How Kevin Costner Became a Leading Man in Hollywood

Kevin Costner didn’t grow up dreaming of stardom. He originally planned a very different life—he studied marketing and finance at California State University, Fullerton. But during his final year, he took an acting class on a whim, and something clicked.

The creativity, the energy, the storytelling—it all grabbed him. That one elective changed everything. From then on, he was hooked. He dove in despite having no family connections in the industry and no formal background.