View source for Kevin Kline

{{short description|American actor (born 1947)}}
{{about|the actor|people with a similar name|Kevin Klein (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2011}}
{{Infobox person
| name          = Kevin Kline
| image         = Kevin Kline at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.jpg
| caption       = Kline in 2024
| birth_name    = Kevin Delaney Kline
| birth_date    = {{birth date and age|1947|10|24}}
| birth_place   = [[St. Louis, Missouri]], U.S.
| death_date    =
| death_place   =
| years_active  = 1970–present
| notable_works = [[Kevin Kline on screen and stage|Performances]]
| education     = {{ubl|[[Indiana University Bloomington]]{{wbr}}&nbsp;([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])|[[Juilliard School]]{{wbr}}&nbsp;([[Graduate diploma|GrDip]])}}
| occupation    = Actor
| spouse        = {{marriage|[[Phoebe Cates]]|1989}}
| children      = [[Owen Kline]]<br>[[Greta Kline]]
| awards        = [[List of awards and nominations received by Kevin Kline|Full list]]
}}

'''Kevin Delaney Kline''' (born October 24, 1947) is an American actor. In a career spanning over five decades, he has become a prominent [[leading man]] across both [[Kevin Kline on screen and stage|stage and screen]]. [[List of awards and nominations received by Kevin Kline|His accolades]] include an [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]] and three [[Tony Awards]], along with nominations for two [[British Academy Film Awards]],  two [[Primetime Emmy Awards]], and five [[Golden Globe Awards]]. In 2003, he was inducted into the [[American Theatre Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Theater honors put women in the spotlight |url=http://old.post-gazette.com/ae/20040128fameweb0128p1.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304060009/http://old.post-gazette.com/ae/20040128fameweb0128p1.asp |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |access-date=December 22, 2015 |publisher=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette}}</ref>

Kline began his acting career on stage in 1972 with [[The Acting Company]] and gained prominence for his numerous performances with [[The Public Theatre]] and in [[Shakespeare in the Park (New York City)|New York Shakespeare Festival]]. He has gone on to win three [[Tony Awards]] for his work on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]], including wins in [[Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical|Best Featured Actor in a Musical]] in ''[[On the Twentieth Century]]'' (1978), [[Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical|Best Actor in a Musical]] for ''[[The Pirates of Penzance]]'' (1981), and [[Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play]] for the revival of [[Noël Coward]]'s ''[[Present Laughter]]'' (2017).<ref name="ibdb">{{IBDB name|67986}}</ref> He was Tony-nominated for playing [[John Falstaff]] in ''[[Henry IV, Part 1|Henry IV]]'' (2004).

Kline made his film debut in ''[[Sophie's Choice (film)|Sophie's Choice]]'' (1982) before winning the [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor]] for his comedic role in ''[[A Fish Called Wanda]]'' (1988). He also acted in ''[[The Pirates of Penzance (film)|The Pirates of Penzance]]'' (1983), ''[[Silverado (film)|Silverado]]'' (1985), ''[[Cry Freedom]]'' (1987), ''[[The January Man]]'' (1989), ''[[Soapdish]]'' (1991), ''[[Grand Canyon (1991 film)|Grand Canyon]]'' (1991), ''[[Chaplin (film)|Chaplin]]'' (1992), ''[[Dave (film)|Dave]]'' (1993), ''[[The Ice Storm (film)|The Ice Storm]]'' (1997), ''[[In & Out (film)|In & Out]]'' (1997), ''[[Life As A House]]'' (2001), ''[[The Emperor's Club]]'' (2002), ''[[A Prairie Home Companion (film)|A Prairie Home Companion]]'' (2006), and ''[[Beauty and the Beast (2017 film)|Beauty and the Beast]]'' (2017). He also voiced roles in ''[[The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996 film)|The Hunchback of Notre Dame]]'' (1996) and ''[[The Road to El Dorado]]'' (2000).

On television, Kline started his career in the [[soap opera]] ''[[Search for Tomorrow]]'' (1976). He received nomination for the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie|Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Movie]] for playing the [[Cyrano de Bergerac|title role]] in the [[PBS]] production of ''[[Cyrano de Bergerac (2008 film)|Cyrano de Bergerac]]'' (2008). He starred in the [[Apple TV+]] miniseries ''[[Disclaimer (TV series)|Disclaimer]]'' (2024). Since 2011, he has voiced Calvin Fischoeder in the animated [[sitcom]] ''[[Bob's Burgers]]''.

