Kevin Kline facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kevin Kline
Kline in 2024
Born	Kevin Delaney Kline (1947-10-24) October 24, 1947 (age 77) St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Education	Indiana University, Bloomington​ (BA) Juilliard School​ (GrDip)
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1970–present
Notable work	Performances
Spouse(s)	Phoebe Cates ​ (m. 1989)​
Children	Owen Kline Greta Kline
Awards	Full list

Kevin Delaney Kline (born October 24, 1947) is a famous American actor. He has been acting for over fifty years. He is known for his great performances on both stage and in movies.

Kevin Kline has won many important awards. These include an Academy Award and three Tony Awards. He was also nominated for other big awards like the British Academy Film Awards and Golden Globe Awards. In 2003, he was honored by being added to the American Theatre Hall of Fame.

Kline started his acting career on stage in 1972. He became well-known for his work with The Public Theatre and the New York Shakespeare Festival. He has won three Tony Awards for his Broadway shows. These include On the Twentieth Century (1978), The Pirates of Penzance (1981), and Present Laughter (2017).

Kevin Kline's first movie was Sophie's Choice in 1982. He won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his funny role in A Fish Called Wanda (1988). He has also been in many other popular movies. Some of these are Silverado (1985), Dave (1993), and Beauty and the Beast (2017). He also lent his voice to animated films like The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996).

On television, Kline appeared in the soap opera Search for Tomorrow in 1976. He was nominated for an Emmy Award for his role in Cyrano de Bergerac (2008). Since 2011, he has voiced the character Calvin Fischoeder in the cartoon show Bob's Burgers.

Early Life and Education

Kevin Kline was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on October 24, 1947. His father, Robert Joseph Kline, loved classical music and owned a record store. His mother, Margaret Agnes Kirk, was described as the "dramatic theatrical character" in their family. Kevin's father was of German-Jewish background, and his mother was Catholic. Kevin was raised in his mother's Catholic faith. He has an older sister, Kate, and two younger brothers, Alexander and Christopher.

He finished school at the Saint Louis Priory School in 1965. In 1997, the school named its new theater the Kevin Kline Theater in his honor. He performed Shakespeare at the dedication ceremony. He then went to Indiana University, Bloomington. He first studied music but later changed his major to theater and speech. He graduated in 1970. He said that once he switched to theater, it became his true passion. While in college, he helped start a theater group called the Vest Pocket Players.

Acting Career Highlights

Early Stage Success (1970-1981)

In 1970, Kevin Kline received a scholarship to the new drama school at the Juilliard School in New York. In 1972, he and other Juilliard graduates formed The City Center Acting Company. This group traveled across the U.S. performing plays by Shakespeare and other classic works. They also performed the musical The Robber Bridegroom. This company became one of the most praised theater groups in America.

In 1976, Kline left The Acting Company. He had a short role in the soap opera Search for Tomorrow. He returned to the stage in 1977. In 1978, he played Bruce Granit in On the Twentieth Century. For this role, he won his first Tony Award.

In 1981, he starred with singer Linda Ronstadt in The Pirates of Penzance. This show started in Central Park and then moved to Broadway. Kline won another Tony Award for his funny role as the Pirate King. In 1983, he played the same role in a movie version of the musical.

Kline performed in many New York Shakespeare Festival plays. He played leading roles in Richard III (1983), Much Ado About Nothing (1988), and Henry V (1984). He also starred in two productions of Hamlet (1986 and 1990). A famous theater critic called him "the American Laurence Olivier" because of his amazing stage acting.

Movie Breakthrough (1982-1999)

Kline and his wife Phoebe Cates at the Academy Awards (1989)

Kevin Kline started his movie career in 1982 with Sophie's Choice. He played the difficult role of Nathan opposite Meryl Streep. Streep won an Academy Award for her acting in the film. Kline was nominated for a Golden Globe and a BAFTA Award for his performance.

During the 1980s and 1990s, Kline made several movies with director Lawrence Kasdan. These included The Big Chill (1983), a movie about college friends reuniting. He also starred in the western film Silverado (1985). In 1987, he played Donald Woods in Cry Freedom, a film about friendship and activism.

In 1989, Kline won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the British comedy A Fish Called Wanda. He played a clumsy American ex-CIA agent. This film is considered one of the funniest movies ever made. Kline continued to take on funny roles in movies like Soapdish (1991) and French Kiss (1995).

In 1993, Kline voiced a character in The Nutcracker. He also starred in Dave, a political comedy where he played a look-alike who becomes president. In 1996, he voiced Captain Phoebus in Disney's animated film The Hunchback of Notre Dame. In 1997, he played an English teacher in the comedy In & Out. He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for this role. In 1998, he received a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame.

In 1999, Kline appeared in the Western film Wild Wild West with Will Smith.

Established Actor (2000-2016)

Kline at the film premiere of No Strings Attached in January 2011

In 2000, Kline voiced Tulio in the animated film The Road to El Dorado. This adventure comedy featured songs by Elton John. He also starred in the drama Life as a House (2001). He returned to voice Captain Phoebus in The Hunchback of Notre Dame II (2002). That same year, he played a teacher in The Emperor's Club. In 2004, he played the composer Cole Porter in the musical movie De-Lovely. He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for this role.

Kline also appeared in several comedies during this time. These included The Pink Panther (2006) with Steve Martin. He was also in romantic comedies like Definitely, Maybe (2008) and No Strings Attached (2011). In 2006, he played Guy Noir in A Prairie Home Companion, a film with many famous actors.

In 2003, Kevin Kline was inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame. He played Falstaff in a Broadway production of Henry IV in 2003. He was nominated for a Tony Award for this role. In December 2004, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Kline at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival

Kline played the main role in King Lear at the Public Theater. He also starred in a Broadway show of Cyrano de Bergerac with Jennifer Garner. This play was later filmed and shown on PBS. In 2008, Kline won a Screen Actors Guild Award for his role in Kenneth Branagh's film As You Like It, based on Shakespeare's play. Kline also starred in the historical thriller The Conspirator (2010). In 2012, he was in the comedy Darling Companion with Diane Keaton.

Recent Work (2017-Present)

In 2017, Kline returned to Broadway in the play Present Laughter. He received excellent reviews for his performance. He won his third Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for this role.

That same year, he played Maurice in Disney's live-action movie of Beauty and the Beast. The film was very successful and earned over $1.2 billion worldwide. It became one of the highest-grossing films of 2017. He also continues to voice Calvin Fischoeder in the animated series Bob's Burgers (2011–present). He was nominated for an Emmy Award for his voice work. He also voiced the character in The Bob's Burgers Movie (2022).

In 2021, it was announced that Kline would star with Cate Blanchett in the Apple TV+ series Disclaimer.

Personal Life

Kevin Kline met actress Phoebe Cates in 1983. They started dating in 1985 and got married on March 5, 1989. They live in Manhattan, New York. They have two children: Owen Joseph Kline (born 1991) and Greta Kline (born 1994). Greta is a musician who leads the band Frankie Cosmos.

The Kevin Kline Awards are given to theater professionals in St. Louis. These awards honor actors, designers, and choreographers.

Selected Acting Credits

Kevin Kline's career has lasted over five decades. He has worked with many famous filmmakers and actors.

Some of his notable roles include:

Awards and Nominations

Kevin Kline has won many awards throughout his career. These include an Academy Award, three Tony Awards, four Drama Desk Awards, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. He has also been nominated for two BAFTA Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and five Golden Globe Awards.

See also

In Spanish: Kevin Kline para niños