Background

Kevin Spacey was born on July 26, 1959, in South Orange, New Jersey, United State, to Kathleen Ann (Knutson) Fowler, a secretary, and Thomas Geoffrey Fowler, a technical writer and data consultant. He has two older siblings: a sister, Julie Ann Fowler Keir, an office worker, and a brother, Randy Fowler, a limousine driver and Rod Stewart impersonator in Boise, Idaho.

Education

When Kevin was four years old, his family settled down in Southern California. In the 10th and 11th grades, he attended Northridge Military Academy and Canoga Park High School. It was in 1977, that Spacey graduated co-valedictorian from Chatsworth High School. During his time at Chatsworth, he starred in the educational establishment's senior production of "The Sound of Music", playing the part of Captain Georg von Trapp, with Mare Winningham as Maria von Trapp. It was also during those years, that Kevin began using his middle name "Spacey", which is also his paternal grandmother's maiden name.

Then, Kevin attended Los Angeles Valley College. Later, before enrolling in the Juilliard School in New York City, where he studied drama as a member of Group 12 with Marian Selde being his mentor during the period from 1979 to 1981, Kevin tried his luck as a comedian for several years.

Spacey was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters degree by London South Bank University in November 2005.

Career

Kevin began his career as a stage actor during the 1980's, before being cast in supporting roles in film and television. He made his professional debut in Shakespeare's "Henry IV, Part I". In 1982, Spacey appeared in his first Broadway production, Henrik Ibsen's "Ghosts". Notable stage roles in "Hurlyburly" (1985) and Eugene O'Neill's "Long Day's Journey into Night" (1986) followed, as did appearances in the films "Heartburn" (1986) and "Working Girl" (1988).

In 1991, Spacey attained the Tony Award for Featured Actor for his performance as the gangster Uncle Louie in Neil Simon's hit "Lost in Yonkers". Following his theatrical success, he gained praise for his work in such films, as "Glengarry Glen Ross" (1992), "Swimming with Sharks" (1994) and "Se7en" (1995).

Kevin's performance in "The Usual Suspects" (1995) as a double-talking con man earned him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. After appearing in the well-received crime drama "L.A. Confidential" (1997), Spacey returned to the stage in 1998 and received the Evening Standard, London Theatre Critics' Circle and Laurence Olivier Best Actor Awards for his portrayal of Hickey in O'Neill's "The Iceman Cometh".

It was in 1999, that Spacey had a lead role as a frustrated husband and father in the dark comedy "American Beauty". His ability to show the alienation and vulnerability of his character, Lester Burnham - a middle-class family man, obsessed with a beautiful classmate of his teenage daughter - brought Spacey enthusiastic critical acclaim, and he won the Academy Award for Best Actor.

In the early 21st century, Spacey continued maintaining a busy acting schedule. In 2000's "Pay It Forward", he starred opposite Helen Hunt and Haley Joel Osment. Later, he assumed the role of a newspaper reporter in "The Shipping News" (2001).

It was in 2003, that Kevin was made artistic director of the Old Vic in London - the first American, appointed to this post. Besides, he acted in several of its productions, including Shakespeare's "Richard II" (2005) and "Richard III" (2011). In 2006, he appeared in his third O'Neill play, "A Moon for the Misbegotten", and he continued in the production, when it transferred to Broadway the following year. Spacey continued holding the post of artistic director at the Old Vic until 2015. The same year, he attained a special Olivier Award.

It's also worth noting, that, in 2004, Kevin directed and starred in the film "Beyond the Sea". Later, in 2008, he acted as Mickey Rosa, a professor of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who teaches his students to count cards, in the thriller "21". The same year, the actor portrayed a political operative in the HBO television movie "Recount".

In October 2008, Spacey started the Kevin Spacey Foundation in the United Kingdom to encourage youth involvement in the arts. Headquartered in England and Wales, its purpose was to provide grants to individuals and organizations to help young people study the arts, particularly theatre. The charity shut down in February 2018, following sexual misconduct allegations against Spacey. It's also worth mentioning, that Spacey serves as a patron of the Shakespeare Schools Festival.

