Kevin Costner has always captured our hearts through his actions and emotions on the big screen. A protagonist of many great love stories, some might even consider Kevin to be the “king” of Hollywood romance.
Despite his recurring role as the king of love on the big screen, Kevin did not have that much luck when it came to finding love in real life. After many years of trying again and again in failed relationships, the actor finally found love at 49 years old — and he has never looked back since.
Kevin is a man of many talents who has a striking likability. This comes across in his legendary roles in films like “Field of Dreams,” “Bull Durham” and “Dances With Wolves.” Kevin has been a major Hollywood star for over three decades.
While he is the true definition of a successful actor, the 66-year-old is also a leading man in real life, with seven beautiful children. Yes! The California-born actor also plays a father’s role to four sons — Joe, Liam, Cayden and Hayes — and three daughters — Annie, Lily and Grace. The part might seem overwhelming, but Kevin says he likes it that way.
In an interview with Closer Weekly, he revealed the difficulty that comes with having to handle two sets of children at once.
Why two sets of kids? Well, Kevin’s children come as a bunch on a whole new level. The seven children have a 26-year age gap with the different sets from previous relationships ranging from the eldest to the youngest kiddos.
Born on Jan. 18, 1955, in Lynwood, California, Kevin Costner was the youngest of three sons. Sadly, however, his middle brother did not survive long and passed away during childbirth. Growing up in Compton, California, Kevin’s teenage years would include frequent moving due to his father’s job as an electrician for changing bosses. On top of Lynwood and Compton, the family also lived in Ventura, Visalia and Orange County.
In a New York Times interview from 1989, Kevin described this early period of his life as very stressful, saying:
”I supplanted my own personality just to get along. I was thrown into so many situations that I quit trying. I couldn’t come on too strong, I didn’t want to be too funny, I didn’t want to be too good. And I certainly didn’t want the head guy’s girl to like me. I think I lost a lot of confidence in who I was.”
In his 2015 Mom.com interview, Kevin said:
“As [my] children interact together, there’s always this little bit of, ‘Do you care for us now as much as you do them?’ That’s just a natural thing that happens, and you have to talk about how big love is.” He also added, “The ability to be able to love somebody else doesn’t mean there’s less love for you. Love seems to be always able to hang on to as many people as needs to be in that circle.”
Having a super-famous father like Kevin can have its complications. Since he realizes it can be hectic, the legendary actor admits that he deeply cares for all his kids, enough to be aware of possible rivalry among siblings.
In particular, the Hollywood star got to sit down with the older kids, Annie, Joe, Lily, and Liam, to talk about any existing “jealousy” in the extended family for his Mom.com interview. He revealed:
“I basically reminded [my older kids] that they were going to have twice as long with me on this planet. I said, ‘Look, they’re not going to have what you had,’ and at that point, they all just embraced each other.”
Despite his leading character in Hollywood, the 66-year old still plays second fiddle with his kids being different. At times, he couldn’t help but laugh at the funny things his kids still do, especially his young daughter, Grace Costner. In an interview on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, he recounted when the youngest had put him in his place. In the 2015 interview, the Oscar winner jokingly revealed:
“One time, I was watching ‘Black or White’ and there’s this moment where I’m coming out of a pool….and she came in and sat next to me…and she goes ‘Dad, you’ve got a fat belly!'”
He added, “And I tried to explain to her character development, that I was going to be grandpa [in the film].” Nevertheless, it’s interesting enough that Kevin’s kids get to witness his personal side.
As you may already know, Kevin has found and lost love, which is typical of most Hollywood A-listers. Along with his different marriages and relationship, the actor has also welcomed wonderful kids seven times over two decades. Here’s the real background story to what the actor holds dear in terms of his beautiful kids.
First Marriage
In 1975, the actor-to-be had his first romance with a fellow student, Cindy Silva. Both fell in love, with the couple formalizing their vows three years later. From this marriage, Kevin would have three beautiful kids — two daughters and a son.
Annie Costner
Kevin and Silva welcomed Annie Costner as the firstborn child in April 1984, in Los Angeles County, California. The 37-year old now takes after her father’s work with a career in Hollywood. Annie Costner is known for producing, directing, and acting. Early in her career, she starred in a couple of cameos, with “Dances With Wolves” and “Waterworld” being some of her best acting stints in Hollywood.
Per IMDb, the eldest Costner has also produced films and shows such as “El Cartel Cubano,” “ESPN 30 for 30: Bump, Spike” and “The Discarded: A Tale of Two Rios.” She also made strides as a director with her own boutique production house, focusing on specific documentary genres and features. Her personal life remains her best-kept secret; although, she has been married to Danny Cox since 2016.
Lily Costner
As the second-born to Kevin and his first wife, Lily Costner came into the world in August of 1986 in Los Angles County. She is also an actress; the 34-year old has starred in great movies such as “The Postman,” “The Baby-Sitters Club” and “Black or White.” Her acting career was the most impressive as she kicked off her cameos at a young age with her appearance in “The Baby-Sitters Club” at 9-years-old.
