Sixty-Five-Year-Old Kevin Costner Only Found Love At Age Fifty

Dec 07, 2020

Kevin Costner has always captured our hearts through his actions and emotions on the big screen. A protagonist of many great love stories, some might even consider Costner to be the "king" of Hollywood romance.

Despite his recurring role as the king of love on the big screen, Costner did not have that much luck when it came to finding love in real life. After many years of trying again and again in failed relationships, the actor finally found love at 49 years old—and has never looked back since.  

Kevin Costner might have been in the spotlight for decades by now, but his early life had humble beginnings. Born on January 18, 1955, in Lynwood, California, Costner was the youngest of three sons. However, sadly, his middle brother did not survive long and passed away at childbirth. Growing up in Compton, California, Costner's teenage years would include frequent moving due to his father's job as an electrician for changing bosses. On top of Lynwood and Compton, the family also lived in Ventura, Visalia, and Orange County.

In a New York Times interview from 1989, Costner described this early period of his life as very stressful, saying:

''I supplanted my own personality just to get along. I was thrown into so many situations that I quit trying. I couldn't come on too strong, I didn't want to be too funny, I didn't want to be too good. And I certainly didn't want the head guy's girl to like me. I think I lost a lot of confidence in who I was.''

The interview took place during a peak in his career in the late '80s and Costner's success wasn't lost on him. He stated in the interview: ''I would imagine some people are probably surprised to see me in the position I'm in.'' This was certainly true; the description of Costner's young self doesn't seem similar to what audiences knew of the star.

While in college in the '70s, Costner met his first wife, Cindy Silva, and, after three years of dating, got married to her in 1978. “She was beautiful, she was sweet, she was smarter than me. She represented everything about women that I like,” Costner said of Silva, according to Closer Weekly. The two went on to have three children together: Annie (born in 1984), Lily (born in 1986), and Joe Costner (born in 1988).

Catching the Acting Bug

While at college, Costner became interested in acting and dancing during his final year. However, he hadn't yet told his new wife Cindy Silva how serious he was about wanting to become an actor. Incidentally, while the couple flew to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico for their honeymoon, none other than Richard Burton happened to be on the plane. Costner recounted the story in an interview with Roger Ebert, saying that Burton had bought all of the seats around him so that no one could sit directly next to him. After finally mustering up the courage to go and talk to him and ask for advice, he was told by Burton "When I finish my book." The acting legend finished reading but instead put his head back afterward for a short nap. Costner explains that he was "on the edge of his seat," watching Burton like a hawk. Finally, Burton looked back at him and gestured that he was ready to talk. Costner continued:

"I've always kinda kept it private what the conversation was. I told him, 'I was hoping to become an actor, and, well, you're a celebrated actor, but you're a brawler, you've had a lot of marriages, a lot of things...I just want to know, does that kind of life follow an actor? I want to have a life that's not filled with drama.'

That's a pretty big observation for a young man to have, but Burton's words, simple and surprising as they were, clearly gave Costner the answers he was looking for.

"Burton looked at me and he said, 'You have green eyes. I have green eyes.' And he goes, 'I think you'll be fine.'"

But the story didn't end there. The plane landed at the airport and the newlyweds were outside with their luggage, waiting for a bus ride they had to take back to Anaheim. 

"And this limousine comes by, and it stops and the window comes down, and it's Richard, and he goes, 'Good luck.' And the window went up and he went out of my life, and I never had the chance to ever talk to him about the fact that in a way, because of him, I had a life in the movies."

Who knew that Richard Burton had such an influence on a young Kevin Costner. In the same interview he stated: 

"Of course, I've been bruised in this world, but I've tried to hold on to my normalcy, my life, my children, and stuff." 

That's true, as even though his personal life was going well—he'd started a family with Silva and their three children—Costner's acting career was struggling. As a new actor, he was not gaining as many roles as he would have hoped for. To make up for this lack of income, he took up side jobs such as being a carpenter.

A Big Break

His first role came in 1983 when he was asked to perform in the movie The Big Chill. He starred alongside other popular actors of the time, including Jeff Goldblum, William Hurt, Glenn Close, and Kevin Kline. Unfortunately, all of Costner's scenes were completely removed from the film, leaving him nameless in the harsh world of entertainment. Regardless, Costner always felt lucky to have his wife by his side, supporting him through the harsh beginning of his career.

Luck began to shine down on him when he was called for another major role in 1985. The director of his previous film, Lawrence Kasdan, decided to give him a small role in Silverado. With this film, Costner's career finally began to take off.

During the successful portion of his career, Costner was asked to star in plenty of popular films, including Bull Durham, Field of Dreams, and The Untouchables. He was awarded two Academy Awards in 1990 for the film, Dances with Wolves, which he directed, produced, and starred in. Soon after, he starred in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and JFK.

Costner made many connections and friendships throughout his career, but his most notable relationship was with Whitney Houston, a celebrity we all know for her melodious voice. At the time, Whitney was new to the world of acting and had little to no experience to speak of. Her first film was The Bodyguard, where she played the role of a music superstar. Costner did his best to give his co-star advice and tips; however, it seemed that Houston did not need much help. Her talent and charming personality made the movie a worldwide hit.

While the pair exhibited great romantic chemistry on the big screen, a real relationship was never confirmed. Despite this, Costner and his first wife filed for divorce two years later and went their separate ways. Costner continued to act in movies and would not meet his next love for some time.

Houston and Costner had come to be great friends over the years and in 2012 when Houston passed away in her home, Costner paid tribute by reciting a heartfelt tribute at her funeral. “I was your pretend bodyguard once and now you're gone...So off you go escorted by an army of angels to your heavenly father...and don't worry, you'll be good enough," were his heartfelt and emotional words, according to Mirror.

In 1996, two years after his divorce from his first wife, Costner met the stunning businesswoman Bridget Rooney. Although the couple only enjoyed a short stint, already breaking up later that same year, they did welcome a son named Liam together. 

Soon after, Costner met Brigit Cunnigham in the late 1990s, whom he dated for three years. After that short relationship, he found love with Elle Macpherson, a supermodel who seemed to be his equal in every way. Like his previous relationships, this one, unfortunately, did not last long either. A long-lasting, loving relationship seemed to elude him.

Finally, the actor met Christine Baumgartner in the year 2000. Although they broke up two years later, they kept in touch and eventually rekindled and eventually married in 2004.

“She said, ‘I’m going to wait for you, but not long. When you come to your senses, come back to me’. “And I did.”, the actor told Parade in 2012.

It has been 16 years since, and the couple is still happily married with three children of their own. It took Costner years to find his true love, and now that he has, he is sure to never let her go. His secret to a successful marriage? “Maybe it’s the ability to say you’re sorry,” Costner told Parade, adding further, “I know that sounds so simple.” However, as many relationship guides and couples around the world know: often, saying sorry is the hardest thing.

Did you know how long it's taken Kevin Costner to find true love? Have you had similar troubles with relationships? Let us know in the comments, then be sure to tell your friends too!