What happened to Kevin Costner's ear? Everything to know
Besides his undeniable talent and long-withstanding career, Kevin Costner’s ear has become a subject of discussion among his fans. Some have speculated whether a condition created his unique ear shape and whether his health is at risk. Here is everything we know about Kevin Costner's ear and its uniqueness.

Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Key takeaways
- Kevin Costner's Profile summary
- What happened to Kevin Costner's ear?
- Is Kevin Costner ill?
- Does Kevin Costner have cancer?
- Does Kevin Costner have Parkinson's?
- What happened to Kevin Costner's voice?
- Kevin Costner's plane crash
- Who was Kevin Costner's true love?
- Is Kevin Costner's daughter in Yellowstone?
- Is Kevin Costner's real son in Yellowstone?
- Does the cast of Yellowstone get along?
- Why is Kevin Costner missing a piece of his ear?
- Did Kevin Costner have skin cancer on his ear?
- What happened to Kevin Costner’s face?
- What is going on with Kevin Costner’s hair?
Key takeaways
- Kevin Costner is an academy award winning actor who has starred in many films including The Postman, Dance with Wolves and The Bodyguard.
- Kevin Costner’s ear often catches a lot of attention from fans due to its unique shape.
- The actor injured it in a car accident when he was young.
Kevin Costner's Profile summary
Full name | Kevin Michael Costner |
Nickname | The Tsar Next Door |
Date of birth | 18 January 1955 |
Age | 70 years of age (2025) |
Zodiac sign | Capricorn |
Birthplace | Lynwood, California, USA |
Romantic orientation | Heterosexual |
Religious beliefs | Baptist |
Current residence | Colorado, USA |
Current nationality | American |
Marital status | Married to Christine Baumgartner (2004) |
Ethnicity | Caucasian |
Gender | Male |
Weight | 83 kg (most widely reported) |
Height | 185 cm |
Hair colour | Blonde |
Eye colour | Blue |
Parents | Sharon and William ‘Bill’ Costner |
Siblings | Daniel Craig Costner and Mark Douglas Costner (deceased) |
Profession | Actor, producer, director, screenwriter, songwriter, businessperson |
Education | California State University |
Native language | English |
Net worth | $400 million |
Social media profiles | InstagramTwitter |
What happened to Kevin Costner's ear?
Kevin Costner’s ear injury dates back to his teenage years. He was involved in a car accident that caused serious injuries, including the loss of part of his left ear. This traumatic event significantly impacted his life but did not stop him from pursuing acting.
Following the accident, Costner underwent multiple surgeries to repair his ear. Despite medical interventions, the damage remained. It left him with a noticeable deformity and ongoing hearing difficulties.
Though the injury became part of his appearance and is often discussed, the actor turned the imperfection into a unique aspect of his persona. His ability to rise above this physical challenge only added to his charm and versatility as an actor according to his fans.
Costner’s noticeable injury had no impact whatsoever on his pursuit of acting. He rose into Hollywood stardom with films like Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, The Bodyguard, and Dances with Wolves.
Throughout his career, Costner openly shared his experiences with hearing loss. He emphasized the value of seeking professional help, showing that addressing such challenges can improve personal and professional life.

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Is Kevin Costner ill?
There seems to be no health concern surrounding his unique ear shape, but he does have a history of health complications. Despite some online rumours, Kevin Costner’s ear is not missing but does have some superficial disfigurement.
Does Kevin Costner have cancer?
Kevin Costner's ear seems unrelated to any illness, and there has been no confirmation that it poses any health threats. His on-screen character, John Dutton, was diagnosed with colon cancer in the show's first season, but this is also not related to the actor's actual health.
Does Kevin Costner have Parkinson's?
Rumours have also been circulating online that he may have Parkinson's. Despite receiving the 2008 Muhammad Ali Achievement Award for his Parkinson's disease philanthropy, he does not seem to suffer from the condition himself.
What happened to Kevin Costner's voice?
Fans were also quick to notice Kevin Costner's voice change. The actor sounds raspier since he began acting a few decades ago. This is not related to anything other than the natural ageing process.

Source: Getty Images
Kevin Costner's plane crash
The actor was not involved in a plane crash in real life but he played a role in a plane crash in the film, The Guardian. He portrays Ben Randall, a Senior Chief Aviation Survival Technician. Ben is on a rescue mission after a plane crash. Costner is also a licensed private pilot.
Who was Kevin Costner's true love?
The actor was famously cast alongside the late singer Whitney Houston in the 1992 drama, The Bodyguard. The actor was heavily impacted by Whitney's passing. After her tragic death in February of 2012, he said,
She was my one true love.
There was speculation that the duo had an affair around the time the movie was filmed, and it is even mentioned as the catalyst for the breakdown of his first marriage.
At Whitney Houston's funeral, the actor gave a 17-minute speech which defied broadcasting rules. Kevin refused to shorten his speech. In the eulogy, he said,
Whitney if you could hear me now I would tell you, you weren’t just good enough — you were great. You sang the whole d*mn song without a band. You made the picture what it was.
Is Kevin Costner's daughter in Yellowstone?
Although he has a daughter in the show and three adult daughters in real life, neither plays alongside him.

Source: Getty Images
Is Kevin Costner's real son in Yellowstone?
No, Kevin Costner's son was not in Yellowstone. Neither of his seven children is credited as part of the show's cast.
Does the cast of Yellowstone get along?
Although there was much tension between characters and rivals on the show, various sources state that the cast got along incredibly well compared to their on-screen counterparts.
Why is Kevin Costner missing a piece of his ear?
The actor had an accident when he was young that led him to lose a part of his ear and some hearing ability with it. He has had treatment over the years but the injury still left him with a deformation on his ear.
Did Kevin Costner have skin cancer on his ear?
No, Kevin Costner's ear disfigurement was caused by a car accident, not skin cancer. The accident affected his ear leading to the loss of a part of his left ear. The treatment did not completely restore the ear hence the appearance.
What happened to Kevin Costner’s face?
Speculations about the actor's face stemmed from claims that his face appeared 'frozen'. The actor has been accused of getting Botox. However, he has not responded to any rumours or questions.
What is going on with Kevin Costner’s hair?
Costner's hair has appeared to be thinning according to some fans. This could be due to ageing, a common phenomenon with men his age.
Although Kevin Costner's ear is often speculated about, the award-winning actor did not shy away from speaking about it. He has encourages people to get treatments when it comes to injuries.
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Source: Briefly News

Justine De Lange (Lifestyle writer) Justine De Lange has over 6 years of experience in lifestyle, corporate and freelance writing. She started at Now Media for their lifestyle publication 'Let's Go', then joined 'travSIM' and 'Metavaro'. She now writes for Briefly News as a content writer, working with beats such as studies, services, business tips, and celebrity biographies (joined in 2022). In 2023, Justine finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. You can contact her directly via JustinedeLange14@gmail.com.

Sharon Boit (Lifestyle writer) Sharon J. Boit is an SEO Content Writer at Legit Media Holdings, working on content optimization since October 2024. Sharon began her career as a researcher and project manager at the Center for Urban Research and Innovations, University of Nairobi, for 4 years. In 2019, she became a freelance SEO content writer, writing blog posts and articles on travel, pets, online sports betting, personal finance, lifestyle, radio news, and technology. You can reach Sharon J. Boit by email at boitjep@gmail.com.