Her impressive personality also got her the title of Miss Golden Globe a decade later, at 18 years old. The pageant allows celebrity kids a shot at stardom, with young winners holding presentations and handing out trophies during the Golden Globe Awards.
Joe Costner
Joe Costner is Kevin and Silva’s last-born and only son from their marriage. The California native was born in Jan. 1988 as the youngest son. His parents ended up divorcing six years later.
It may not come as a surprise that Joe is also a celebrity actor with a short career in Hollywood. His works include “The Postman,” which he starred in with his sister. He also got an acting shot with his roles in the movie “Tin Cup” and the short film “Oasis,” where he got credit for sound engineering.
Second Marriage
After his divorce in 1994, Kevin would re-marry two years later by going public about his then-girlfriend Bridget Rooney. The pair would expand the family by welcoming a son to the Costner siblings’ list but later split amicably due to unexplained differences.
Liam Costner
Kevin and Rooney had their first and only child, Liam Costner, in Nov. 1996. Sadly, his parents’ love life was short-lived, with the pair ending up divorcing while he was still young. Unlike the older Costners, he has shied from the media and does not have a showbiz career.
Third Marriage
Kevin welcomed more children with his third wife, model and fashion designer Christine Baumgartner. Their love story had begun a decade earlier, but the pair had not given the romance a real go at first. The couple then reconnected in 1998 before making the relationship official in 2004 after dating for four years.
“She said, ‘I’m going to wait for you, but not long. When you come to your senses, come back to me.’ “And I did,” the actor told Parade in 2012.
Sadly, Kevin and Baumgartner’s union wouldn’t last, and in 2023 the couple with three children of their own called it quits. Prior to their marriage ending, Kevin had revealed his secret to a successful marriage. “Maybe it’s the ability to say you’re sorry,” Kevin told Parade, adding further, “I know that sounds so simple.” However, as many relationship guides and couples around the world know, often, saying sorry is the hardest thing.
Kevin and Baumgartner spent a lot of time at their sprawling Colorado ranch, as Variety reports. He and Baumgartner designed the Aspen, Colorado residence as a posh Rocky Mountain getaway, which includes three luxury lodges, a few fish-stocked ponds, a hill for sledding and a baseball field — all on the 160-acre property.
If you and your special someone want to live out their romance, it will cost you a pretty penny. In the same article, Variety reports that one night at the resort — which can comfortably accommodate up to 27 people — costs $30,000. So even if you get a big group of friends, you’re looking at a hefty $1,111 per night.
The former couple also owned a few romantic properties near Montecito, California.
“In 2006, Costner and Baumgartner substantially expanded their Carpinteria holdings with the $28.5 million purchase of an under-developed 17.25-acre bluff-top property overlooking the Pacific only about half of a mile down the beach from their oceanfront compound,” Variety reported in 2019.
Wherever the couple spent their time — whether vacationing in Colorado or hanging out in California — Kevin seemed to think that he and his now ex-wife had finally figured out how to live together. “Our partnership has really come into focus about what we do for each other and how we deal with our family,” Kevin told People in 2020.
“Our house is like a river: You’ve just got to get into the flow of it,” he added. “And whatever you thought it was going to be, maybe it still can, but it’s going to have to work with what the day brings.”
Cayden Costner
Kevin and Baumgartner welcomed Cayden Wyatt in May 2007 at a Los Angeles area hospital. The parents had only exchanged vows a few years earlier in 2004 after being on-and-off for over a decade before. Currently, the 14-year-old is yet to make his name in Hollywood and has instead taken a low-profile social presence.
Hayes Costner
Hayes Costner comes second from his dad’s former marriage with Baumgartner. The lovebirds welcomed the son back in Feb. 2009 to the star-studded life. Much like his older siblings, the 12-year old Costner is still too young to make a name for himself in Hollywood. And so far he has shown little interest in following his dad’s footsteps. Nevertheless, you can’t fail to occasionally spot Hayes tagging along with his father at Hollywood’s red-carpet events.
Grace Costner
Already a father of six, Kevin went ahead to welcome his seventh and youngest child, Grace Costner in June 2010. The young Costner is also a frequent sight at her dad’s red carpet events while tagging along with her brothers.
As Kevin admits, Grace and her siblings are not really aware of his Hollywood career as a living. While it’s inevitable, it’s interesting that they will find out one day how much of a superstar their dad is to the rest of the world.
Family Comes First
As a father of seven, Kevin blends a beautiful family from his different love stories. True to this, his years in showbiz make it clear that his children come first, whether it’s through frequent red carpet appearances with him, his mentoring of some of their Hollywood careers, and making frequent mention of his extended family in different acceptance speeches. Still, he remains careful not to stray in picking favorites from the bunch. Even so, he remains a great dad and, of course, a superstar actor with over three decades of acting and parenting.
You are now aware of Kevin Costner’s impressive family of seven kids from different relationships. Would you want to have such a large family? What do you think about such a large age gap between kids? If you learned something from this article, be sure to pass it on to those you know!
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