Also on the small screen, he starred in a broadcast stage production of William Saroyan's comedy, "The Time of Your Life" (PBS, 1976), as a member of The Acting Company. For the next several years, the troupe traveled across the United States, performing in a variety productions, including "The School for Scandal," "Three Sisters" and "Measure for Measure."Īs a member of The Acting Company, Kline made his Broadway debut in "Scapin" (1973), and two years later, originated his first musical role, Jamie Lockhart, in "The Robber Bridegroom." While his bread and butter at this time was the stage, he began making strides onscreen, playing Woody Reed for a short time on the daytime soap opera, "Search for Tomorrow" (CBS/NBC, 1951-1986). In 1972, Kline and other members of his Juilliard class - Patti LuPone and David Ogden Stiers among them - became founding members of The Acting Company. Also that year, he made his Big Apple acting debut with minor roles in "Henry VI, Parts I and II" and "Richard III" at the New York Shakespeare Festival. After earning his degree in 1970, he moved to New York and became one of the first students in John Houseman's newly minted drama department at the Juilliard School. Eventually, he returned to acting and switched his major to theater, while forming an off-campus drama group called the Vest Pocket Players. But when he attended Indiana University, Kline spent his first two years studying music with the intent on becoming a classical pianist. Kline first developed a taste for acting while a student at Saint Louis Priory School, an all-boys Catholic prep school ran by strict Benedictine monks, where he performed in several productions. Louis, MO, Kline was raised by his father, Robert, a former opera singer in his youth who owned The Record Bar, a toy and record store, and his mother, Peggy. Which was exactly the way he wanted it.īorn on Oct. Though Kline demonstrated his capabilities and invoked comparisons with icons like Errol Flynn and Laurence Olivier, he also acquired a reputation for discretion and selectivity, creating an impressive body of work - including "The Ice Storm" (1997), "Life As a House" (2001), "De-Lovely" (2004) and "Beauty and the Beast" (2017) - that deterred him from propelling to the front ranks of stardom. Moving into features with a stellar performance in "Sophie's Choice" (1982), he quickly established himself as a feature leading man with roles in "The Big Chill" (1983), "Silverado" (1985) and "A Fish Called Wanda" (1988), which earned him an Academy Award. Proving equally at home in musical comedy, contemporary drama or the classics, Kline earned his reputation as an "actor's actor" in the 1970s, with numerous critically acclaimed performances two of which earned him Tony Awards. Perhaps one of the most prolific and versatile performers of his generation, actor Kevin Kline oscillated easily between stage and screen, while deftly playing for laughs or tears regardless of the medium.
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