Kevin Spacey
An actor of chilling precision and charismatic control whose brilliant career was irrevocably shadowed by allegations of personal misconduct.
Born 1959 (age 67)·American actor·Birthday: July 26·Baby Boomers
Biography
For two decades, Kevin Spacey commanded stages and screens with a unique, unsettling magnetism. He built a reputation as Hollywood's go-to actor for intelligent, morally ambiguous men, winning Academy Awards for his supporting role as the verbose con man in 'The Usual Suspects' and his lead performance as a suburban father with a dark secret in 'American Beauty.' His stage work, including a celebrated turn in 'Lost in Yonkers' and a riveting Richard III, showcased formidable classical chops. In 2013, he leveraged his star power into a political drama, 'House of Cards,' becoming a defining figure of the streaming era. However, in 2017, a cascade of sexual misconduct allegations halted his ascent, leading to his removal from projects, criminal trials, and a dramatic fall from grace that now dominates his public narrative.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Kevin was born in 1959, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Kevin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1959
#1 Movie
Ben-Hur
Best Picture
Ben-Hur
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Kevin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1959Born
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1964Started school
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1972Became a teenager
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1975Could drive
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1977Could vote
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1980Turned 21
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1989Turned 30
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1999Turned 40
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2009Turned 50
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 60
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 67 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Lester Burnham in Sam Mendes's 'American Beauty' (1999).
- Received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of the enigmatic Keyser Söze in 'The Usual Suspects' (1995).
- Served as artistic director of London's Old Vic theatre from 2004 to 2015, programming and starring in numerous productions.
- Won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performance in 'Lost in Yonkers' (1991).
Did You Know?
He is a skilled impressionist and frequently performed them in talk show appearances, notably of celebrities like Johnny Carson and Christopher Walken.
Spacey hosted the Tony Awards ceremony in 1999.
He was a close friend and protégé of actor Jack Lemmon, who encouraged his early career.
““If you are lucky enough to do well, it’s your responsibility to send the elevator back down.””
