Anecdotes

Speaks French fluently.

Is one of the few actors in history to receive the Academy Award for a comedic acting role (Un poisson nommé Wanda (1988)).

Met future wife Phoebe Cates when she auditioned for the role of Chloe in Les Copains d'abord (1983), which eventually went to Meg Tilly.

Inspired the Kevin Kline Mustache Principle, according to movie critic Roger Ebert: Kline always has facial hair in comedies, but is clean-shaven in dramatic roles. There are several exceptions to the rule, most notably In & Out (1997), Silverado (1985) and Wild Wild West (1999) (although in the latter, he did wear a beard and mustache to play President Ulysses S. Grant).

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7000 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California December 3, 2004.

He majored in music for two years at Indiana University but switched to drama. He joined the first class of John Houseman's new drama division at Lincoln Center's Julliard School and became a founding member of Houseman's The Acting Company.

Became a father for the second time at age 46 when his wife Phoebe Cates gave birth to their daughter Greta Simone Kline, aka Greta Kline, on March 21, 1994.

His father owned a toy and record store in Clayton, Missouri, called "The Record Bar".

Has played dual roles in three of his films: Président d'un jour (1993), Wild Wild West (1999) and Créatures féroces (1997). In each film, one of his characters has to impersonate the other one.

Attended and graduated from the Saint Louis Priory School in St. Louis, Missouri (1965).

Is the first American actor to receive the Sir John Gielgud Golden Quill Award and was recently honored with the Lucille Lortel Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2004, he was inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame.

The Kevin Kline Awards were first presented on March 20, 2006 in honor of the actor, a St. Louis native and Priory School graduate. The awards recognize outstanding achievement in Professional Theatre in the Greater St. Louis Area. They honor theatre artists and productions in over 20 categories.

Became a father for the first time at age 43 when his wife Phoebe Cates gave birth to their son Owen Joseph Kline, aka Owen Kline, on October 14, 1991.

Won three Tony Awards: in 1978 as Best Actor (Featured Role - Musical) for playing Bruce Granit in "On the Twentieth Century", in 1981 as Best Actor (Musical) for playing The Pirate King in "The Pirates of Penzance", a performance he recreated in the film version of the same title The Pirates of Penzance (1983), and in 2017 as Best Actor (Play) for playing Garry Essendine in "Present Laughter". He was also nominated in 2004 as Best Actor (Play) for portraying Sir John Falstaff in Shakespeare's "Henry IV".

Has appeared with wife Phoebe Cates and their two children, Owen Kline and Greta Kline, as a family of four in The Anniversary Party (2001).

He was awarded a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame at 6630 Delmar Boulevard in St. Louis, Missouri on May 17, 1998.

Though this appears that his feature debut was in Le choix de Sophie (1982), Kline had actually completed The Pirates of Penzance (1983) before going on to co-star with Meryl Streep, but the release of 'Pirates' was sufficiently delayed, enabling 'Sophie' to receive an earlier release.

The theater at his alma mater, St. Louis Priory School, is named in his honor.

Received his Bachelor's degree in Speech and Theatre from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana (1970).

His father was from an Ashkenazi Jewish family from Germany, and his mother was from an Irish Catholic family. Kevin was raised in his mother's faith.

Turned down the role of Bruce Wayne in Batman (1989), which went to Michael Keaton.

Won an Obie Award in 1980/1981 for his role as The Pirate King in "The Pirates of Penzance".

Has collaborated with director Lawrence Kasdan [to date, September 2015] in cinema movies on six occasions. The films are Silverado (1985), Grand Canyon (1991), French Kiss (1995), Les Copains d'abord (1983), Freeway et nous (2012) and Je t'aime à te tuer (1990).

Has portrayed two famous movie swashbuckler stars: Douglas Fairbanks in the film Chaplin (1992) and Errol Flynn in the film The Last of Robin Hood (2013). Both stars had appeared on-screen as Robin Hood (Fairbanks in Robin des Bois (1922) and Flynn in Les aventures de Robin des Bois (1938)).

In 1975, he met with director Steven Spielberg about playing Matt Hooper in Les Dents de la mer (1975) (played by Richard Dreyfuss). Kevin said that he knew someone who was an oceanographer and thought he could play one. Spielberg then told him "I don't want someone who knows someone who is an oceanographer, I want someone who is an oceanographer." Richard Dreyfuss then got the role.

Has played presidents and their doubles twice to date: he played Dave and President Bill Mitchell in Président d'un jour (1993), and Artemus Gordon and President Ulysses S. Grant in Wild Wild West (1999).

He was considered for the role of Dan Gallagher in Liaison fatale (1987), which went to Michael Douglas.

Is one of the few actors to win an Oscar without winning other countless awards with an exception of a BAFTA nomination.

Has three siblings: Chris Kline, Alex Kline and Kate Kline May.

Has appeared with John Cleese in Silverado (1985), Un poisson nommé Wanda (1988) and Créatures féroces (1997). He would later appear in La Panthère rose (2006), but was replaced in the sequel by none other than Cleese. His castmate in that film is Steve Martin, with whom he previously appeared in Grand Canyon (1991). Kline went on to appear on stage as Cyrano de Bergerac, while Martin played a modern Cyrano-like character in Roxanne (1987).

Is one of the few actors alongside Harrison Ford, Arnold Schwarzenegger, etc. to audition for Alan Parrish for the early development of Jumanji (1995).

Studied acting with Michael Howard in New York City.

As of 2018, has appeared in one movie nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Les Copains d'abord (1983). A few of his movies often get nominated for acting Oscars and/or for other categories including Best Original Screenplay, Best Costume Design, etc.

Son-in-law of Joseph Cates.

Phoebe Cates met Kline when she was 19 & he was 35, but they didn't start dating until she was 21. They got married when she was 25 & he was 41.

His daughter Greta has managed to make a name for herself in the music world, under the name Frankie Cosmos.