Biography
Multitalented actor Kevin Kline fashioned a decades long career as one of the top actors of stage and screen. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, he began college as a music major before switching to theater. He went on to attend Julliard and joined John Houseman's The Acting Company as one of the original performers in 1972. He acted regularly on stage throughout the '70s, winning a Tony for his role in "On the Twentieth Century" in 1978. In the early-'80s, he began gaining notice outside of theater when he appeared opposite Meryl Streep in the Oscar-winning drama "Sophie's Choice" (1982). He then recreated his stage role as The Pirate King in the filmed version of Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Pirates of Penzance" (1983). He soon after began a long partnership with writer-director Lawrence Kasdan with a starring role in "The Big Chill" (1983), appearing alongside other up-and-coming actors Glenn Close and Jeff Goldblum. Kasdan would turn to the actor repeatedly, casting him in starring roles in "Silverado" (1985), "I Love You to Death" (1990), "Grand Canyon" (1991), and "French Kiss" (1995). He would also find critically acclaim for his part in Sir Richard Attenborough's anti-apartheid film "Cry Freedom" (1987) with Denzel Washington. During the '80s, Kline became a regular presence at New York's annual Shakespeare in the Park, performing in multiple productions. His comedic flair earned him an Academy Award when he teamed with Jamie Lee Curtis and Monty Python alums John Cleese and Michael Palin in "A Fish Called Wanda" (1988). He would team with the group again a handful of years later for "Fierce Creatures" (1997). Throughout the '90s he starred in comedies such as "Dave" (1993) and "In & Out" (1997, dramas like Ang Lee's "The Ice Storm" (1997), and big budget fare including "Wild, Wild West" (1999) with Will Smith. His love of Shakespeare also found its way onto the screen, with roles in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (1999) and "As You Like It" (HBO, 2006). He played songwriter Cole Porter in the biopic "De-Lovely" (2003) and was part of the ensemble of Robert Altman's "A Prairie Home Companion" (2006). The later paired him with Streep once more and he would join the actress again for "Rickie and the Flash" (2015). Besides Porter, Kline had a knack for playing for famous entertainers. He played Douglas Fairbanks in "Chaplin" (1992) and Errol Flynn in "The Last Robin Hood" (2014). He joined fellow acting vets Morgan Freeman, Robert De Niro, and Michael Douglas for the comedy "Last Vegas" (2013). The actor played the recently widowed father of comedian Demetri Martin in "Dean" (2016). He again assumed parental duties, playing the inventor dad of Emma Watson's Belle, in the live-action remake of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" (2017). On Broadway, he had a successful run in Noel Coward's "Present Laughter" in 2017 that earned him another Tony. He also had a recurring voice role as devious landlord Mr.Calvin Fischoeder in the animated comedy "Bob's Burgers" (Fox 2011- ).
