Taking It With Grace
IllustrationStory★★★★It was the movie Silverado that launched Kevin Costner’s acting career. But first he had to weather a huge disappointment.
After completing his role in The Big Chill Costner was called to a meeting with Lawrence Kasdan, the film’s director. Kasdan explains: “I told Kevin that I felt terrible about it, but I had to cut out the ending and his part was gone.
To my amazement, Costner was totally cheerful, sanguine, delightful. ‘Larry,’ he said, ‘this has been the experience of my life. It has shown me what kind of actor I want to be, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. You have nothing to apologize for—you have given me a great gift.’
It was at that moment that our friendship started. I was already planning Silverado, and suddenly I thought. I’m going to write a part for Kevin Costner in that.”
The point
Cut from a film, Kevin Costner remained cheerful and grateful, seeing it as a gift; this grace and humility led to a lasting friendship and his starring role in Silverado.