Page "Kevin Costner" Paragraph 1

Costner was born in Lynwood, California, the youngest of three sons ( the middle of whom died at birth ).

His mother, Sharon Rae ( née Tedrick ), was a welfare worker, and his father, William Costner, was an electrician and later utilities executive at Southern California Edison.

Costner's patrilineal heritage originates with German immigrants to South Carolina in the 1700s ; he also has English and Irish ancestry, and has said that one of his ancestors had " married a Cherokee woman ".

Costner was raised Baptist.

He attended Cabrillo Middle School and Villa Park High School.

Costner was not academically inclined.

Rather, he enjoyed sports, took piano lessons, wrote poetry and sang in the First Baptist Choir.

He has stated that a viewing of the film How the West Was Won at the age of seven had " formed " his childhood.