Kevin Delaney Kline (born October 24, 1947) is an American actor whose career has moved successfully between classical theater, Broadway musicals, comedy, drama, film, television, and voice work. Known for his precise diction, physical expressiveness, and unusual range, Kline has played both high-minded dramatic roles and broadly comic characters without losing the theatrical discipline that defined his early career.
Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Kline studied at Indiana University, where he initially pursued music before concentrating on theater and speech. He later received training at the Juilliard School. In 1972, he joined the Acting Company, the touring repertory ensemble founded under the direction of John Houseman. The experience gave Kline a strong foundation in Shakespeare and other classical works while allowing him to perform before audiences throughout the United States.
Kline became a major Broadway presence during the 1970s and 1980s. He won his first Tony Award for the original production of the musical "On the Twentieth Century" in 1978. His performance as the Pirate King in the 1981 New York Shakespeare Festival production of "The Pirates of Penzance," later transferred to Broadway, brought him a second Tony and established him as a gifted comic performer as well as a serious stage actor. He later appeared in productions of "Henry IV," "King Lear," "Cyrano de Bergerac," and other major classical plays. In 2017, he won a third Tony Award for his performance in the Broadway revival of Noel Coward's "Present Laughter."
Kline made his film debut in "Sophie's Choice" (1982), playing opposite Meryl Streep. He followed it with roles in Lawrence Kasdan's "The Big Chill" and " Silverado," helping establish him as a versatile screen actor. His most celebrated film performance came in the British comedy "A Fish Called Wanda" (1988), in which he played Otto, an absurdly self-important former intelligence operative. The role earned Kline the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
During the 1990s, Kline alternated between comedies, dramas, and character parts. He played a presidential double in "Dave" (1993), appeared opposite Meg Ryan in "French Kiss" (1995), and portrayed a teacher whose sexuality becomes the center of public attention in "In & Out" (1997). His work in these films demonstrated his ability to make intelligent, sympathetic characters accessible to mainstream audiences.
Kline has also remained active in television and animated entertainment. He received an Emmy nomination for his performance as Cyrano de Bergerac in a filmed stage production and was recognized for his role as Calvin Fischoeder on the animated series "Bob's Burgers." His screen work has included "The Ice Storm," "The Emperor's Club," "De-Lovely," "The Pink Panther," "Beauty and the Beast," and "The Good House." In the 2020s, he appeared in the television series "Disclaimer."
Across more than five decades, Kline has maintained a reputation for combining stage authority with comic timing. His career is notable not simply for its awards, but for the breadth of forms and characters he has handled with equal commitment.