In 2009, Spacey appeared in the feature film "The Men Who Stare at Goats", a comedy about the United States soldiers, trained to use psychic powers. In 2010, Kevin played the role of the real-life political lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who was convicted for his role in a corruption scandal, in the dark comedy "Casino Jack", and he starred as a disgraced television huckster in "Father of Invention".

In 2011's "Horrible Bosses" and its 2014 sequel, Kevin assumed the role of a sadistic office supervisor. In 2011, he also played the role of an investment bank executive in the thriller "Margin Call". In 2013, the actor began acting as a cutthroat United States congressman from South Carolina in the political drama "House of Cards", a political thriller web television series, created by Beau Willimon. He received the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series for this role in 2015. In 2016, Spacey took on the role of the United States President Richard Nixon in "Elvis & Nixon". In the family comedy "Nine Lives" (2016), his character, a successful businessman, is turned into a cat. Spacey's film credits from 2017 included the action comedy "Baby Driver", in which he played a crime boss.

In 2017, after being accused of attempted sexual assault of a 14-year-old male actor in 1986, Spacey issued an apology and was promptly criticized for using the situation to come out as gay. As additional allegations of sexual misconduct emerged, Spacey's spokesperson announced, that the actor was seeking evaluation and treatment. Amid the uproar, Netflix publicized a forthcoming end of "House of Cards" and later announced, that it had severed ties with Spacey, effectively removing him from the show. Besides, the streaming service also stopped production of the upcoming movie "Gore", which starred Spacey. Kevin's scenes in Ridley Scott's "All the Money in the World" (2017) were cut and reshot with Christopher Plummer, replacing him as oil tycoon J. Paul Getty. "Billionaire Boys Club", one of the last movies Spacey filmed before the scandal broke, was released in 2018.

The same year, in 2018, authorities announced, that Spacey would be charged with indecent assault and battery for allegedly groping an 18-year-old busboy at a Nantucket, Massachusetts, bar in 2016. In January 2019, a plea of not guilty was entered on Spacey's behalf. However, in July, the charges were dismissed "due to the unavailability of the complaining witness" after the alleged victim invoked the Fifth Amendment during a pretrial hearing, concerning his missing cell phone.

Achievements

• Kevin Spacey is a renowned actor of screen and stage, film director, producer, screenwriter and singer. He has been well known for playing villains. Kevin Spacey is also an inspiring advocate for talent, a tireless proponent for the arts and an undeniable man of mystery, who keeps the tabloids buzzing.
  
  Spacey first gained prominence for such films, as "The Usual Suspects" (1995) and "American Beauty" (1999). His other starring roles include the comedy-drama film "Swimming with Sharks" (1994), psychological thriller "Se7en" (1995), the neo-noir crime film "L.A. Confidential" (1997), the drama "Pay It Forward" (2000), the science fiction-mystery film "K-PAX" (2001), among others. In 2013, Spacey took on the lead role in an original Netflix series, "House of Cards" (2013).
  
  During his career as a stage actor, Kevin appeared in Shakespeare's "Henry IV, Part I". In 1982, Spacey appeared in Henrik Ibsen's "Ghosts", his first Broadway production. His other notable stage appearances include that as Philinte in Molière's "The Misanthrope" and others. Next came Anton Chekhov's "The Seagull". In 1986, Spacey appeared in a production of "Sleuth" in a New Jersey dinner theatre. Kevin also performed in a production of David Rabe's "Hurlyburly", in which he rotated through each of the male parts.
  
  It's also worth noting, that, between 2003 and 2015, Kevin served as artistic director of the Old Vic in London. He is also a patron of the Shakespeare Schools Festival, a charity, that enables school children across the United Kingdom to perform Shakespeare in professional theatres.
  
