Kevin Spacey

Kevin Spacey, May 2013 (cropped)

American actor and producer

Kevin Spacey Fowler (born July 26, 1959) is an American actor and producer. He began his career as a stage actor during the 1980s, obtaining supporting roles in film and television. Spacey's first roles in film were in Mike Nichols' Heartburn (1986) and Working Girl (1988). He continued to act in independent films and gained critical acclaim for his role in The Usual Suspects (1995), for which he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He went on to win the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in American Beauty (1999).

Early life

Kevin Spacey Fowler was born in South Orange, New Jersey, to Kathleen Ann (née Knutson), a secretary, and Thomas Geoffrey Fowler, a technical writer and data consultant. He has an older brother, Randy Fowler, and a sister, Julie Ann Fowler Keir. Spacey attended Northridge Military Academy, Canoga Park High School, and Chatsworth High School in Los Angeles, California, where he graduated as co-valedictorian in 1977. He began using his middle name "Spacey," which was his paternal grandmother's maiden name.

Career

Early career

Spacey began his acting career on the stage, appearing in several New York Shakespeare Festival productions and making his Broadway debut in Ghosts in 1982. He gained prominence in the 1990s with roles in films such as Glengarry Glen Ross (1992) and Se7en (1995).

Breakthrough and critical acclaim

Spacey's breakthrough came with his role as Verbal Kint in The Usual Suspects (1995), which earned him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He followed this with a critically acclaimed performance in L.A. Confidential (1997). In 1999, he starred in American Beauty, a role that earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor.

Later career

In the 2000s, Spacey starred in films such as Pay It Forward (2000), K-PAX (2001), and Superman Returns (2006). He also took on the role of Frank Underwood in the Netflix series House of Cards (2013–2017), for which he received a Golden Globe Award.

Personal life

Spacey has been involved in various philanthropic efforts, including work with The Kevin Spacey Foundation, which supports young actors and artists. He has also faced legal issues and allegations of sexual misconduct, which have impacted his career.

Awards and honors

Spacey has received numerous awards and nominations throughout his career, including two Academy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and several Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Filmography

Film

• Heartburn (1986)
• Working Girl (1988)
• The Usual Suspects (1995)
• Se7en (1995)
• L.A. Confidential (1997)
• American Beauty (1999)
• Pay It Forward (2000)
• K-PAX (2001)
• Superman Returns (2006)

Television

• House of Cards (2013–2017)

See also

• List of actors with Academy Award nominations
• List of actors with two or more Academy Awards in acting categories

External links

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