The American Olivier
In a rare interview, Oscar-winning actor Kevin Kline reflects on his career and Indiana University roots
Actor Kevin Kline takes his curtain call at opening night of the revival of Cyrano at the Richard Rodgers Theater in New York City in 2007.
Upon enrolling at Indiana University, Kevin Kline, BA’70, considered by many to be one of the finest actors of his time, aspired to be a concert pianist.
“I really love music. Indiana had and still has one of the finest music schools in the world,” says Kline, 63, during a phone interview from his home in Manhattan, where he lives with his wife, actress Phoebe Cates (Gremlins), and their two children. “It was a little late in the game to take my musical skills seriously, because I found myself surrounded by these prodigious musical geniuses who had been playing and doing little else since they were 5.
He continues: “It was something I loved to do, but I didn’t have the discipline. After two years of music school, I didn’t really have the chops. I’d also had become enamored with acting then. I always wanted to try acting. I took an acting class when I was still a music major.”
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