==Early life and education==
Kline was born on October 24, 1947, in [[St. Louis]], Missouri, to Margaret Agnes Kirk and Robert Joseph Kline (1909–1996).<ref
name="Robert"/><ref name=obu1>{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SL&p_theme=sl&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F48277DB5974B5A&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D|work=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]|title=Peggy Kirk Kline profile|date=June 8, 2000}}</ref> His father was a classical music lover and amateur opera singer who owned The Record Bar, a record store in St. Louis that opened in 1942.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Record Bar: Emotional Response to Closing |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/139829563/?clipping_id=10172644&fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjEzOTgyOTU2MywiaWF0IjoxNjg3OTczMjM3LCJleHAiOjE2ODgwNTk2Mzd9.Gts9HydEhxnrGjNEOx8TRWZO4zMfFiZzONv4HMP1xvU |website=St. Louis Post-Dispatch | date=January 28, 1980 | page=3 |access-date=28 June 2023 |ref=1}}</ref> He also sold toys during the 1960s and 1970s;<ref name="Robert">{{cite news|title=Robert J. Kline, 87; Was Opera Buff, Owner of Record Stores|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SL&p_theme=sl&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB04FD636DDED95&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D|date=September 7, 1996|access-date=June 7, 2008|archive-date=October 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181023034815/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SL&p_theme=sl&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB04FD636DDED95&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D|url-status=dead}}</ref> his father's family owned Kline's Inc., a department store chain.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Euston |first=Diane |date=2021-12-21 |title=Kline's Department Store and their Christmas fairy princess |url=https://martincitytelegraph.com/2021/12/21/klines-department-store-and-their-christmas-fairy-princess/ |access-date=2023-12-06 |language=en-US}}</ref> Kevin Kline described his mother as the "dramatic theatrical character in our family".<ref>{{cite news|title=Kevin Kline star bio|work=Tribute|url=http://www.tribute.ca/bio.asp?id=2164|year=2008|access-date=June 7, 2008}}</ref> His father was of German-Jewish descent,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-07-20 |title=Kevin Kline - as in the *Actor* - Online -- 1994 Interview (Parade) |url=http://dramafan.tripod.com/kevinkline/paradekk.html |access-date=2025-01-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720173547/http://dramafan.tripod.com/kevinkline/paradekk.html |archive-date=July 20, 2008}}</ref> and his mother Catholic; Kline was raised in his mother's faith.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1876&dat=19830211&id=-FEsAAAAIBAJ&pg=5848,2227600|title=Herald-Journal – Google News Archive Search|work=google.com}}</ref> He has an older sister, Kate, and two younger brothers, Alexander and Christopher.<ref name="obu1" />

He graduated from the [[Saint Louis Priory School]] in 1965.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131113075132/http://www.nytimes.com/movies/person/38699/Kevin-Kline "Kevin Kline Biography"] ''The New York Times'', accessed February 12, 2016</ref> In 1997, the school named its new auditorium the Kevin Kline Theater. At its dedication, he performed selections from Shakespeare as a benefit. He attended [[Indiana University Bloomington]], where he was a classmate of actor [[Jonathan Banks]]. He began studying composing and conducting music, but switched to a theater and speech major for his last two years, and graduated in 1970. He said: "When I switched to the Theater Department, all I did was theater... I could barely make it to class because this was my passion."<ref>Lindquist, David. [http://www.indystar.com/story/entertainment/movies/2014/09/12/kevin-kline-indiana-university-bloomington-maggie-smith-wanda-chill/15510183/ "Kevin Kline returns to IU, where his acting began"] indystar.com, September 12, 2014</ref> While an undergraduate, he was a co-founder of the Vest Pocket Players, an off-campus theatrical troupe.<ref>[http://www.tribute.ca/people/kevin-kline/2164/ "Kevin Kline"] tribute.ca, accessed February 12, 2016</ref>

