Did Kevin Costner date Whitney Houston? What really happened on The Bodyguard set
Since The Bodyguard first captivated audiences, questions about whether Kevin Costner dated Whitney Houston or whether their chemistry existed only on screen have lingered. Although this speculation remains part of the film’s legacy, the co-stars, who never dated, shared a deep bond, as Costner once recalled:
She would always be close to me; she would always be somebody I appreciated.
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- In 1992, Emmy Award–winning actor Kevin Costner starred alongside late singer Whitney Houston in the American romantic thriller The Bodyguard.
- The pair developed a close bond during and after filming and remained friends until Houston’s death on February 11, 2012.
- Despite widespread speculation, the co-stars, who played Frank Farmer and Rachel Marron, never dated.
- Houston was previously married to Bobby Brown, while Costner was married twice: first to Cindy Silva in 1978 and later to Christine Baumgartner in 2004.
Did Kevin Costner date Whitney Houston?
The late singer and the Emmy Award–winning actor, according to Marca, never dated off-screen. They shared a close, platonic relationship that lasted until Houston passed away.
During a 2012 interview reported by Digital Spy, the actor reflected on their bond on the set of The Bodyguard. Kevin Costner also spoke about the song that helped define the film, saying it remains deeply meaningful to him:
She was my one true love, I still have ‘I Will Always Love You’ as my ringtone, and I count it as a badge of honour every time I get mocked for it.
Source: Original
They first met while filming The Bodyguard (1992)
Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner’s relationship reportedly began when they met on the set of the 1992 romantic thriller The Bodyguard. The film starred Costner as Frank Farmer, with Houston making her acting debut as Rachel Marron.
In a 2019 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Whitney Houston's true love credited their on-screen chemistry to Lawrence Kasdan’s screenplay. He said:
[It was a] very funny, acidic kind of relationship that was unique...I knew it would create [sparks]. It just caught [Whitney] at a really high moment or actually created a high moment for her. The words provide the chemistry in a way.
She was initially uncertain about her role in The Bodyguard
Despite receiving acclaim for her performance and the iconic soundtrack I Will Always Love You, Whitney Houston was initially unsure about the role. In a 1993 Rolling Stone interview, she said:
I wanted to do some acting, but I never thought I’d be co-starring with Kevin Costner. I was scared. It took me two years to decide to do it...I told him...: ‘I’m afraid. I don’t want to go out there and fall.’ And he said: ‘I promise you I will not let you fall. I will help you.’ And he did.
Source: Getty Images
The co-stars bonded over their childhood experiences
Kevin Costner’s love story with Whitney Houston was never romantic, but deeply rooted in shared backgrounds. The Bodyguard co‑stars grew up in the Baptist church, a connection Costner later discussed with Parade.
Both also experienced failed marriages–Whitney with rapper Bobby Brown, with whom she had a daughter, and Costner twice, first to Cindy Silva and later to Christine Baumgartner. The actor reflected on their bond, telling HuffPost:
[Whitney] and I had a lot in common.
Kevin wrote letters to Whitney Houston
While Whitney Houston’s career was soaring, she also faced struggles with substance abuse and personal challenges. In an interview on the daytime talk show Anderson, Kevin Costner revealed that he tried to help his longtime friend by writing letters. He explained:
When someone says, 'Will you write a letter to someone who you know is having trouble…' I did. I don’t know if those letters were ever read.
Source: Getty Images
How did Kevin Costner handle Whitney Houston's death?
The death of Whitney Houston at age 48 in February 2012 left a profound impact on her fans and loved ones, and Kevin Costner was among those deeply affected. In a statement reported by The Mirror, Costner expressed his grief and regret, saying:
I let her down. I should have been there, and I wasn’t, and now for the rest of my life I will have to live with that pain…I saved her then [as The Bodyguard], I should have saved her now.
The actor delivered a 17-minute eulogy at Whitney Houston’s funeral
During Whitney Houston’s funeral on February 18, 2012, Kevin Costner was one of eight speakers who delivered a eulogy. He offered a heartfelt 17‑minute tribute, with The Washington Post capturing his words:
Arguably, the biggest pop star in the world... You weren’t just pretty, you were as beautiful as a woman could be. And people didn’t just like you, they loved you.
Source: Instagram
Frequently asked questions
- Did Kevin Costner really love Whitney Houston in real life? The co-stars never had a romantic relationship in real life.
- Did Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner have an affair? Their relationship was purely platonic, with no known affair.
- Which actor did Whitney Houston date? The late singer famously dated actor Eddie Murphy.
Conclusion
Despite speculation about Kevin Costner dating Whitney Houston, The Bodyguard co-stars were not romantically involved off-screen. They shared a close bond that lasted until Houston passed away in 2012.
READ MORE: Was Whitney Houston a lesbian? Her romantic secrets with Robyn Crawford
As Briefly.co.za published, although rumours about Whitney Houston and Robyn Crawford’s romantic partnership circulated for years before her death, she always denied them, revealing their friendship was platonic.
Five years after Whitney's death, Crawford revealed they had a romantic relationship.
Source: Briefly News