  During his career, Kevin attained numerous awards, including the Academy Award, the Boston Society of Film Critics Award, the Chicago Film Critics Association Award, the Empire Award, the Golden Globe Award, the BAFTA Film Award, the Tony Award and many others.
  
  Spacey was recognized with multiple nominations for different awards in various categories, including the Golden Globe Award, the Primetime Emmy Award, the American Comedy Award, the Blockbuster Entertainment Award, the Gotham Award, the Grammy Award and others.
  
  On October 5, 1999, Kevin Spacey was inducted into the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame.
  
  In addition, Spacey was named honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2010 and honorary Knight Commander (KBE) in 2015.

Works

More photos

• movie

  • Shakespeare High

    ("Shakespeare High" is a feature-length documentary about ...)

    2011
  • Elvis & Nixon

    (The untold true story behind the meeting between Elvis Pr...)

    2016
  • The Negotiator

    (In a desperate attempt to prove his innocence, a skilled ...)

    1998
  • Father of Invention

    (After 8 years in prison, inventor Robert Axle struggles t...)

    2010
  • The Usual Suspects

    (A sole survivor tells of the twisty events, leading up to...)

    1995
  • The United States of Leland

    (A young man's experience in a juvenile detention center, ...)

    2003
  • Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

    (A visiting city reporter's (John Cusack's) assignment sud...)

    1997
  • Ordinary Decent Criminal

    (Brilliant, flamboyant master criminal Michael Lynch is mo...)

    2000
  • The Men Who Stare at Goats

    (A reporter in Iraq might just have the story of a lifetim...)

    2009
  • Margin Call

    (Follows the key people at an investment bank, over a 24-h...)

    2011
  • Horrible Bosses

    (Three friends conspire to murder their awful bosses, when...)

    2011
  • American Beauty

    (A sexually frustrated suburban father has a mid-life cris...)

    1999
  • Billionaire Boys Club

    (A group of wealthy boys in Los Angeles during the early 1...)

    2018
  • The Shipping News

    (An emotionally beaten man with his young daughter moves t...)

    2001
  • Beyond the Sea

    (A swooning study of "Mack the Knife" singer Bobby Darin a...)

    2004
  • Swimming With Sharks

    (A young, naive Hollywood studio assistant finally turns t...)

    1994
  • The Life of David Gale

    (A man against capital punishment is accused of murdering ...)

    2003
  • Superman Returns

    (Superman returns to Earth after spending five years in sp...)

    2006
  • Pay It Forward

    (A young boy attempts to make the world a better place aft...)

    2000
  • Iron Will

    (When Will Stoneman's father dies, he is left alone to tak...)

    1994
  • Consenting Adults

    (During a joint dinner at the restaurant, the neighbors of...)

    1992
  • Inseparable

    (A troubled young man, Li faces pressure at work and probl...)

    2011
  • Nine Lives

    (A stuffy businessman finds himself trapped inside the bod...)

    2016
  • Doomsday Gun

    (How the brilliant Canadian munitions engineer, Dr. Gerald...)

    1994
  • Rebel in the Rye

    (The life of celebrated, but reclusive author, J.D. Saling...)

    2017
  • Casino Jack

    (A hot shot Washington, D.C., lobbyist and his protégé go ...)

    2010

• music

  • Beyond the Sea 2004
  • That Old Black Magic 1997

• TV series

  • House of Cards

    (A Congressman works with his equally conniving wife to ex...)

    2013

Politics

Kevin's political views are described as left-leaning, reflecting some of those of his fictional character in "House of Cards" tv-series. Spacey is a Democrat, who is friends with Bill Clinton, the 42nd president of the United States.

In March 2011, following Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko's crackdown on the Belarusian democracy movement, Spacey joined Jude Law in a street protest in London against Lukashenko's regime.

Views

Quotations: "I don't see myself as a movie star, but a character actor, and that's what I've always been. No matter what happens outside of this odd cottage industry that I have nothing to do with, I will always be that, and as long as I focus on that, I'll let others say what they need to say."