==Acting career==
===1970–1981: Rise to prominence===
In 1970, Kline won a scholarship to the newly formed drama division of the [[Juilliard School]] in New York. In 1972, he joined fellow Juilliard graduates, including [[Patti LuPone]] and [[David Ogden Stiers]], and formed the City Center Acting Company (now [[The Acting Company]]), under the aegis of [[John Houseman]].<ref>Klein, Alvin. [https://www.nytimes.com/1992/07/12/nyregion/theater-from-juilliard-to-shakespeare-at-a-pond.html "Theater. From Juilliard to Shakespeare at a Pond"] ''The New York Times'', July 12, 1992</ref>{{citation needed|date=December 2015}} The Company traveled across the U.S. performing [[William Shakespeare|Shakespeare]]'s plays, other classical works, and the musical ''[[The Robber Bridegroom (musical)|The Robber Bridegroom]]'', founding one of the most widely praised groups in American repertory theatre. At Juilliard, he studied singing with [[Beverley Peck Johnson]].<ref name="nyt">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/22/arts/beverley-peck-johnson-96-voice-teacher.html|title=Beverley Peck Johnson, 96, Voice Teacher|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=January 22, 2001|author=[[Anthony Tommasini]]}}</ref>

In 1976, Kline left The Acting Company and settled in New York City, doing a brief appearance as Woody Reed in the now-defunct soap opera ''[[Search for Tomorrow]]''. He returned to the stage in 1977 to play Clym Yeobright opposite Donna Theodore as Eustacia Vye in The Hudson Guild Theater production of ''Dance on a Country Grave'', Kelly Hamilton's musical version of Thomas Hardy's ''[[The Return of the Native]]''.<ref name="ibdb"/> In 1978, he played Bruce Granit, a matinée idol caricature, in [[Harold Prince]]'s ''[[On the Twentieth Century]]'', for which he won his first [[Tony Award]].

In 1980, he appeared with [[Linda Ronstadt]], [[Rex Smith]] and [[Patricia Routledge]] in the New York Shakespeare Festival's [[Central Park]] production of [[Gilbert and Sullivan]]'s ''[[The Pirates of Penzance]]'', which moved to Broadway and won Kline another [[Tony Award]] for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for his comically dashing portrayal of the Pirate King.<ref name="ibdb"/> In 1983 he played the role in a [[The Pirates of Penzance (film)|film version]] of the musical, also with Ronstadt, Smith and [[Angela Lansbury]], which had a limited theatrical release.<ref>Maslin, Janet. [https://web.archive.org/web/20090315084352/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/65523/The-Pirates-of-Penzance/overview "'The Pirates of Penzance' OvervieW"] ''The New York Times'', accessed February 12, 2016</ref>

In the ensuing years, Kline appeared many times in [[New York Shakespeare Festival]] productions of Shakespeare plays, including starring roles in ''[[Richard III (play)|Richard III]]'' (1983),<ref>[http://www.lortel.org/Archives/Production/1955 "'King Richard III', Delacort Theater"] lortel.org, accessed February 12, 2016</ref> ''[[Much Ado About Nothing]]'' (1988),<ref>[http://www.lortel.org/Archives/Production/1566 "'Much Ado About Nothing', Delacort Theater"] lortel.org, accessed February 12, 2016</ref> ''[[Henry V (play)|Henry V]]'' (1984),<ref>[http://www.lortel.org/Archives/Production/1881 "'Henry V', Delacort Theater"] lortel.org, accessed February 12, 2016</ref> and two productions of ''[[Hamlet]]'', in 1986<ref>[http://www.lortel.org/Archives/Production/1814 "'Hamlet' 1986, Delacort Theater"] lortel.org, accessed February 12, 2016</ref> and 1990 (which he also directed).<ref>[http://www.lortel.org/Archives/Production/1253  "'Hamlet' 1990, Delacort Theater"] lortel.org, accessed February 12, 2016</ref> A videotape of the 1990 production has aired on PBS. Kline was dubbed "the American [[Laurence Olivier|Olivier]]" by ''The New York Times'' theater critic [[Frank Rich]] for his stage acting.<ref>Charles Isherwood, [https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/01/theater/01kline.html "This King, This Courtier, These Kevin Klines"], nytimes.com, January 1, 2008.</ref>

