---
name: "Kevin Kline"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/kevin-kline"
fi1m_id: "kevin-kline"
imdb_id: "nm0000177"
tmdb_id: 8945
wikidata_id: "Q105817"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "24 October 1947"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 10
average_fi1m_score: 66
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 10
updated: "2026-10-13T21:57:12.624439+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Kevin Kline

## Identity

Kevin Kline

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/kevin-kline
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** kevin-kline
- **IMDb ID:** nm0000177
- **TMDB ID:** 8945
- **Wikidata ID:** Q105817
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Kline, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105817, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000177/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/8945

Actor. Born 24 October 1947 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 24 October 1947, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- **Active:** 1983–present
- **Also known as:** Kevin Delaney Kline
- **Frequently works with:** [Lawrence Kasdan](https://film.one/person/lawrence-kasdan.md), [Michael Shamberg](https://film.one/person/michael-shamberg.md)
- **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar (1 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 66, as actor, over 10 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 74 (3), 1990s 61 (4), 2010s 65 (1), 2020s 64 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 65 to 62 across 9 titles
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 5 at 60–79, 3 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 5 of 10 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 6, Comedy 5, Animation 2, Crime 2, Family 2, Mystery 2
- **Screen time:** 17 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $2,236m across 9 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Kline, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105817, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000177/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/8945

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*The Bob's Burgers Movie*](https://film.one/film/the-bobs-burgers-movie.md) (72), [*The Hunchback of Notre Dame*](https://film.one/film/the-hunchback-of-notre-dame.md) (70), [*Beauty and the Beast*](https://film.one/film/beauty-and-the-beast-2017.md) (65)
- **Apple TV:** [*A Fish Called Wanda*](https://film.one/film/a-fish-called-wanda.md) (83), [*Disclaimer*](https://film.one/tv/disclaimer.md) (56)
- **Tubi:** [*The Big Chill*](https://film.one/film/the-big-chill.md) (67)
- **Hulu:** [*Wild Wild West*](https://film.one/film/wild-wild-west.md) (34)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Kevin Kline

> Kevin Kline makes a man's confidence funny by letting us see how much work goes into keeping it up. We value his precision most when it exposes embarrassment; occasionally, it makes us too aware of the actor.

Kevin Kline's Ben Hood in Ang Lee's *The Ice Storm* (1997) sounds more certain of himself than we feel he ought to. That small discrepancy gives Kline plenty to play. Ben wants to seem comfortable with his choices, and Kline lets us notice the effort without making him a fool from the outset. We laughed uneasily because his confidence seems unlikely to survive much scrutiny from the person he is talking to.

His film debut, as Nathan Landau opposite Meryl Streep in *Sophie's Choice* (1982), was followed by the ensemble work of *The Big Chill* (1983), in which he plays Harold. Lawrence Kasdan became a recurring collaborator across six films, with room for Kline's instinctive, improvisational work. The broad comedy of Otto in *A Fish Called Wanda* (1988) makes his technical control easier to spot. The quieter work in *The Ice Storm* needs that precision too, though it gives us less reason to notice it.

Lee gives him a useful setting: adults intelligent enough to account for their behaviour but unable to understand it. James Schamus's screenplay leaves Kline room to make Ben's explanations funny without making them convincing. Alongside Sigourney Weaver's reserved Janey Carver, his need to seem at ease becomes particularly revealing. Kline keeps the uncertainty present, so that we can recognise the embarrassment beneath the confident talk. The film overworks its weather symbolism, but the actors do not need that help to make these people uncomfortable company.

That control does sometimes become too conspicuous. Kline can seem to know rather more about a character's shortcomings than he should let on, inviting us to notice his cleverness as well as the man's mistakes. The restraint of Ben Hood is preferable: Kline allows the man's uncertainty to matter rather than treating it merely as a joke. Start with *The Ice Storm* before trying the broader comedy of *A Fish Called Wanda*.

## Biography

Kevin Delaney Kline is an American actor. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, he studied at Indiana University Bloomington and the Juilliard School before joining John Houseman's The Acting Company in 1972.

