Spacey, Kevin (1959-…), is a versatile American motion-picture and stage actor. Spacey won the 1995 Academy Award as best supporting actor for his performance in The Usual Suspects. He won the 1999 Oscar as best actor for his performance in American Beauty. Spacey also won a Tony Award in 1991 for the best performance by a featured actor in a Broadway play for his work in Neil Simon’s comedy Lost in Yonkers. In 1998, Spacey gained acclaim in London, England, for his performance as Hickey in a revival of Eugene O’Neill’s drama The Iceman Cometh. He received similar acclaim in 1999 for his performance as Hickey in New York City, New York. From 2003 to 2015, Spacey was artistic director of the Old Vic Theatre in London.
Spacey was born on July 26, 1959, in South Orange, New Jersey. According to some sources, his real name is Kevin Spacey Fowler. He studied acting at the Juilliard School in New York City from 1979 to 1981 and then began his acting career with the New York Shakespeare Festival. He also performed in regional theaters.
Spacey made his movie debut in Heartburn (1986). He became a film star in the mid-1990’s with his appearances in such movies as The Ref (1994); The Usual Suspects, Swimming with Sharks, and Seven (all 1995); and L.A. Confidential (1997). Spacey directed the suspense film Albino Alligator (1997).
In the 2000’s, Spacey acted in the movies The Big Kahuna and Pay It Forward (both 2000); K-Pax and The Shipping News (both 2001); The United States of Leland (2004); Superman Returns (2006); 21 and Recount (both 2008); and Shrink and The Men Who Stare at Goats (both 2009). He provided the voice of a robot in Moon (2009). Spacey later appeared in Father of Invention and Casino Jack (both 2010); Horrible Bosses and Margin Call (both 2011); Elvis & Nixon (2016); Billionaire Boys Club (2018); and L’uomo che disegnò Dio (2021). Spacey both directed and starred in Beyond the Sea (2004).
In 2013, Spacey began acting in the Netflix series “House of Cards.” He was cut from the program in 2017 after being accused of sexual misconduct.