===1982–1999: Breakthrough and stardom===
[[File:Phoebe Cates 3.jpg|thumb|right|140px|Kline and his wife Phoebe Cates at the [[Academy Awards]] (1989)]]
Kline finally ventured into film in 1982 in ''[[Sophie's Choice (film)|Sophie's Choice]]''. He won the coveted role of the tormented and moody Nathan opposite [[Meryl Streep]]. ''The New York Times'' film critic [[Janet Maslin]] wrote of Kline's performance, "Mr. Kline, whose Nathan convincingly demonstrates the greatest of tenderness toward Sophie, is also called upon to rail at her mercilessly. In the tender scenes Mr. Kline makes himself very appealing; in the cruel ones, he does the best he can to affect a viciousness that, even on the page, seemed less than fully convincing."<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/1982/12/10/movies/styron-s-sophie-s-choice.html|title= STYRON'S 'SOPHIE'S CHOICE'|work= The New York Times|date= December 10, 1982|accessdate= July 30, 2023|last1= Maslin|first1= Janet}}</ref> Streep won an [[Academy Award]] for her performance, and Kline was nominated for a 1983 [[Golden Globe]] award (New Star of the Year)<ref>[http://www.goldenglobes.com/film/sophies-choice "'Sophie's Choice' Golden Globe Awards and Nominations"] goldenglobes.com, accessed February 11, 2016</ref> and [[BAFTA Award]] for Most Outstanding Newcomer To Film.<ref>[http://www.hollywood.com/movies/sophie-s-choice-59129594/awards/ "'Sophie's Choice' Awards and Nominations"] hollywood.com, accessed February 11, 2016</ref>

During the 1980s and early to mid-1990s, Kline made several films with director [[Lawrence Kasdan]], starting with ''[[The Big Chill (film)|The Big Chill]]'' (1983). The film revolves around friends from college reuniting after the death of a friend. Kline co-stars alongside [[Glenn Close]], [[Jeff Goldblum]], and [[William Hurt]]. The film was a critical and commercial success. He reunited with Kasdan with the western film ''[[Silverado (film)|Silverado]]'' (1985) where he starred with [[Kevin Costner]], [[Rosanna Arquette]], and [[John Cleese]]. He then portrayed [[Donald Woods]] in [[Richard Attenborough]]'s ''[[Cry Freedom]]'' (1987) opposite [[Denzel Washington]] about the friendship between activist [[Stephen Biko]] and editor Donald Woods.

''[[Newsday]]'' critic [[Lynn Darling]] wrote on July 13, 1988, that Kline "has proved himself to be one of the most talented and versatile American actors of his generation." In 1989, Kline won an [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor]] for his role in the British comedy ''[[A Fish Called Wanda]]'', where he played a painfully inept American ex-[[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] thug opposite [[John Cleese]]'s genteel British barrister and [[Jamie Lee Curtis]]' femme fatale/con woman. In 2000, the [[American Film Institute]] ranked the film 21st on [[AFI's 100 Years... 100 Laughs]].<ref>{{cite web|title=100 Years, 100 Laughs|publisher=American Film Institute|url=http://www.afi.com/tvevents/100years/laughs.aspx|year=2000|access-date=June 7, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080603155528/http://www.afi.com/tvevents/100years/laughs.aspx|archive-date=June 3, 2008}}</ref> Kline continued to take comedic and dramatic roles in ''[[The January Man]]'' (1989), ''[[I Love You to Death]]'' (1990), ''[[Soapdish]]'' (1991), ''[[Grand Canyon (1991 film)|Grand Canyon]]'' (1991), ''[[Chaplin (film)|Chaplin]]'' (1992), and ''[[French Kiss (1995 film)|French Kiss]]'' (1995).

In 1993, Kline had his first voice-acting role in ''[[The Nutcracker (1993 film)|The Nutcracker]]'', and starred in [[Dave (film)|''Dave'']], a political comedy directed by [[Ivan Reitman]] and co-starring [[Charles Grodin]], [[Sigourney Weaver]] and [[Ben Kingsley]]. In 1996, he played the voice role of [[Captain Phoebus#Disney version|Captain Phoebus]] in the [[Walt Disney Feature Animation|Disney]] animated film ''[[The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996 film)|The Hunchback of Notre Dame]]''. He starred as the father of a dysfunctional family in [[Ang Lee]]'s drama film ''[[The Ice Storm (film)|The Ice Storm]]'' (1997).<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/ice-storm-review/|title= The Ice Storm review|website= Empire|date= January 2000|accessdate= September 18, 2023}}</ref> He portrayed an English literature teacher who is publicly outed when his student thanks him in his [[Academy Award]] acceptance speech in the [[Frank Oz]] comedy ''[[In & Out (film)|In & Out]]'' (1997). The film was inspired by [[Tom Hanks]]' acceptance speech for ''[[Philadelphia (film)|Philadelphia]]'' (1993). Kline was nominated for the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy]] for his performance. In 1998, he received a star on the [[St. Louis Walk of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web |last=St. Louis Walk of Fame |title=St. Louis Walk of Fame Inductees |url=http://www.stlouiswalkoffame.org/inductees/?view=achievement |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121031162946/http://www.stlouiswalkoffame.org/inductees/?view=achievement |archive-date=October 31, 2012 |access-date=April 25, 2013 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

