Kevin was born in Lynwood, California, on January 18, 1955. He was the third child of Bill Costner and Sharon Costner. He has two older brothers (Dan born 1950 and a middle brother who died at birth in 1953). He is of Cherokee Native American, English, German, Irish, Scottish, Swiss and Welsh descent. When he finished high school, he was a basketball, football and baseball star. In 1978, he married his college friend Cindy Costner. (Cindy Costner later played a role in "Dances with Wolves"). Some time later, he met Richard Burton, and this made him go after acting. He has made or participated in the making of 47 movies.