Kline began his career on stage, winning Tony Awards for his performances in the musicals *On the Twentieth Century* (1978) and *The Pirates of Penzance* (1981), and a third Tony for the play *Present Laughter* (2017). His film roles include *Sophie's Choice* (1982), *The Big Chill* (1983), *A Fish Called Wanda* (1988), for which he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, *Dave* (1993), *In & Out* (1997), *The Ice Storm* (1997), and *Beauty and the Beast* (2017). He is married to actress Phoebe Cates.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, stlouiswalkoffame.org.*

## On Fi1m (10)

- *Disclaimer* (2024), Fi1m 56, as Stephen Brigstocke — [page](https://film.one/tv/disclaimer.md)
- *The Bob's Burgers Movie* (2022), Fi1m 72, as Calvin Fischoeder (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/the-bobs-burgers-movie.md)
- *Beauty and the Beast* (2017), Fi1m 65, as Maurice — [page](https://film.one/film/beauty-and-the-beast-2017.md)
- *Wild Wild West* (1999), Fi1m 34, as U.S. Marshal Artemus Gordon / President Grant — [page](https://film.one/film/wild-wild-west.md)
- *The Ice Storm* (1997), Fi1m 85, as Ben Hood — [page](https://film.one/film/the-ice-storm.md)
- *The Hunchback of Notre Dame* (1996), Fi1m 70, as Phoebus (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/the-hunchback-of-notre-dame.md)
- *French Kiss* (1995), Fi1m 55, as Luc Teyssier — [page](https://film.one/film/french-kiss.md)
- *A Fish Called Wanda* (1988), Fi1m 83, as Otto — [page](https://film.one/film/a-fish-called-wanda.md)
- *Cry Freedom* (1987), Fi1m 72, as Donald Woods — [page](https://film.one/film/cry-freedom.md)
- *The Big Chill* (1983), Fi1m 67, as Harold Cooper — [page](https://film.one/film/the-big-chill.md)

