, a Tony Award, and two Laurence Olivier Awards, along with multiple Emmy nominations. In 2015, he was honored as an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
1976: Worked on Jimmy Carter's Presidential Campaign
In 1976, Kevin Spacey worked on Jimmy Carter's presidential campaign.
1987: Television Debut in Crime Story and The Equalizer
In 1987, Spacey made his first major television appearance in Crime Story and also appeared in The Equalizer.
1988: Wiseguy
In 1988, Kevin Spacey earned a fan base after playing Mel Profitt on the television series Wiseguy.
1996: A Time to Kill and Albino Alligator
In 1996, Kevin Spacey played an egomaniacal district attorney in A Time to Kill. He also made his directorial debut with the film Albino Alligator, which, despite being a box-office bomb, was praised by critics for Spacey's direction.
1997: Saturday Night Live Hosting Debut
In 1997, Kevin Spacey hosted Saturday Night Live for the first time, with musical guest Beck.
1997: Founding of Trigger Street Productions and L.A. Confidential
In 1997, Spacey founded Trigger Street Productions with the goal of producing entertainment across various media. He also starred in L.A. Confidential as Detective Sergeant Jack Vincennes, receiving a BAFTA Award nomination for his performance.
1998: A Bug's Life
In 1998, Kevin Spacey voiced the intimidating grasshopper, Hopper in the animated Pixar film A Bug's Life.
1999: American Beauty and Hollywood Walk of Fame Star
In 1999, Kevin Spacey starred in American Beauty, winning his second Oscar for his role as Lester Burnham. In his acceptance speech, he dedicated the award to Jack Lemmon. In 1999, he also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
2000: Pay It Forward
In 2000, Spacey played a physically and emotionally scarred grade school teacher in the movie Pay It Forward.
2001: K-Pax
In 2001, Kevin Spacey starred in K-Pax, playing a patient in a mental institution who may or may not be an alien.
2002: Trip to Africa with Bill Clinton to Promote AIDS Awareness
In 2002, Spacey, along with Chris Tucker, accompanied Bill Clinton on a trip throughout several African countries to promote AIDS awareness.
2004: Beyond the Sea
In 2004, Spacey starred in Beyond the Sea, a biography/musical about Bobby Darin, which he co-wrote, directed, co-produced, and starred in. Spacey also provided his own vocals on the film's soundtrack. He received a Golden Globe nomination for his performance.
March 12, 2006: Edison release in Netherlands
On March 12, 2006, the film Edison, in which Kevin Spacey appeared, was released in theaters in the Netherlands.
May 2006: Second Time Hosting Saturday Night Live
In May 2006, Kevin Spacey hosted Saturday Night Live for the second time, with musical guest Nelly Furtado.
December 2007: Nobel Peace Prize Concert
In December 2007, Kevin Spacey co-hosted the Nobel Peace Prize Concert along with Uma Thurman.
October 2008: Started the Kevin Spacey Foundation
In October 2008, Spacey started the Kevin Spacey Foundation in the UK to encourage youth involvement in the arts by providing grants to individuals and organizations.
2008: Recount and Bernard and Doris
In 2008, Spacey starred as Ron Klain in the HBO film Recount and also produced the TV movie Bernard and Doris. For his performance in Recount, Spacey was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Miniseries or Television Film.
2008: 21
In 2008, Spacey starred in the film 21, playing a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) lecturer. The film is based on Ben Mezrich's best seller Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six MIT Students Who Took Vegas for Millions.
2009: Superman Returns sequel cancelled
In 2009, Kevin Spacey was expected to return as Lex Luthor in the sequel to Superman Returns, but the series was rebooted instead.
2010: Inseparable
In early 2010, Kevin Spacey starred in writer-director Dayyan Eng's black comedy film Inseparable in China, becoming the first Hollywood actor to star in a fully Chinese-funded film.
March 18, 2011: Casting as Frank Underwood in House of Cards
On March 18, 2011, it was announced that Kevin Spacey was cast as Frank Underwood in the Netflix series House of Cards.
2011: Margin Call and Horrible Bosses
In 2011, Kevin Spacey starred in the financial thriller Margin Call and co-starred in the black comedy film Horrible Bosses, which grossed over $209.6 million at the box office. Spacey received the Independent Spirit Robert Altman Award along with the cast of Margin Call.
2013: Executive Producer of Captain Phillips
In 2013, Kevin Spacey executive-produced the biographical survival thriller film Captain Phillips, which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.
2013: Emmy Nomination for House of Cards
In 2013, Kevin Spacey was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his role in House of Cards, becoming the first lead actor to be Emmy-nominated from a web television series.
2013: Remarks on playing villains
In 2013, Spacey remarked that people like him evil for some reason and want him to be a son of a bitch, reflecting on his career of playing villains.
2013: Man of Steel reboot
In 2013, the Superman series was rebooted with the film Man of Steel, after plans for a sequel to Superman Returns (in which Spacey played Lex Luthor) were cancelled in 2009.
2014: Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
In 2014, Spacey portrayed the antagonist Jonathan Irons in the video game Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare through motion capture.
January 2016: Acquisition of Trigger Street Productions and Relativity Studios
In January 2016, it was announced that Relativity Media had acquired Trigger Street Productions, with Kevin Spacey initially set to become chairman of Relativity Studios. However, he later opted out of the chairmanship.
August 5, 2016: Release of Nine Lives
On August 5, 2016, the comedy film Nine Lives, starring Kevin Spacey as a man trapped in the body of a cat, was released.
2016: Participation in amfAR Cinema Against AIDS Fundraiser
In 2016, Kevin Spacey participated in the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS fundraiser.
2016: Completion of Billionaire Boys Club
In late 2016, before the allegations made in October 2017, the film Billionaire Boys Club, in which Spacey appeared, was completed.
March 2017: Spacey cast as J. Paul Getty
In March 2017, it was announced that Spacey would portray J. Paul Getty in Ridley Scott's All the Money in the World.
November 8, 2017: Spacey's footage excised from All the Money in the World
On November 8, 2017, following sexual assault allegations against Spacey, it was announced that all of his footage would be excised from All the Money in the World, and Christopher Plummer would replace him.
2017: Participated in the 25th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Award Party
In 2017, Spacey participated in the 25th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Award Party.
2017: Netflix and Film Role Changes
In 2017, following sexual assault claims, Netflix cut ties with Spacey, shelving his Gore Vidal biopic and removing him from the last season of House of Cards. His role in All the Money in the World was reshot with Christopher Plummer.
August 17, 2018: Limited release of Billionaire Boys Club
On August 17, 2018, Billionaire Boys Club, a film Spacey completed in 2016, had a limited release. The distributors stated that they would not remove Spacey from the film despite the allegations against him.
May 2021: Casting in The Man Who Drew God
In May 2021, it was announced that Spacey had been cast in a supporting role in the crime drama film The Man Who Drew God, directed by and starring Franco Nero.
August 2021: Filming Peter Five Eight
In August 2021, Spacey was reportedly filming in California for a small production, Peter Five Eight, in which he plays a "charismatic" serial killer.
November 3, 2022: Spacey Set to Speak at National Museum of Cinema
On November 3, 2022, it was reported that Spacey was set to speak at the National Museum of Cinema and receive a lifetime achievement award in January 2023.
November 28, 2022: Casting in Control
On November 28, 2022, after winning a sexual battery lawsuit, Spacey was cast in the British indie thriller Control.
2024: Industry Support for Spacey's Return
In 2024, notable industry members vocally supported Spacey's attempts to return to acting.
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