"I feel it's a responsibility for anyone who breaks through a certain ceiling... to send the elevator back down and give others a helpful lift."

"I find it sad that by not talking about who I sleep with, that makes me mysterious. There was a time when I would have been called a gentleman."

"I liked it because it was such a dangerous script and showed just what human beings are capable of. Here was a movie in which Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt, who always win in every movie they ever do, simply don't win. I felt that was outrageous for a commercial movie."

"I mean we all played as kids. You play games, you take on different characters, you imitate; the fun and the love of play has never left me."

"I open myself up every time I walk on screen and give you everything that I am. There are parts of me that are in every movie that I've done. That to me is what my job is."

Membership

Spacey sits on the Board of Directors of the Motion Picture and Television Fund.

Personality

Kevin Spacey is a big fan of Woody Allen, and after "House of Cards" was released, he sent the director a note and a Netflix gift subscription, telling him to check out his work. Woody Allen wrote back and promised to consider Spacey for a role in one of his films.

Kevin Spacey's terrier mix is named Mini after his Mini Cooper car. In 2013, after the Marathon bombings, he also rescued a dog and named her Boston in honor of the city.

Spacey credits several idols, whom he believes helped shape him as an actor. Among them are Henry Fonda, Al Pacino and Jack Lemmon.

Physical Characteristics: On April 17, 2004, Kevin suffered a head injury in London after tripping over his dog, while pursuing a young man, who had stolen his cell phone. Initially, he reported, that the injury was the result of a mugging, but later admitted the truth and stated, that he was embarrassed by the situation.

Interests

• cinema, music

• Writers

  Rainer Maria Rilke

• Sport & Clubs

  tennis, American and European football

• Music & Bands

  classical music

Connections

Kevin Spacey was never married. He doesn't like speaking about his personal life. According to media reports, Kevin dated screenwriter Dianne Dreyer. In October 2017, Spacey came out as gay, when he apologized to Anthony Rapp for allegedly making a sexual advance toward him in 1986.

Father:

Thomas Geoffrey Fowler

Thomas Geoffrey Fowler was an American technical writer and data consultant. He passed away in 1992.

Mother:

Kathleen Ann (Knutson) Fowler

Kathleen Ann (Knutson) Fowler was an American secretary. She passed away in 2003.

Sister:

Julie Ann Fowler Keir

Julie Ann Fowler Keir is an American paralegal. She has been married to ex soccer player Ian Keir since 1972 and they have two kids together - a daughter Ingrid and a son Colin.

Brother:

Randall B. Fowler

Randall B. Fowler, from whom Spacey is estranged, combines two very different occupations - impersonating Rod Stewart and driving a limo.

ex-partner:

Dianne Dreyer

Dianne Dreyer is an American screenwriter, actress and producer. She is known for her work on "The English Patient" (1996), "Julie & Julia" (2009) and "The Bourne Legacy" (2012).

Friend:

Bill Clinton

Bill Clinton is an American politician, who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Bill Clinton has been one of Kevin Spacey's friends since before he was president. Spacey once called him "one of the shining lights of the political process".

colleague:

Robin Wright

Robin Wright is an American actress and director. She is the recipient of eight Primetime Emmy Award nominations and has earned a Golden Globe Award and a Satellite Award for her work in television.

colleague:

Michael Kelly

Michael Kelly is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Doug Stamper in "House of Cards", as well as for roles in films, such as "Changeling", "Dawn of the Dead", "The Adjustment Bureau", "Chronicle", "Now You See Me" and "Everest".

mentor:

Marian Seldes

Marian Seldes was an American stage, film, radio and television actress, whose career spanned over 60 years.

References

• Kevin Spacey's Official Website
• Looking Closer: Kevin Spacey, the First 50 Years "Looking Closer", the first published biography of Spacey, explores the background and career of this enigmatic man. This revised edition includes several rare and previously unseen photographs from Kevin's family archives.
  2010
• Kevin Spacey's Instagram Profile
• Kevin Spacey's Twitter Profile