## Complete filmography (77)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *American Classic* (2026), series, as Richard Bean · Executive Producer
- *A Big Bold Beautiful Journey* (2025), as The Mechanic
- *PERFUMANIA* (2025), as Perfumer
- *Disclaimer* (2024), series, as Stephen Brigstocke — Fi1m 56, [page](https://film.one/tv/disclaimer.md)
- *The Bob's Burgers Movie* (2022), as Calvin Fischoeder (voice) — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/the-bobs-burgers-movie.md)
- *The Starling* (2021), as Dr. Larry Fine
- *The Good House* (2021), as Frank Getchell
- *Dear Elizabeth* (2021), as Robert Lowell
- *The Investigation: A Search for the Truth in Ten Acts* (2019), as Robert Mueller
- *Noël Coward's Present Laughter* (2017), as Garry Essendine
- *Nature: Yosemite* (2017), as 主演
- *Beauty and the Beast* (2017), as Maurice — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/film/beauty-and-the-beast-2017.md)
- *Dean* (2016), as Robert
- *Ricki and the Flash* (2015), as Pete Brummel
- *My Old Lady* (2014), as Mathias Gold
- *Last Vegas* (2013), as Sam Harris
- *The Last of Robin Hood* (2013), as Errol Flynn
- *Darling Companion* (2012), as Joseph
- *Oscar Etiquette* (2012), as Kevin Kline
- *Olmsted and America's Urban Parks* (2011), as Frederick Law Olmsted
- *The Conspirator* (2011), as Edwin Stanton
- *No Strings Attached* (2011), as Alvin Franklin
- *Bob's Burgers* (2011), series, as Kevin Fischoeder (voice), Mr. Fischoeder (voice)
- *The Extra Man* (2010), as Henry Harrison
- *Queen to Play* (2009), as Kröger
- *Cyrano de Bergerac* (2008), as Cyrano de Bergerac
- *The Tale of Despereaux* (2008), as Chef Andre (voice)
- *The Last Ghost of War* (2008), as Narrator (voice)
- *Definitely, Maybe* (2008), as Hampton Roth
- *Cyrano de Bergerac* (2008), as Cyrano de Bergerac
- *Trade* (2007), as Ray Sheridan
- *As You Like It* (2006), as Jaques
- *The Gateway Arch: A Reflection of America* (2006), as Narrator (voice)
- *A Prairie Home Companion* (2006), as Guy Noir
- *The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays* (2006), as Hamlet (segment "Hamlet")
- *The Pink Panther* (2006), as Dreyfus
- *Jiminy Glick in Lalawood* (2005), as Kevin Kline
- *De-Lovely* (2004), as Cole Porter
- *Mary Engelbreit's The Night Before Christmas* (2004), as Narrator (voice)
- *The Shakespeare Sessions* (2003), Actor
- *The Emperor's Club* (2002), as William Hundert
- *The Hunchback of Notre Dame II* (2002), as Phoebus (voice)
- *Orange County* (2002), as Marcus Skinner (uncredited)
- *Life as a House* (2001), as George Monroe
- *The Anniversary Party* (2001), as Cal Gold
- *The Road to El Dorado* (2000), as Tulio (voice)
- *Wild Wild West* (1999), as U.S. Marshal Artemus Gordon / President Grant — Fi1m 34, [page](https://film.one/film/wild-wild-west.md)
- *A Midsummer Night's Dream* (1999), as Nick Bottom
- *The Ice Storm* (1997), as Ben Hood — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/the-ice-storm.md)
- *In & Out* (1997), as Howard Brackett
- *Fierce Creatures* (1997), as Vince McCain / Rod McCain
- *The Hunchback of Notre Dame* (1996), as Phoebus (voice) — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/the-hunchback-of-notre-dame.md)
- *French Kiss* (1995), as Luc Teyssier — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/film/french-kiss.md)
- *Princess Caraboo* (1994), as Frixos
- *The Nutcracker* (1993), as Narrator (voice)
- *Dave* (1993), as Dave Kovic / Bill Mitchell
- *Chaplin* (1992), as Douglas Fairbanks
- *Consenting Adults* (1992), as Richard Parker
- *Grand Canyon* (1991), as Mack
- *Merlin and the Dragons* (1991), as Narrator (voice)
- *Soapdish* (1991), as Jeffrey Anderson
- *William Shakespeare's Hamlet* (1990), as Hamlet · Director, Stage Director
- *I Love You to Death* (1990), as Joey Boca
- *The January Man* (1989), as Nick Starkey
- *A Fish Called Wanda* (1988), as Otto — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/a-fish-called-wanda.md)
- *Cry Freedom* (1987), as Donald Woods — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/cry-freedom.md)
- *Violets Are Blue* (1986), as Henry Squires
- *Silverado* (1985), as Paden
- *He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin'* (1983), Actor
- *The Big Chill* (1983), as Harold Cooper — Fi1m 67, [page](https://film.one/film/the-big-chill.md)
- *The Pirates of Penzance* (1983), as The Pirate King
- *Sophie's Choice* (1982), as Nathan Landau
- *Nature* (1982), series, as Narrator (voice)
- *The Pirates of Penzance* (1980), as The Pirate King
- *The Time of Your Life* (1976), as McCarthy
- *Great Performances* (1971), series, as Hamlet
- *The Diary*, Actor