In 1999, Kline played opposite Will Smith in the Steampunk Western film ''[[Wild Wild West]]''. On Metacritic, the film has a score of 38 out of 100 based on 25 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews". The film ended its theatrical run on October 10, 1999, after five months, having grossed $113,804,681 domestically and $108,300,000 overseas for a worldwide total of $222,104,681 against a production budget of $170 million.

He also played the hapless Bottom in the 1999 ''{{sortname|A|Midsummer Night's Dream|A Midsummer Night's Dream (1999 film)}}'', written, produced, and directed by [[Michael Hoffman (director)|Michael Hoffman]], based on the 1600 [[A Midsummer Night's Dream|play of the same name]] by [[William Shakespeare]] and featuring [[Michelle Pfeiffer]] and [[Rupert Everett]] as Titania and Oberon, [[Stanley Tucci]] as Puck, and [[Calista Flockhart]], [[Christian Bale]], [[Anna Friel]] and [[Dominic West]] as the four lovers.  Kline was praised for his portrayal of the egotistical but good-natured craftsman who has pretensions to a higher social position.

===2000–2016: Established actor===
[[File:Kevin Kline, No Strings Attached Premiere.jpg|thumb|170px|left|Kline at the film premiere of ''No Strings Attached'' in January 2011]]
Kline voiced Tulio in the DreamWorks animated film ''[[The Road to El Dorado]]'' (2000) opposite [[Kenneth Branagh]]'s Miguel. The film is an adventure comedy featuring original songs written by [[Elton John]]. The film received mixed reviews but has since become a [[cult classic]]. The following year he starred in the [[Irwin Winkler]] drama ''[[Life as a House]]'' (2001) starring [[Kristin Scott Thomas]], [[Hayden Christensen]], and [[Mary Steenburgen]]. He reprised his role as Captain Phoebus in ''[[The Hunchback of Notre Dame II]]'' (2002). That same year he portrayed a prep school teacher in ''[[The Emperor's Club]]'' (2002). The film was compared to that of ''[[Goodbye, Mr. Chips]]'' (1934) and ''[[Dead Poets Society]]'' (1989). He then portrayed [[Cole Porter]] in the musical biopic ''[[De-Lovely]]'' (2004) for which he was nominated for the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy]].

During this period Kline appeared in numerous comedy films such as ''[[The Pink Panther (2006 film)|The Pink Panther]]'' (2006) opposite [[Steve Martin]] as well as the romantic comedy films ''[[Definitely, Maybe]]'' starring [[Ryan Reynolds]] and ''[[No Strings Attached (film)|No Strings Attached]]'' (2011) with [[Natalie Portman]] and [[Ashton Kutcher]]. He also played [[Guy Noir]] in [[Robert Altman]]'s final film, ''[[A Prairie Home Companion (film)|A Prairie Home Companion]]'' (2006). Kline starred alongside [[Meryl Streep]], [[Lily Tomlin]], [[Tommy Lee Jones]], and [[Woody Harrelson]].

He was inducted in the [[American Theatre Hall of Fame]] in 2003.<ref>{{cite web |date=2014-01-29 |title=American Theatre Critics Association |url=http://www.americantheatrecritics.org/theatre-hall-of-fame |access-date=2015-02-07}}</ref> He also appeared in a Lincoln Center production that combined the two parts of ''[[Henry IV, Part 1|Henry IV]]'' on Broadway at the [[Vivian Beaumont Theatre]] in 2003 as Falstaff, and was nominated for the 2004 Tony Award for Actor in a Play.<ref>[http://www.playbillvault.com/Show/Detail/11223/Henry-IV "'Henry 1V Broadway"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914031405/http://www.playbillvault.com/Show/Detail/11223/Henry-IV |date=September 14, 2015}} playbillvault.com, accessed February 12, 2016</ref><ref>[[Simonson, Robert]]. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/lincoln-center-hears-the-chimes-at-midnight-as-ambitious-henry-iv-opens-116428# "Lincoln Center Hears the Chimes at Midnight as Ambitious 'Henry IV' Opens"] Playbill, November 20, 2003</ref> In December 2004, Kline became the 2,272nd recipient of a star on [[List of stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame|Hollywood Walk of Fame]],<ref>[http://www.theage.com.au/news/People/Kline-gets-Hollywood-star/2004/12/04/1101923372496.html "Kline gets Hollywood star"], TheAge.com.au, December 4, 2004.</ref> for his contributions to the motion picture industry, located at 7000 [[Hollywood Boulevard]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kevin Kline |url=http://projects.latimes.com/hollywood/star-walk/kevin-kline/ |access-date=2016-06-12 |website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>

