Kevin Costner is a dad to seven kids from three different women. Yet “The Bodyguard” star is protective of the bond he shares with his children while he raises them to be normal, despite his celebrity status.
Being an A-list celebrity might make it difficult to raise kids out of the spotlight, therefore, giving them a normal upbringing, but that is not a problem Kevin Costner deals with.
The “Yellowstone” star is a loving husband to his wife and a caring father to seven kids, all of whom he raised like normal kids. Kevin, an actor, singer, and producer, first became a dad nearly four decades ago when he welcomed daughter Annie with his ex-wife, Cindy Silva. The former couple later had a daughter, Lily, and a son, Joe.
He had his fourth child and second son, Liam, with Bridget Rooney. In 2004, the award-winning actor married again, this time to designer Christine Baumgartner. Following their marriage, they expanded their family, welcoming three kids, Cayden Wyatt, Logan Hayes, and Grace Avery.
Interestingly, Kevin’s busy and large family has never been an excuse for him to take a break from fatherhood. The actor has a close relationship with all his kids and once told People:
“I’m really comfortable with my family. I’m really comfortable with my children. Our house is like a river: You’ve just got to get into the flow of it … And whatever you thought it was going to be, maybe it still can, but it’s going to have to work with what the day brings.”
This comfort has come with sacrifices and investing time in parenting his brood. Though Kevin has always been committed to bringing the best out of his kids by instilling the right values, he does not boast about being a perfect dad.
Still, he gets to have fun with the family during a work break. “The Untouchables” star noted that people barely know how his family works. He makes memories with his wife and kids when he is not in front of the camera.
Simultaneously, the mini Costners have recognized their dad’s influence on their life. While he is an award-winning onscreen star to fans, they see him as a loving father worth emulating.
His oldest child, Annie, born in 1984, also shared his knack for acting. She starred with her dad in the Oscar-winning movie “Dances With Wolves” as Christine.
Amid her other acting features, which include “The Postman” and “The Baby-Sitters Club,” she touted her producer hones in 2014 after establishing a producing company known as Sound Off Films, leading her to work with the industry’s finest.
Annie is also a happily married woman who tied the knot with Dr. Danny Cox in 2016. The actress and physician had a memorable wedding ceremony on her dad’s private estate in Carpinteria, California.
Like her sister, Lily is a seasoned actress with a soft singing voice. While she rides solo, Lily has worked with Kevin on numerous projects, on screen and with his band, Kevin Costner & Modern West.
Kevin’s first son, Joe, also began his career in the industry as an actor after working closely with his dad and older sisters. Despite his mastery of acting and singing, Joe opted for a career behind the scenes. He is an audio engineer and production sound mixer.
Having a different career has not stripped him of support from his celebrity dad. A few years ago, Kevin praised his son’s work ethic and how he surrounds himself with good friends. The actor’s second son, Liam, prefers a life away from the spotlight, and for many years, he has successfully maintained a low-profile personality.
On the other hand, his younger half-siblings have been captured on camera numerous times with their dad on red-carpet events but have yet to establish themselves as actors or singers.
Cayden, the oldest of Kevin and Baumgartner’s sons, is interested in music and, expectedly, has supportive parents. Though the actor was hesitant to start fatherhood all over at 50, he decided to give it a shot and has not regretted any moment.
Two years later, the couple had another son, Hayden Logan, who grew to love sports and played in little league games. The family’s youngest child, Grace Avery, is every bit a girly girl. Unlike her brothers, she prefers to dance and sew. However, she is also observant.
From a young age, she understood her dad’s need to transform his appearances for roles. During an appearance in Today, he revealed:
“If I come home — and that haircut I actually had was pretty severe — and Gracie looks at me and then looks at Mom and says ‘Daddy’s been fighting again, huh?’”
Kevin Costner’s Relationship with His Kids and How They Get Along
In the past, the “Waterworld” star confessed that he is relaxed at home with his family and does not consider himself a perfect dad. But in raising them, he has been very intentional.
Kevin looked forward to building an unbreakable relationship with his mini-mes. He was closer to his daughters than his sons, and one of the ways the girls show their love is by making him sandwiches occasionally.
Most of Kevin’s decisions and life views have been shaped by his duties as a family man. As he grew older, he wanted to invest more in his kids and live forever on Earth.
But this does not mean he did not bond with his boys; he considers himself a provider in all ramifications and has realized that the world does not revolve around him.
While enjoying the company of all his kids, he taught them to be independent, raising them with a sense of normalcy amid his celebrity status. Kevin taught them to “work hard and stand on their own two feet.”
His only concern about fatherhood was when he began welcoming the younger kids. He had a heart-to-heart conversation with his older ones and made sure to eliminate any form of jealousy.
As an older parent with adult and teenage kids, he was aware that his younger kids might not have him around as long as the older ones did. So he poured himself into being around for his second family with Baumgartner.
Fortunately, he has avoided raising spoiled and entitled kids, and all they require of him is to continue to be their provider—financially and emotionally. He spends time with them on different properties, including his ranch in Colorado. When speaking about the difference between raising them, he said:
“There’s really no difference. You just love ’em. They still want money and stuff.”
Kevin Costner’s Mortality Thoughts and Remaining a Dad Forever
Since the birth of his firstborn, Annie, Kevin has excitedly taken up his fatherly duties, and even though it is his longest role, he is still proud of it. While he has a successful career, he has been busy raising his kids, a sacrifice he intends to keep making for the rest of his life. In his words, “you never stop raising kids.”
Most of Kevin’s decisions and life views have been shaped by his duties as a family man. As he grew older, he wanted to invest more in his kids and wished to live forever on Earth. He said:
“I’d love to live forever. That’s how much I love life. I like I on Earth. I want to have as much time on this Earth as I can.”
Kevin’s life has not been a walk in the park as he had to deal with a failed marriage and later became committed to raising younger kids. Still, he considers himself lucky to have a wonderful family surrounded by love and fulfillment!