Kevin Kline

Kevin Kline was born on October 24, 1947, in St. Louis, Missouri. His father, Robert Joseph Kline, owned several stores and was a classical music enthusiast, while his mother, Margaret, was of Irish ancestry. After attending Indiana University in Bloomington, Kline pursued his acting education at the Juilliard School in New York. In 1972, he became a founding member of The Acting Company, directed by John Houseman, performing Shakespearean plays and other classical works across the United States. His early stage career included a brief role on the television soap opera “Search for Tomorrow” (1951).

Kline earned significant recognition on Broadway with two Tony Awards: Best Featured Actor in a Musical for “On the Twentieth Century” (1978) and Best Actor in a Musical for “The Pirates of Penzance” (1981). He transitioned to film in 1982 with “Sophie’s Choice,” earning a Golden Globe nomination for his performance. He collaborated with director Lawrence Kasdan on films such as “The Big Chill” (1983) and “Silverado” (1985). In 1989, Kline received an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Otto West in “A Fish Called Wanda” (1988), solidifying his reputation for combining classical training with comedic timing.

Throughout his career, Kline has continued to balance diverse roles in film, television, and theater. Notable film roles include “Chaplin” (1992), “Dave” (1993), and “The Ice Storm” (1997). In television, he has voiced Mr. Fischoeder in “Bob’s Burgers” since 2011 and starred in the Apple TV+ miniseries “Disclaimer” (2024). He received his third Tony Award in 2017 for Best Actor in a Play for “Present Laughter.” In 2003, he was inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame, and in 2004, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.