During his stretch in prison, Gage was unanimously referred to by guards
and cons alike as "Waingro", his character from Michael Mann's Heat (1995). By all accounts, he was a model prisoner.
Auditioned for his role in Heat (1995) over an intense three month period
that included eleven script readings with the director before he
finally secured the part.
On July 30, 2003, Gage was sentenced to 41 months in Federal prison,
starting September 29, 2003, for cultivating medicinal marijuana. He
was released September 21, 2005.
Shortly after turning 32, an accident in his Jeep left Kevin in
traction for three months and in a wheelchair and on crutches for
another year.
Shortly after graduating from high school he hitchhiked to Florida and
stayed there a few months, working odd jobs.