Kevin Costner's Journey to Stardom: From Stage Manager to Oscar-Winning Director

Kevin Costner opens up about his early struggles in Hollywood and the unconventional path that led him to become one of the most celebrated actors and directors in the industry.

Kevin Costner, the acclaimed actor, and director, has shared insights into his early career in a recent interview on Dax Shepard's "Armchair Expert" podcast. Costner candidly recalls a time when he harbored doubts about his future in acting, working as a stage manager at Raleigh Station while aspiring to make it as an actor.

"Once I got through the door, I kind of went pretty fast," Costner said on the podcast. "It wasn’t Tom Cruise sliding across the floor at 18. It was for me at 27, 28. I was a stage manager at Raleigh, working for $3.25. I was surrounded by Richard Gere, Mel Gibson, Nicolas Cage, Timothy Hutton, and Sean Penn. At that point, I wondered if maybe I wasn't going to get the part."

Costner's determination grew from a realization that actors could only make a finite number of movies in a year, fueling a desire to "see everything that somebody had turned down." This led him to question whether other actors "walked past something great," and he became committed to "chasing that idea."

Despite his agent's perplexity, Costner believed that the financial rewards of acting came with corresponding responsibilities, declaring, "Actors all want to have agents, but you kind of realize that you get 90% of the money, maybe you’re supposed to do 90% of the work."

Costner's life took a significant turn with his role in the 1983 film "The Big Chill," despite his scenes being cut from the final edit. Costner acknowledged the impact of this experience, stating, "I wasn't in the movie, but I realized that wasn't going to be my last movie."

Shortly after, Costner's breakout role in the Western "Silverado" catapulted him to fame. Initially drawn to the minimalist role that was ultimately played by Kevin Klein, Costner found himself playing the character who was "as big as the horizon."

Following "Silverado's" success, Orion Studios presented Costner with a slate of potential projects, all of which he declined. Costner explained, "I wanted my career to be about something at some point," and he felt that none of the proposed movies were a "fit for him."

Upon turning down their ideas, Costner was asked what movie he would like to make, prompting him to choose "Finish with Engines." This film, later retitled "No Way Out," starred Gene Hackman and became a major box-office success, doubling its budget.

Costner's career continued to flourish with出演 in "Bull Durham," "Field of Dreams," "The Bodyguard," and his Oscar-winning masterpiece, "Dances with Wolves," which earned him Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Picture.

In recent years, Costner has starred in Paramount Network's popular series "Yellowstone." While he initially agreed to three seasons, he ultimately stayed for all five due to his belief in the world created by Taylor Sheridan and the authentic writing of his character.

Costner has since left "Yellowstone" and is focused on directing and acting in "Horizon: An American Saga." The first two films in the series will be released on June 28 and August 16, respectively, with production already underway on chapters three and four.

Throughout his career, Kevin Costner has proven his versatility and dedication to the craft of filmmaking. From his humble beginnings as a stage manager to his status as an Oscar-winning director, Costner's journey serves as an inspiration to aspiring actors and filmmakers alike.