Before Kevin Costner was a Hollywood icon, he was just a regular college student at California State University at Fullerton. It was there where he met his first wife, Cindy Costner (née Silva), whom he shared nearly two decades of marriage with.
The Yellowstone star first crossed paths with Cindy in the early 1970s while the two were both pursuing Bachelor’s degrees at the same university in Southern California. Like Kevin, Cindy loved the idea of becoming an actress so much that she played a princess at Disneyland during her summer breaks.
The Academy Award winner once insisted his former wife even resembled Disney princess Snow White. “She was beautiful, she was sweet, she was smarter than me,” Kevin gushed to People in 1989. “She represented everything about women that I like.”
Following Kevin’s graduation in 1978, the college sweethearts made their love official when they tied the knot that same year. Throughout the first years of their marriage, the new husband focused on getting his Hollywood career off the ground.
Kevin made his debut in 1981’s Sizzle Beach, U.S.A. and continued acting with a few minor supporting roles in 1982’s Night Shift, 1983’s The Big Chill and more. In 1984, the lovebirds celebrated a personal milestone when they welcomed their first child, daughter Annie, that April. The pair’s second daughter, Lily, arrived two years later in August 1986.
While juggling his new role as a dad, Kevin’s acting career was just getting started when he rose to prominence with his portrayal of Eliot Ness in 1987’s The Untouchables. After welcoming their youngest son, Joe, in January 1998, the doting dad’s success continued with starring credits in 1988’s Bull Durham, 1989’s Field of Dreams, 1992’s The Bodyguard and 1993’s A Perfect World.
Although Kevin was earning his spot as a critically-acclaimed actor in showbiz, there was trouble in paradise when it came to his marriage with Cindy. According to People, the mom of three struggled to adjust to her husband’s grueling work schedule. In 1994, the duo announced they were calling it quits.
“After 16 years together, we are ending our marriage,” Kevin and Cindy revealed in a statement at the time, People reported. “We have amicably resolved all issues regarding our children and financial affairs and a full marital settlement has been reached.”
Following his divorce with Cindy, Kevin shared a short relationship with actress, Bridget Rooney, whom he welcomed son Liam with in 1996. The Golden Globe recipient is also the loving father of his youngest kids, Cayden, Hayes and Grace, with his second wife, Christine Baumgartner. The couple exchanged vows in 2004.
Scroll through the gallery below to learn all about Kevin’s first wife, Cindy!
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