[[File:KevinKlineSept2013TIFF.jpg|thumb|right|Kline at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival]]

Kline played the title role in ''[[King Lear]]'' at the [[Public Theater]] and took the lead role in a Broadway production of ''[[Cyrano de Bergerac (play)|Cyrano de Bergerac]]'' opposite [[Jennifer Garner]]. It was forced to temporarily close after only 11 performances as a result of the Broadway stagehands' strike,<ref name="Cyrano">{{cite news|last=Hetrick |first=Adam |title=Morton, Sarandon and Baker Will Join Kline in Broadway's Cyrano; Casting Complete |publisher=Playbill |date=September 25, 2007 |url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/111357.html |access-date=September 26, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013011153/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/111357.html |archive-date=October 13, 2007}}</ref> but subsequently reopened. ''Cyrano'' was filmed in 2008 and aired as part of [[PBS]]'s ''[[Great Performances]]'' series. In January 2008, Kline won a [[Screen Actors Guild]] award for his portrayal of Jaques in [[Kenneth Branagh]]'s film ''[[As You Like It (2006 film)|As You Like It]]'', adapted from [[As You Like It|Shakespeare's play]]. It premiered theatrically in 2006 in Europe, and was sent straight to [[HBO]] in the United States. Kline's film ''[[The Conspirator]]'' premiered during the [[Toronto International Film Festival]] in 2010 and was described as an "old-fashioned historical thriller". It was well received by most critics. Kline starred in the 2012 comedy ''[[Darling Companion]]'' with [[Diane Keaton]].

=== 2017–present ===
In 2017, Kline returned to Broadway as Garry Essendine in a revival of ''[[Present Laughter]]''. He received rave reviews with Marilyn Stasio writing, "Whatever would we do without Kevin Kline? In an age of lesser stars, he's a bona fide matinee idol of the ideal age and with the urbane sensibility to do justice to sophisticated scribes like [[Noël Coward]]."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://variety.com/2017/legit/reviews/present-laughter-review-kevin-kline-broadway-1202023306/|title= Broadway Review: 'Present Laughter' With Kevin Kline, Cobie Smulders|website= Variety|date= April 6, 2017|accessdate= July 30, 2023}}</ref> He received his third [[Tony Award]], this time for [[Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play|Best Actor in a Play]].

That year, he also played [[List of Disney's Beauty and the Beast characters#Maurice|Maurice]] in the musical [[Beauty and the Beast (2017 film)|live-action adaptation]] of [[Walt Disney Pictures|Disney's]] ''[[Beauty and the Beast (2017 film)|Beauty and the Beast]]'', directed by [[Bill Condon]] and co-starring with [[Emma Watson]] and [[Dan Stevens]].<ref name=BATBKlineCasting>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disneys-live-action-beauty-beast-781683|title=Disney's Live-Action 'Beauty and the Beast' Gets Release Date|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=March 16, 2015 |access-date=March 16, 2015}}</ref> The film received positive reviews and grossed $1.2{{nbsp}}billion worldwide, making it the highest-grossing live-action musical film, the [[2017 in film|second highest-grossing film of 2017]], and the [[List of highest-grossing films|17th highest-grossing film]] of all time.<ref name="BeautyandtheBeastReception">{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/beauty_and_the_beast_2017 |title=Beauty and the Beast (2017) |work=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=11 December 2017 |archive-date=11 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211204754/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/beauty_and_the_beast_2017/ |url-status=live}}<br />{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=beautyandthebeast2017.htm |title=Beauty and the Beast (2017) |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=18 September 2017 |archive-date=26 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190826163452/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=beautyandthebeast2017.htm |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-reviews/beauty-and-the-beast-review-9971177|title=Beauty and the Beast review: Irresistible charm shows no one casts a spell quite like Disney|author=Chris Hunneysett|work=[[Daily Mirror]]|date=March 17, 2017|access-date=April 27, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20170910200005/http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-reviews/beauty-and-the-beast-review-9971177|archive-date=September 10, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Lavish 'Beauty and the Beast' true as it can be to original|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2017/3/15/18322097/lavish-beauty-and-the-beast-true-as-it-can-be-to-original|last=Roeper|first=Richard|date=15 March 2017|website=Chicago Sun-Times|language=en|access-date=25 May 2020|archive-date=10 September 2017|archive-url=https://archive.today/20170910202458/http://chicago.suntimes.com/entertainment/lavish-beauty-and-the-beast-true-as-it-can-be-to-original/|url-status=live}}</ref> He also voiced Calvin Fischoeder in the animated comedy series ''[[Bob's Burgers]]'' (2011–present), for which he earned a [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance|Primetime Emmy nomination]]. He has reprised his role in the latter's theatrical feature ''[[The Bob's Burgers Movie]]'' (2022).

