Actor Kevin Costner has a long history of collaborating with some of the biggest Hollywood stars, especially during the 90s and early 2000s. Costner has worked with the likes of Clint Eastwood, who is arguably one of the biggest superstars of the era.
However, when Costner had to pick the greatest actor he had the pleasure of sharing the screen with, he named a James Bond actor. In a statement, Costner stated that he considered actor Sean Connery the greatest actor, after working with the former Bond star. Here is why Kevin Costner named Sean Connery as one of his best co-stars.
Kevin Costner Considers James Bond Star Sean Connery to be the Greatest Actor He’s Worked With
Actor Kevin Costner worked with former James Bond actor Sean Connery on the 1987 crime-drama film The Untouchables. The film emerged as a commercial and critical success, grossing $106.2 million worldwide, Connery also won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the film.
After Connery passed away in 2020, Costner paid tribute to his former co-star in a statement (via Variety), where he praised the deceased actor. Costner stated:
“He was the biggest star that I ever worked with and I will be forever grateful to be linked with him on film. Sean Connery was a man’s man who had an amazing career.”
Costner also praised Connery’s no-nonsense attitude and dedication to his acting craft. The Yellowstone star also expressed grief over the actor’s passing.
Ultimately, Costner’s comment implies that he considered Connery one of the biggest stars of all time and the greatest actor he shared the screen with, despite also working with four-time Academy Award winner Clint Eastwood.
Kevin Costner Insisted Clint Eastwood Appear Alongside Him in A Perfect World
Kevin Costner shared the screen with Clint Eastwood in the 1993 crime-thriller film A Perfect World. In the film, Costner plays Robert “Butch” Haynes an escaped convict and Eastwood plays the Texas Ranger in pursuit of the convict.
It was commercially successful like Costner’s collaboration with Connery, grossing almost $135 million worldwide. However, Eastwood had only signed on to direct the movie in the initial stages. Nonetheless, Costner insisted that Eastwood play the Texas Ranger, opposite his character in the film.
According to a report, Costner and Eastwood’s creative sensibilities were not in alignment while working on the movie. Costner allegedly took a long time to prepare for filming a scene, asking director Eastwood more time. Instead of waiting for Costner, Eastwood went ahead and shot the scene with an extra, leading to other alleged arguments between the two.
Therefore, it is likely that Costner and Eastwood’s collaboration wasn’t as fruitful for the former as his experience of working with Connery. As a result, Costner might feel that Eastwood is a much better director, but when it came to picking one of his best co-stars, he chose the former James Bond actor instead.