## Gallery

- ![Kevin Kline](https://film.one/media/person/87165/gallery-999c086159c7.jpg) Kevin Kline — Gordon Vasquez  of RealTVfilms, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b2/Kevin_Kline%2C_No_Strings_Attached_Premiere.jpg/1280px-Kevin_Kline%2C_No_Strings_Attached_Premiere.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Actors Kevin Kline, Richard Jenkins, Meg Kasdan, Elizabeth Redleaf, Casey (aka Freeway) and Lawrence Kasdan at the 2012 Miami International Film Festival Premie](https://film.one/media/person/87165/gallery-c9c5ea54776d.jpg) Actors Kevin Kline, Richard Jenkins, Meg Kasdan, Elizabeth Redleaf, Casey (aka Freeway) and Lawrence Kasdan at the 2012 Miami International Film Festival Premie — MiamiFilmFestival, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/Cast_%26_crew_of_Darling_Companion.jpg/1280px-Cast_%26_crew_of_Darling_Companion.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Cate Blanchett, Alfonso Cuarón, Sacha Baron Cohen, etc at Disclaimer (TV series) premiere at Venice International Film Festival (2024)](https://film.one/media/person/87165/gallery-20d746d2e578.jpg) Cate Blanchett, Alfonso Cuarón, Sacha Baron Cohen, etc at Disclaimer (TV series) premiere at Venice International Film Festival (2024) — Ariela Ortiz-Barrantes, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/55/Cast_and_crew_of_Disclaimer_%28TV_series%29_at_81st_Venice_International_Film_Festival.jpg/1280px-Cast_and_crew_of_Disclaimer_%28TV_series%29_at_81st_Venice_International_Film_Festival.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Cate Blanchett, actor, and Kevin Kline, actor, at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) for the movie Disclaimer.](https://film.one/media/person/87165/gallery-99469ab014c1.jpg) Cate Blanchett, actor, and Kevin Kline, actor, at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) for the movie Disclaimer. — Adam Chitayat, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/Cate_Blanchett_and_Kevin_Kline_at_the_2024_Toronto_International_Film_Festival.jpg/1280px-Cate_Blanchett_and_Kevin_Kline_at_the_2024_Toronto_International_Film_Festival.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Kevin Kline](https://film.one/media/person/87165/gallery-8c67b638486e.jpg) Kevin Kline — Image via TMDB
- ![Kevin Kline](https://film.one/media/person/87165/gallery-a1c8901c93a8.jpg) Kevin Kline — Image via TMDB
- ![Kevin Kline](https://film.one/media/person/87165/gallery-ec4993e01592.jpg) Kevin Kline — Image via TMDB
- ![Cate Blanchett, actor, and Kevin Kline, actor, at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) for the movie Disclaimer.](https://film.one/media/person/87165/gallery-d8dcd5d9b1b7.jpg) Cate Blanchett, actor, and Kevin Kline, actor, at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) for the movie Disclaimer. — Adam Chitayat, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/Cate_Blanchett_and_Kevin_Kline_at_the_2024_Toronto_International_Film_Festival_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Cate_Blanchett_and_Kevin_Kline_at_the_2024_Toronto_International_Film_Festival_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![DisclaimerBFILFF101024 (105 of 113) (2024)](https://film.one/media/person/87165/gallery-18bfda911709.jpg) DisclaimerBFILFF101024 (105 of 113) (2024) — Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6e/DisclaimerBFILFF101024_%28105_of_113%29_%2854062483105%29.jpg/1280px-DisclaimerBFILFF101024_%28105_of_113%29_%2854062483105%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Kevin Kline](https://film.one/media/person/87165/gallery-714e27b905ac.jpg) Kevin Kline — Image via TMDB
- ![Kevin Kline](https://film.one/media/person/87165/gallery-c5347099b150.jpg) Kevin Kline — Image via TMDB
- ![Kevin Kline](https://film.one/media/person/87165/gallery-edf94c46ed9b.jpg) Kevin Kline — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 1 won

- 1989: Best Supporting Actor (won), for *A Fish Called Wanda*

### BAFTA Film Awards — 0 won, 2 nominated

- 1989: Best Actor in a Leading Role (nominated), for *A Fish Called Wanda*
- 1984: Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles (nominated), for *Sophie's Choice*

### Golden Globes — 0 won, 5 nominated

- 2004: Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (nominated), for *De-Lovely*
- 1997: Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (nominated), for *In & Out*
- 1993: Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (nominated), for *Dave*
- 1991: Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (nominated), for *Soapdish*
- 1982: New Star of the Year – Actor (nominated)

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 2009: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie (nominated), for *Great Performances*

### SAG Awards — 1 won, 2 nominated

- 2010: Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie (nominated), for *Cyrano de Bergerac*
- 2008: Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie (won), for *As You Like It*
- 2002: Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role (nominated), for *Life as a House*

### Other awards — 6 won, 11 nominated

- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play 2008: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play (nominated)
- Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast 2006: Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast (nominated), for *A Prairie Home Companion*
- Satellite Award for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy 2005: Satellite Award for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy (nominated), for *De-Lovely*
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play 2004: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play (won)
- Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play 2004: Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play (nominated)
- Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor 1999: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor (nominated), for *Wild Wild West*
- Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screen Couple/Ensemble 1999: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screen Couple/Ensemble (won), for *Wild Wild West*
- Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress 1999: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress (nominated), for *Wild Wild West*
- MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss 1998: MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss (nominated), for *In & Out*
- Satellite Award for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy 1998: Satellite Award for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy (nominated), for *In & Out*
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play 1991: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play (nominated)
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Play 1991: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Play (nominated)
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play 1986: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play (nominated)
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical 1981: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical (won)
- Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical 1981: Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical (won)
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical 1978: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical (won)
- Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical 1978: Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/kevin-kline