Kevin Costner Plays JFK's Friend
In a career that has spanned two decades, Kevin Costner has established himself as one of Hollywood's most popular and most bankable stars. He recently talked with CBS New Early Show Anchor Bryant Gumbel about his latest movie, Thirteen Days.
In October of 1962, the world came as close as it ever has to the brink of nuclear war. The flash point was Cuba. The U.S. response to that crisis is the basis for Thirteen Days. In the film Costner plays Ken O'Donnell, John F. Kennedy's closest adviser.
This is the second film in which Costner has starred that has revolved around Kennedy: In 1991, he played district attorney Jim Garrison in JFK.
In the movie, Costner wears a rumpled suit and a buzz cut. Is O'Donnell the unsexiest character Costner has ever played?
Costner explains that Jack Kennedy was one of the bigger personalities on the scene we've ever had. "It was very important that I don't compete with that."
Costner said it was hard for him to speak in a Boston accent in the beginning but it got easier as he got used to it.
"I thought it was important because these guys were outsiders. They were not liked in Washington," said Costner. "In those Washington rooms, you kind of heard of Kennedy before you saw him. That little Boston thing they had. So they were their own group."
The crisis lasted 13 days. Condensing it must have been difficult. Were some factual elements sacrificed in telling the story?
"I don't think we sacrificed facts as much as we had to condense certain things and combine ideas," Costner explained. "The Kennedys took a hands-on approach to the crisis, meaning they actually started talking to officers, which is way beyond (what) the commander-in-chief normally does delegating. But they felt that things were so out of control they needed to take a hands-on approach and that's where the three of them became so close."
This film is character driven, it's dialogue driven. Why did he want to do the film?
"It's important we keep making these movies," Costner said, regardless of their marketability. "I think you can't be in the business of trying to predict audiences. You have to follow your heart and go with what appeals to you."
Costner admits the film might have a hard time finding an audience, but says it's worthy of a big-time audience. "At the end of the movie there's an emotional thing that happens. It wasn't designed, it just -- there was a collective weight where you feel a pride about decisions men made on our behalf. When you feel probably those around them might have wilted and not made the decisions and we're living the legacy."
Bruce Greenwood plays JFK in the movie and Costner describes Greenwood as the movie's "tent pole."
"I'm the emotional part of the movie. But I think without Bruce we don't have this movie and this movie wouldn't live."
Costner said he never considered paying JFK.
"So much focus gets brought on to me for a variety of reasons, whether I do an accent or whether I'm this or that," said Costner. "Part of being a producer is making the best decisions for the movie. The best decision was clearly me not playing Jack. I don't think I could have played Jack as well as Bruce did."
"I understood my role. Kenny did not save the world. Jack Kennedy did and Bobby did," Costner said. "And we define my character in one word really, at the end of the movie -- a very simple thing…His Russian counterpart, a woman who is very fearful, says, 'Who are you?' He has to think a moment. There's no cards, no title. He simply says he's the friend. I think for all of us who have friends in our life, that word has a lot of weight."
Costner has achieved great success with such notable American films as Dances With Wolves, JFK and Field of Dreams.
He was born in Los Angeles in 1955. His father was a telephone company worker and his mother worked for the state welfare department.
Costner went to four different high schools in four years and graduated in 1973. According to Hollywood.com Costner became involved in community theater while he was a marketing student at California State University in Fullerton.
In 1978 he married Cindy Silva and they had three children, Annie, Lily and Joe.
Lawrence Kasdan cast him in The Big Chill in 1983 but his part of the suicide victim ended up on the cutting room floor. Kasdan made it up to Costner by casting him in a leading role in Silverado. Costner's status as a star was clinched with his performances in The Untouchables and Bill Durham.
Costner and his wife divorced in 1994. He had a son, Liam, with Bridget Rooney. He now reportedly is engaged to model Christine Baumgarten.
He had several big flops in the late 1990s but redeemed himself somewhat playing the romantic lead in Message In A Bottle.
His next film is an action thriller, 3000 Miles From Graceland, co-starring Kurt Russell.
Kevin Costner's filmography:
Play It to the Bone (2000)
For Love of the Game (1999)
Message in a Bottle (1999)
The Postman (1997)
Tin Cup (1996)
Waterworld (1995)
China Moon (1994)
Rapa Nui (1994)
The War (1994)
Wyatt Earp (1994)
A Perfect World (1993)
Beyond JFK: The Question of Conspiracy (1992)
The Bodyguard (1992)
JFK (1991)
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
Truth or Dare (1991)
Dances with Wolves (1990)
Revenge (1990)
The Earth Day Special (1990)
Amazing Stories: The Movie 1 (1989)
Chasing Dreams (1989)
Field of Dreams (1989)
Bull Durham (1988)
No Way Out (1987)
The Untuchables (1987)
Sizzle Beach, U.S.A. (1986)
Amazing Stories (TV Series) (1985)
Amazing Stories, Book 1 (1985)
American Flyers (1985)
Fandango (1985)
Shadows Run Black (1985)
Silverado (1985)
The Gunrunner (1984)
Stacy's Knights (1983)
Table for Five (1983)
Testament (1983)
The Big Chill (1983)
Chasing Dreams (1982)
Frances (1982)
Night Shift (1982)
Awards:
1992 Best Actor (Drama)
1991 Best Actor
1991 Best Actor (Drama)
1991 Best Director
1991 Best Director (David Lean Award)
1991 Silver Bear for outstanding achievement
1990 Best Actor
1990 Best Director
1990 Best First-Time Director
1990 Best First-Time Director
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