Actor: Kevin Costner
Kevin Costner is the greatest sports movie actor of all time. Now, that in itself may not be enough to secure a place on a list like this. But he’s had enough success in other genres to supplement his sports movie success to make me comfortable with the selection. Most of all, I just like the guy.
Costner almost had his breakthrough role in the hit The Big Chill – except his scenes were famously cut from the finished film. It would be two more years, in his twelfth picture, before Silverado helped bring him to the public’s – and Hollywood’s – attention. Here are some of his most notable movies:
- Silverado (1985)
- The Untouchables (1987)
- No Way Out (1987)
- Bull Durham (1988)
- Field of Dreams (1989)
- Dances With Wolves (1990 – Nominee, Actor; Winner, Director)
- Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
- JFK (1991)
- The Bodyguard (1992)
- Wyatt Earp (1994)
- Tin Cup (1996)
- For Love of the Game (1999)
In my opinion, Bull Durham is the best baseball movie ever. And Field of Dreams is in my top 10 all-time favorite movies. Both have rightfully found a place on this blog. Costner carried them both, and was entirely believable. He’s not always made the best choices – in fact, his last decade is almost entirely forgettable – but the above list includes some terrific movies. So Kevin, as a voice one time said: Go the distance.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU_YGwfwzXw]