Kevin Costner Admits One Actor Outshined Every Co Star He Worked With

Kevin Costner is no stranger to the Western genre. Over a career spanning more than four decades, Costner has shared the screen with dozens of acting legends, ranging from Dennis Hopper in Waterworld and Sean Connery in The Untouchables to Susan Sarandon in Bull Durham and Whitney Houston in The Bodyguard.

With such a legendary list of colleagues, one might think it would be impossible for him to choose a favorite. However, during an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, Costner provided a definitive answer. When asked who he considered the greatest actor he had ever worked with, he admitted that while the list of great performers is long, Gene Hackman stands at the very top.

The two worked together on the 1987 political thriller No Way Out, where Costner played a Lieutenant Commander, and Hackman portrayed the Secretary of Defense. Costner recalled a moment during production when he and the director, Roger Donaldson, were disagreeing over where Costner should stand during a scene. When the crew worried about how this would affect Hackman, Costner confidently told them that Gene would figure out what to do because he is just that good.

At the end of the day, Costner was walking to his car when Hackman approached him. Costner admitted he was terrified, thinking he was about to be scolded for being a difficult young actor. Instead, Hackman offered him a surprising compliment.

He told Costner that watching him fight for what he wanted reminded him of how he used to feel about acting. Hackman simply said it was good what he did before driving away, leaving a lasting impression on Costner’s professional life.

As of early this year, Kevin Costner has officially moved on from his iconic role as John Dutton in Yellowstone, which concluded its final season in late 2024. While the show has continued through various spin-offs, Costner has focused entirely on his own creative ventures.

His most recent project, the eight-episode Civil War drama The Gray House, premiered on Prime Video on February 26. Costner executive-produced the series alongside his longtime friend Morgan Freeman, marking a reunion for the duo who famously starred together in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.

Costner is also currently in the middle of production for the third and fourth installments of his massive Western, Horizon: An American Saga. Despite the first two chapters facing challenges at the box office, Costner remains dedicated to finishing his four-part vision, with Chapter 3 expected to hit theaters later in the year.

Do you think Gene Hackman’s endorsement of Costner’s “fighting spirit” on the set of No Way Out is the reason Costner has been so relentless in pursuing his own creative passion projects today? Share your thoughts in the comments!