In 2021, it was announced that Kline would star with [[Cate Blanchett]] on [[Alfonso Cuarón|Alfonso Cuaron]]'s [[Apple TV+]] series ''[[Disclaimer (TV series)|Disclaimer]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Goldberg|first=Lesley|date=2021-12-01|title=Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline to Topline Alfonso Cuaron Apple Series 'Disclaimer'|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/cate-blanchett-kevin-kline-to-topline-alfonso-cuaron-apple-series-disclaimer-1235055329/|access-date=2021-12-02|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Kline met actress [[Phoebe Cates]] in 1983. They began dating in 1985 and married on March 5, 1989, in a private New York wedding.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Richter |first=Erin |date=March 8, 2002 |title=Cates Is Enough |url=https://ew.com/article/2002/03/08/cates-enough/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=January 7, 2025}}</ref> They live on the [[Upper East Side]] of Manhattan in New York City. They have two children: [[Owen Kline|Owen Joseph Kline]] (born 1991) and [[Greta Kline]] (born 1994), who fronts the band [[Frankie Cosmos]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Pelly|first=Jenn|title=Frankie Cosmos|date=March 5, 2014 |url=http://pitchfork.com/features/rising/9345-frankie-cosmos|publisher=Pitchfork Media|access-date=March 5, 2014}}</ref>

The [[Kevin Kline Awards]] honor theatre professionals in St. Louis in an array of categories, including best actor and actress, set design, choreography, and new play or musical.<ref>Brown, Dennis. [http://www.riverfronttimes.com/2005-12-14/culture/great-expectations/ "Great Expectations"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150430002433/http://www.riverfronttimes.com/2005-12-14/culture/great-expectations/ |date=April 30, 2015 }} ''Riverfront Times'', December 14, 2005</ref><ref>[http://www.kevinklineawards.org "Official website"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070630140531/http://www.kevinklineawards.org/ |date=June 30, 2007}} kevinklineawards.org, accessed February 11, 2016</ref><ref>Jones, Kenneth. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/st.-louis-kevin-kline-awards-go-to-steven-woolf-red-curtis-holbrook-awake-a-189131# "St. Louis' Kevin Kline Awards Go to Steven Woolf, 'Red', Curtis Holbrook, 'Awake and Sing!', 'Immigrant' and More"] playbill.com, April 4, 2012</ref>

==Acting credits==
{{main|Kevin Kline on screen and stage}}
Kline's career spans over five decades and includes collaborations with some of the most acclaimed filmmakers and actors of his time.

