Join or Sign In

Continue with Facebook Continue with email

By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy.

Kevin Spacey Biography

Birth Name:Kevin Spacey Fowler

Birth Place:South Orange, New Jersey, United States

Profession Actor, Producer, Soundtrack, Director, Writer, Music department

Fast Facts

London South Bank University awarded him a Doctor of Letters in 2005
Was made an honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2010 for services to drama by Prince Charles on Queen Elizabeth II's behalf
Founded the non-profit organization the Kevin Spacey Foundation in 2010 to identify emerging artists and provide the training and resources they need to fully express themselves
At the urging of schoolmate Val Kilmer, he auditioned for Juilliard and was accepted
He and actress Mare Winningham graduated from Chatsworth High School in Chatsworth, Calif․, where they served as co-valedictorians
Made his screen acting debut in the film "Heartburn" in 1986
Quote: "I went through like a really brief period of time where I was a bit rambunctious and my dad just sent me and my brother to military school․ I mean just, bang, he wouldn't have it․"
Quote: "It's the risk takers who are rewarded․"
Quote: "Ultimately, all we want in theater is for people to open up their hearts and show us they have them․ When we see great work, it's because someone has been willing to show us their heart, and they haven't been afraid of the consequences․"
Began serving as the Artistic Director of The Old Vic Theatre in London in 2003

Awards

1992Best Actor-: winner
1993Saturn Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
1995ACCA-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: winner
1995ACCA-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
1995ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: winner
1995ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: nominated
1995BSFC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
1995LAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
1995NBR Award-Best Acting by an Ensemble: winner
1995NBR Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
1995NYFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
1995Golden Space Needle Award-Best Actor: winner
1995STFC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
1996Oscar-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: winner
1996Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
1996CFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
1996Chlotrudis Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
1996Critics Choice Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
1996DFWFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
1996Chainsaw Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
1996Independent Spirit Award-Best Male Lead: nominated
1996Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: nominated
1996MTV Movie Award-Best Villain: winner
1996NSFC Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
1997ACCA-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
1997BSFC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
1997LAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
1997STFC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
1998Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast: nominated
1998BAFTA Film Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
1998CFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
1998Chlotrudis Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
1998Empire Award-Best Actor: winner
1998NSFC Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
1999ACCA-Best Actor in a Leading Role: winner
1999ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: nominated
1999BSFC Award-Best Actor: nominated
1999KCFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
1999OFTA Film Award-Best Voice-Over Performance: nominated
1999SDFCS Award-Best Actor: winner
1999TFCA Award-Best Performance, Male: winner
2000Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: winner
2000Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Theatrical Motion Picture: winner
2000Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: winner
2000American Comedy Award-Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role): nominated
2000BAFTA Film Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: winner
2000Blockbuster Entertainment Award-Favorite Actor - Drama: nominated
2000CFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2000Chlotrudis Award-Best Actor: winner
2000DFWFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2000FFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
2000Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
2000Sierra Award-Best Actor: winner
2000ALFS Award-Actor of the Year: winner
2000NSFC Award-Best Actor: nominated
2000OFTA Film Award-Best Actor: winner
2000OFCS Award-Best Actor: winner
2000Golden Aries-Best Foreign Actor: winner
2000Golden Satellite Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama: nominated
2000SEFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2001Blockbuster Entertainment Award-Favorite Actor - Drama/Romance: nominated
2001Empire Award-Best Actor: nominated
2001Jupiter Award-Best International Actor: winner
2001Audience Award-Best Foreign Actor (Melhor Ator Estrangeiro): winner
2002Saturn Award-Best Actor: nominated
2002BAFTA Film Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2002Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
2005Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: nominated
2006Grammy-Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: nominated
2006Teen Choice Award-Movies - Choice Sleazebag: nominated
2008Gold Derby TV Award-TV Movie/Mini Actor: nominated
2008OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
2008Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie: nominated
2008Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Made for Television Movie: nominated
2008Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2008Special Award-Best Ensemble: winner
2009Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: nominated
2009Golden Globe-Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2009Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2009Golden Nymph-Television Films - Best Performance by an Actor: nominated
2009PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television: nominated
2009WFCC Award-Best Actor: nominated
2011Movies for Grownups Award-Best Actor: nominated
2011Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: nominated
2011Gotham Independent Film Award-Best Ensemble Performance: nominated
2011PFCS Award-Best Ensemble Acting: nominated
2012Movies for Grownups Award-Best Actor: nominated
2012COFCA Award-Best Ensemble: nominated
2012Robert Altman Award-: winner
2013Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2013Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Lead Actor: nominated
2013IGN Award-Best TV Actor: nominated
2013OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2013Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated
2013Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2014Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2014Dorian Award-TV Performance of the Year - Actor: nominated
2014Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Lead Actor: nominated
2014Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama: nominated
2014IGN Award-Best TV Villain: nominated
2014Golden Nymph-Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2014PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama: nominated
2014Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated
2014Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2014Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Series, Drama: nominated
2014TV Guide Award-Favorite Actor: nominated
2015Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: nominated
2015Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series: winner
2015Dorian Award-TV Performance of the Year - Actor: nominated
2015Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Lead Actor: nominated
2015Golden Camera-Best International Actor: winner
2015Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama: winner
2015Huading Award-Best Global Actor in a Television Series: nominated
2015Golden Nymph-Outstanding Actor in a Drama TV Series: nominated
2015OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2015PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama: nominated
2015Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated
2015Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2016Felix-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2016Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series: winner
2016Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: nominated
2016Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2016Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Lead Actor: nominated
2016IFJA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2016OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2016PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama: nominated
2016Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2016Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated
2017Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2017Palmarés blogos de oro-Best Actor in a TV show (Mejor Actor en una serie): nominated
2017Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Lead Actor: nominated
2017PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama: nominated
2017Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated
2017Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2019Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Actor of the Decade: nominated
2024Folkestone Independent Film Award-Best Performance: winner
2024FIFF Award-Best Actor: winner