Kevin Kline

Kevin Delaney Kline is an American actor and singer whose career spans over five decades across stage, film, and television. Born in St. Louis, he established himself as a versatile performer capable of shifting seamlessly between classical drama and sharp comedy. His accolades include an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, three Tony Awards, and two Golden Globe wins, cementing his status as one of the most respected actors of his generation.

In recent years, Kline has maintained a steady presence in major productions while continuing to prioritize theatrical work. He voices the character Calvin Fischoeder in the animated series Bob's Burgers, starred in the Apple TV+ miniseries Disclaimer in 2024, and appeared in the MGM+ series American Classic in 2026. Despite his fame, he remains known for keeping his personal life private away from the Hollywood spotlight. [edit]

Kline grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, where his father owned several retail stores. He attended the University of Cincinnati – College-Conservatory of Music, graduating in 1970 with a degree in acting. This formal training provided a strong foundation in classical theater and opera singing, skills that would later define his early stage career. After graduation, he joined The Acting Company in 1972, a touring repertory theater group founded by Geraldine Page and others. This experience allowed him to hone his craft in regional theaters across the United States before moving to New York City.

His breakthrough on Broadway came in 1978 when he won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his role in On the Twentieth Century. He followed this success with another Tony win in 1981 for The Pirates of Penzance. These early successes led to prominent roles with The Public Theater and the New York Shakespeare Festival throughout the late 1970s. While he was gaining recognition in the theater world, he made his film debut in Alan J. Pakula's Sophie's Choice in 1982, playing Nathan Landau. It was not until his role as Otto West in A Fish Called Wanda in 1988 that he achieved international stardom. [edit]

Kline's film career took off after his Oscar win for A Fish Called Wanda, earning him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, he starred in major hits including The Big Chill (1983), Silverado (1985), Cry Freedom (1987), Dave (1993), The Ice Storm (1997), and In & Out (1997). He also lent his voice to animated classics like The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) and The Road to El Dorado (2000).

On television, he received an Emmy nomination for his portrayal of Cyrano de Bergerac in a 2008 PBS production. Since 2011, he has voiced Calvin Fischoeder in the long-running animated series Bob's Burgers. In 2024, he starred in the Apple TV+ miniseries Disclaimer. Most recently, in 2026, he appeared in the MGM+ series American Classic, playing a character who quits Broadway to run a theater company, alongside Laura Linney and Tony Shalhoub. He also joined Billy Crystal for a live reading of Have a Nice Day in early 2026. [edit]

Kline is portrayed by the media as a gentleman actor with a dry sense of humor, a master of both drama and comedy, and a devoted family man. His public image is one of professionalism and discretion. He is often praised for his ability to balance commercial success with artistic integrity, frequently returning to the stage even during the height of his film career. His choice to remain out of the tabloid cycle has earned him respect among peers and fans alike. [edit]

iFANN has not yet collected fame data for Kevin Kline. He is not featured on the September 2026 iFAMOUS Rankings flagship list. While there is no officially named fandom for Kevin Kline, his supporters generally refer to themselves as fans of his work. He interacts with fans primarily through Q&A sessions at film festivals and occasional social media interactions via his co-stars or production companies. His fanbase appreciates his versatility and longevity in the industry, often citing his classic performances as a benchmark for acting excellence. [edit]

Kline is a classically trained opera singer, which allowed him to perform demanding musical roles on stage. He is fluent in French and has performed in French-language productions. He is known for being extremely protective of his children's privacy, rarely allowing them to appear in public or media. He once turned down a role in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade to focus on stage work. His portrayal of Otto West in A Fish Called Wanda is legendary for its physical comedy and timing, with the scene where he explains the concept of 'a fish called Wanda' to the police widely quoted and studied in acting classes. [edit]

Kline has been married to actress Phoebe Cates since 1989. They met in 1982 at the opening night party of the play Twelfth Night in New York City. The couple married on May 24, 1989, in a private ceremony in Los Angeles. Despite both having successful careers in Hollywood, they have maintained a notably low-profile personal life, often choosing to raise their family away from the spotlight. They have two daughters: Greta, born in 1990, and Windell, born in 1993. There are no records of prior marriages or high-profile romantic relationships for Kline before Cates. [edit]

Phoebe Cates, Billy Crystal, John Cleese, Jamie Lee Curtis, Laura Linney, Hank Azaria. [edit]

Kevin Kline has been married to actress Phoebe Cates since 1989. They met in 1982 at the opening night party of the play Twelfth Night in New York City, where Kline was performing. Their relationship began shortly after they met; they started dating in 1983. The couple married on May 24, 1989, in a private ceremony in Los Angeles. Despite both having successful careers in Hollywood, they have maintained a notably low-profile personal life, often choosing to raise their family away from the spotlight. They have two daughters: Greta, born in 1990, and Windell, born in 1993. There are no records of prior marriages or high-profile romantic relationships for Kline before Cates. As of 2026, Kevin Kline is married to Phoebe Cates, and they remain one of Hollywood's most enduring couples, celebrating nearly four decades together. [edit]

iFANN currently estimates Kevin Kline's net worth at approximately $52 million. This figure reflects his earnings from a diverse portfolio of work spanning four decades. His wealth stems from significant salaries for major films in the 1990s, such as Dave and The Ice Storm, where he reportedly earned between $5 million and $10 million per project at his peak. Voice acting has provided a steady income stream through his long-running role as Calvin Fischoeder in Bob's Burgers.

Stage performances continue to contribute substantially to his finances, particularly his acclaimed 2017 win for Present Laughter on Broadway. Real estate holdings also play a major role, with the couple owning a primary residence in New York City and a home in the Hamptons, properties that have appreciated significantly in value. Through his production company, Kline has produced several projects, adding further revenue to his already substantial fortune. [edit]

Kevin Kline has won numerous prestigious awards throughout his career, including an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for A Fish Called Wanda. He has won three Tony Awards for his work on Broadway, including wins in Best Featured Actor in a Musical for On the Twentieth Century and Best Actor in a Musical for The Pirates of Penzance, as well as Best Actor in a Play for Present Laughter. He has also won two Golden Globe Awards, one for A Fish Called Wanda and another for Cyrano de Bergerac. Additionally, he received a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role for A Fish Called Wanda. [edit]