'''Selected credits:'''
{{div col | colwidth=25em}}
*''[[Sophie's Choice (film)|Sophie's Choice]]'' (1982) 
*''{{sortname|The|Pirates of Penzance|The Pirates of Penzance (film)}}'' (1983)
*''{{sortname|The|Big Chill|The Big Chill (film)}}'' (1983) 
*''[[Silverado (film)|Silverado]]'' (1985)
*''[[Cry Freedom]]'' (1987)
*''{{sortname|A|Fish Called Wanda}}'' (1988)
*''[[I Love You to Death]]'' (1990)
*''[[Soapdish]]'' (1991)
*''[[Grand Canyon (1991 film)|Grand Canyon]]'' (1991) 
*''[[Chaplin (film)|Chaplin]]'' (1992)
*''[[Dave (film)|Dave]]'' (1993)
*''[[French Kiss (1995 film)|French Kiss]]'' (1995) 
*''{{sortname|The|Hunchback of Notre Dame|The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996 film)}}'' (1996) 
*''{{sortname|The|Ice Storm|The Ice Storm (film)}}'' (1997)
*''[[Fierce Creatures]]'' (1997)
*''[[In & Out (film)|In & Out]]'' (1997)
*''{{sortname|A|Midsummer Night's Dream|A Midsummer Night's Dream (1999 film)}}'' (1999) 
*''[[Wild Wild West]]'' (1999)
*''{{sortname|The|Road to El Dorado}}'' (2000)
*''{{sortname|The|Anniversary Party}}'' (2001)
*''[[Life as a House]]'' (2001)
*''{{sortname|The|Hunchback of Notre Dame II}}'' (2002)
*''{{sortname|The|Emperor's Club}}'' (2002) 
*''[[De-Lovely]]'' (2004)
*''{{sortname|The|Pink Panther|The Pink Panther (2006 film)}}'' (2006)
*''{{sortname|A|Prairie Home Companion|A Prairie Home Companion (film)}}'' (2006)
*''[[As You Like It (2006 film)|As You Like It]]'' (2006)
*''[[Definitely, Maybe]]'' (2008)
*''{{sortname|The|Tale of Despereaux|The Tale of Despereaux (film)}}'' (2008)
*''[[No Strings Attached (2011 film)|No Strings Attached]]'' (2011)
*''{{sortname|The|Conspirator}}'' (2011)
*''[[Darling Companion]]'' (2012)
*''[[Last Vegas]]'' (2013)
*''[[The Last of Robin Hood]]'' (2013)
*''[[My Old Lady (film)|My Old Lady]]'' (2014)
*''[[Ricki and the Flash]]'' (2015)
*''[[Beauty and the Beast (2017 film)|Beauty and the Beast]]'' (2017)
*''[[The Bob's Burgers Movie]]'' (2022)
*''[[A Big Bold Beautiful Journey]]'' (2025)
{{div col end}}

==Awards and nominations==
{{main|List of awards and nominations received by Kevin Kline}}
Kline's numerous accolades include an [[Academy Award]], three [[Tony Awards]], four [[Drama Desk Award]]s and a [[Screen Actors Guild Award]] as well as nominations for two [[British Academy Television Awards|BAFTA Awards]], two [[Primetime Emmy Awards]], and five [[Golden Globe Awards]].

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
{{Commons category|Kevin Kline}}
*{{IBDB name}}
*{{IMDb name|id=0000177|name=Kevin Kline}}
*{{iobdb name|467}}
*{{C-SPAN|51987}}
*{{Charlie Rose view|1453}}

{{Navboxes
|title = [[List of awards and nominations received by Kevin Kline|Awards for Kevin Kline]]
|list =
{{AcademyAwardBestSupportingActor 1981-2000}}
{{DramaDesk PlayOutstandingActor 2001-2025}}
{{DramaDesk MusicalOutstandingActor 1975-2000}}
{{DramaDesk MusicalOutstandingFeaturedActor 1975-1999}}
{{Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screen Combo}}
{{Hasty Pudding Man of the Year}}
{{ScreenActorsGuildAward MaleTVMiniseriesMovie 1994-2009}}
{{TonyAward PlayLeadActor}}
{{TonyAward MusicalLeadActor 1976-2000}}
{{TonyAward MusicalFeaturedActor 1976-2000}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kline, Kevin}}
[[Category:1947 births]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century American male actors]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American male musical theatre actors]]
[[Category:American male Shakespearean actors]]
[[Category:American male stage actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:American male voice actors]]
[[Category:American people of German-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:Audiobook narrators]]
[[Category:Best Supporting Actor Academy Award winners]]
[[Category:Catholics from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Drama Desk Award winners]]
[[Category:Indiana University Bloomington alumni]]
[[Category:Jewish American film people]]
[[Category:Juilliard School alumni]]
[[Category:Kline–Cates family|Kevin Kline]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Male actors from St. Louis]]
[[Category:Obie Award recipients]]
[[Category:Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie Screen Actors Guild Award winners]]
[[Category:Male actors from Manhattan]]
[[Category:People from the Upper East Side]]
[[Category:Tony Award winners]]