Biography for
Kevin Kline

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After graduating from Indiana University in Bloomington, Kline studied at the Juilliard School in New York. In 1972, Kline joined the Acting Company in New York which was run by John Houseman. With this company, Kline performed Shakespeare across the country. On the stage, Kline has won two Tony Awards for his work in the musicals "On the Twentieth Century" (1978) and "The Pirates of Penzance" (1981). After working on the Television soap "Search for Tomorrow" (1951), Kline went to Hollywood where his first film was Sophie's Choice (1982). He was nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance. His work in the ensemble cast of The Big Chill (1983) would again be highly successful, so that when Lawrence Kasdan wrote Silverado (1985), Kline would again be part of the cast. With his role as Otto "Don't call me Stupid!" West in the film A Fish Called Wanda (1988), Kline would win the Oscar for Supporting Actor. Kline could play classic roles such as Hamlet in Hamlet (1990/II) (TV); or a swashbuckling actor like Douglas Fairbanks in Chaplin (1992); or a comedic role in Soapdish (1991). In all the films that he has worked in, it is hard to find a performance that is not well done. In 1989, Kline married actress Phoebe Cates.

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Children: Owen Kline (full name, Owen Joseph Kline, b. October 14th 1991) and Greta Kline (full name, Greta Simone Kline, b. March 21st 1994).

Has won two Tony awards, the first in 1978 for the role of Bruce Granit in 'On the Twentieth Century', and the second in 1981 for the role of The Pirate King in 'The Pirates of Penzance.'

Kline has played presidents and their doubles twice to date: he played Dave and President Bill Mitchell in Dave (1993), and Artemus Gordon and President Ulysses S. Grant in Wild Wild West (1999).

Appears with wife Phoebe Cates and their two children, Owen Kline and Greta Kline, as a family of four in The Anniversary Party (2001).

Turned down the role of Batman (1989).

Graduated from Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana in 1970 with a BA in Speech & Theatre.

Brother of producer Kate Kline May.

Graduate of St. Louis Priory School (Class of 1965).

In 1975, he met with director Steven Spielberg about playing Matt Hooper in Jaws (1975) (Played by Richard Dreyfuss). Kevin said that he knew someone who was an oceanographer and thought he could play one. Spielberg then told him "I don't want someone who knows someone who is an oceanographer, I want someone who is an oceanographer". Richard Dreyfuss then got the part.

Though it appears that his feature debut was in Sophie's Choice (1982), Kline had actually completed The Pirates of Penzance (1983) before going on to co-star with Meryl Streep, but the release of 'Pirates' was sufficiently delayed, enabling 'Sophie' to receive an earlier release

Became the 2,272nd recipient of a bronze-edged star embedded in the pavement of Los Angeles' Hollywood Boulevard.

Won two Tony Awards: in 1978 as Best Actor (Featured Role - Musical) for playing Bruce Granit in "On the Twentieth Century," and in 1981 as Best Actor (Musical) for playing The Pirate King in "The Pirates of Penzance," a performance he recreated in the film version of the same title, The Pirates of Penzance (1983). He was also nominated in 2004 as Best Actor (Play) for portraying Sir John Falstaff in Shakespeare's "Henry IV."

Met future wife Phoebe Cates when she auditioned for the part of Chloe in The Big Chill (1983), that eventually went to `Meg Tilly'.

Won an Obie Award in 1980/1981 for his role in "The Pirates of Penzance".

Son-in-law of Joseph Cates.

The theater at his alma mater, St. Louis Priory School, is named in his honor.

Has a star in the St. Louis Walk of Fame located on the Delmar Loop.

Inspired the Kevin Kline Mustache Principle, according to movie critic Roger Ebert: Kline always has facial hair in comedies, but is clean-shaven in dramatic roles. There are several exceptions to the rule, most notably In & Out (1997) and Wild Wild West (1999) (although in the latter, he did wear a beard and mustache to play President Ulysses S. Grant).

Has played dual roles in three of his films: Dave (1993), Wild Wild West (1999) and Fierce Creatures (1997). In each film, one of his characters has to impersonate the other one.

Kline is one of the few actors in history to receive the Academy Award for a comedic acting role (A Fish Called Wanda (1988)).

Personal Quotes

"It is these children we must admire... Their honesty and bravery are models for us all. Their stories and their role here today - advocating for their cure, their own future - must be heard." - In reference to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International Children's Congress 2001.

"I think every American actor wants to be a movie star. But I never wanted to do stupid movies, I wanted to do films. I vowed I would never do a commercial, or a soap opera - both of which I did as soon as I left the Acting Company and was starving."

"I've never felt completely satisfied with what I've done. I tend to see things too critically. I'm trying to get over that. I've got the Jewish guilt and the Irish shame and it's a hell of a job distinguishing which is which."

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