Kevin Costner's Torturous 9-5: How a Future Oscar Winner Couldn't Stand Working a Regular Job

Written By Dara Singh

[{"selector":"#anim-8165b8d8-1807-4912-ace1-2bf00764b1d6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Costner's father was supportive of his Hollywood dreams but unable to help him break in.

[{"selector":"#anim-2a202e6f-e5f2-4662-80b0-256354c77648 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(12.514648210040342%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3460d4bb-1a8c-4608-927b-4deb52e8b6a0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0b692d35-513e-4255-9ff8-9b3efe518e5e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 142.13948%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] After college, Costner got a marketing job but quickly realized it wasn't for him.

[{"selector":"#anim-c760714a-7061-4355-84a3-50af742fcaad [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-485a8dd6-c923-4a40-ab5c-08306a68273c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ccfb16d8-114c-40e9-b506-b7d2b65c442b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 145.33099%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The office work environment clashed with Costner's creative passions.

[{"selector":"#anim-56a0aff4-9696-43f5-a4a0-2bf53acb2935 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2b66462c-094c-4e9c-b6c9-143cb27ea68e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-da780749-b568-44bc-a614-560757e35ead","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 158.69882%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Costner felt unfulfilled and stifled in the corporate marketing world.

[{"selector":"#anim-fdb00f2e-86a1-4502-8d7e-8cf0e5f9e538 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0287f3eb-fb2a-4bcc-9d4c-fc2509f51864","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-244e5377-6b8c-49f0-86d4-c4f8f40540d2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 141.60758%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] He decided to take a risk and pursue his real dream of being an actor.

[{"selector":"#anim-a7935f79-65c1-4d2e-94da-df8a5ae87721 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e345e4fa-7892-4bf7-ba81-a395d2c509b4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bcf58114-eb63-4a9f-839f-b4b249ada601","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 133.62887%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Costner moved to Hollywood and worked menial jobs while going to auditions.

[{"selector":"#anim-8f86ff14-ad6e-402b-9319-1d68e848a4ff [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3390902b-c9cc-4fcf-b2e3-61c3f3c821b3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3cbfb3d7-ebe9-4fa1-86f9-a8310e251323","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 146.50478%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] His persistence paid off and he got his big break in movies.

[{"selector":"#anim-61a48f14-bcae-4a94-8a24-74505f38b031 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bf2bf9ff-b5ca-4e12-9ae6-02d9d6274ca0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-99942ccf-9111-4f14-b006-b924c9959742","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 127.77781%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Costner went on to achieve massive success, directing and starring in hit films like Dances with Wolves.