Kevin Costner, renowned for his role in Field of Dreams, is a devoted father to his seven children, born between 1984 and 2010, from three different relationships. Throughout the years, Costner has emphasized the importance of love, individuality, and hard work in guiding his family and balancing a large household.
How Kevin Costner Balances Fatherhood Across Generations
Kevin Costner shares his seven children with three former partners: Cindy Silva, Bridget Rooney, and Christine Baumgartner. His eldest three—Annie, Lily, and Joe—were born to Silva, while Liam is the son of Rooney. His youngest three children—Cayden, Hayes, and Grace—are from his marriage to Baumgartner. Over decades of fatherhood, Costner has grown aware of the different needs his kids have, speaking frequently about adapting his parenting to each child’s unique character and stage in life.
Reflecting on his childhood in Compton, California, Costner once said,
“All of my kids are showered with love, which is what’s important,”
while also adding,
“I didn’t have much as a child, but if you’d asked me back then, I thought I had everything. We had this dinky backyard in Compton, California, and I thought it was a kingdom. I’ve always taught my kids that they have to work hard and stand on their own two feet.”
Recognizing the individuality of each child, Costner explained,
“You love them all the same, but they are all different, so you find ways to do that without treating them all the same,”
and,
“You have to adjust to their individuality.”
He describes his household as being “like a river”, a place where he has learned the importance of flexibility and patience in family life.
Annie Costner: From Child Actress to Producer
Kevin Costner’s oldest child, Annie, was born on April 15, 1984, in Los Angeles to Costner and Cindy Silva. At a young age, she appeared alongside her father in his 1990 film Dances With Wolves and had roles in other productions including The Baby-Sitters Club, The Postman, and Lazy Teenage Superheroes.
Transitioning away from acting, Annie pursued producing and in 2014 co-founded Sound Off Films. She has contributed to well-known projects such as Katy Perry’s Witness Tour documentary as well as The Discarded: A Tale of Two Rios. In 2016, Annie married Danny Cox on Costner’s estate in Carpinteria, California, reflecting a close-knit family bond.
Lily Costner’s Musical Path and Personal Choices
Born on August 4, 1986, Lily is Costner’s second daughter and also ventured briefly into acting, participating in The Baby-Sitters Club and The Postman. Beyond acting, she embraced a music career, with her songs featured in film soundtracks, and she even performed a duet with her father on an episode of Yellowstone, backed by Costner’s band, Kevin Costner & Modern West.
Despite her talents, Costner notes that Lily prefers a quieter life away from the spotlight. He shared with HuffPost,
“Lily is an amazing singer and songwriter,”
adding,
“She can be a really huge star if that’s what she wanted. I’m not sure she wants that. She’s really gifted. Lily’s way is not to knock doors down. I think she wants a quality of life … She’s seen the quality of life that we’ve had and sometimes the idea of stardom, I think, is a mystery to her.”
Joe Costner’s Path as a Music Professional
Joe, born January 31, 1988, is the eldest son of Kevin Costner and Cindy Silva. Like his siblings, he also appeared as a child actor in The Postman. Today, Joe works behind the scenes in Hollywood as an audio engineer and production sound mixer.
Reflecting on Joe’s journey, Costner said,
“He’s really gifted in music. He’s settling in on what his journey will be … and his mission. I think the best indication of Joe is that he’s a solid person and his friends are really solid,”
and he praised Joe’s circle, noting,
“You really can judge how well he has done in life by the quality of his friends and how he has kept them. I’ve tried to encourage him, it’s good to be your own person.”
Liam Costner Maintains Privacy Outside the Spotlight
After Costner’s divorce from Silva in 1994, he had a son, Liam, with Bridget Rooney in November 1996. Both Liam and Rooney have largely stayed out of the public eye since then. Bridget married billionaire Bill Koch in 2005. Rooney is also the niece of the late Dan Rooney, former owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Welcoming Cayden Wyatt: A Later Stage Fatherhood
Kevin Costner’s third marriage, to retired model Christine Baumgartner in 2004, brought three more children, starting with son Cayden Wyatt, born in Los Angeles on May 6, 2007. Speaking about fatherhood at 52, Costner admitted his initial fears, sharing,
“Christine wanted a child, but I was afraid I couldn’t be an effective father,”
and later,
“One day I woke up and thought, ‘Am I going to lose a beautiful woman who is willing to be with me to my very last breath because I am afraid to say yes to a child?’ That’s all it took… I decided that I was not going to miss out on love.”
He also acknowledged the challenges of parenting at an older age:
“I don’t kid myself about certain realities: I won’t be around to see as much of this one’s life as I’ll get to see of my older kids’ lives,”
adding,
“So with him, I really want to be there for every single moment that I can.”
As a teenager, Cayden has started accompanying Costner to industry events, including the Cannes Film Festival premiere of Horizon: An American Saga in 2024, followed by the Venice International Film Festival in 2025 for the film’s sequel.
Hayes Logan’s Growing Interests in Sports and Film
Born on February 12, 2009, Hayes Logan Costner is Kevin and Christine’s sixth child. Inspired by the Western heritage, Costner chose Hayes’s name with intention. Early on, Hayes was involved in Little League baseball and later participated in his high school’s volleyball team.
He attended his first movie premiere at age six for Disney’s McFarland USA and subsequently worked with his father on promotional activities for Horizon: An American Saga. Hayes even acted in a small role in the film, impressing Costner, who admitted,
“He’s very good,”
and stated,
“But I kind of did it on purpose, so he could be hanging out with me.”
He added proudly,
“And in the end, Hayes started doing some things on his own that were just magical, and I’m really proud of his performance.”
Hayes shared his excitement about working alongside his father, describing it as “so fun”. In an interview with Access Hollywood he said,
“He just taught me everything and he was there directing by my side and it was just amazing to watch him direct because I’ve never seen it before.”
He echoed those feelings to People, saying,
“It felt like the greatest way that we could bond over something we both love and to create lasting memories together,”
and added,
“Working with my dad was an unforgettable moment in time.”
Grace Avery: The Youngest and the Girly Girl
Grace Avery Costner, born June 2, 2010, is the youngest of Kevin and Christine’s children. Growing up, she witnessed her father’s various film transformations, reacting humorously to his drastic changes in appearance. Costner recalled,
“If I come home—and that haircut I actually had [for Criminal] was pretty severe—and Gracie looks at me and then looks at Mom and says ‘Daddy’s been fighting again, huh?’”
He added,
“They understand—can usually tell where I’ve been in the world by the haircut I had.”
Costner affectionately refers to Grace as his “girly girl,” noting,
“She’s sewing and she’s dancing, but when she sees the ball bouncing out in the backyard I can feel her gravitating out with the boys—but everything has to stop when she plays.”
This mix of interests captures the dynamic personality Costner cherishes in his youngest daughter.
Kevin Costner’s Enduring Commitment to Family
Over the decades, Kevin Costner has consistently demonstrated how deeply committed he is to his children’s upbringing, embracing each child’s unique needs and interests while maintaining a strong core of love and support. His philosophy of encouraging independence and individual growth reflects his own humble beginnings and life experiences.
Managing the diverse ages and personalities of seven children across multiple relationships is no simple task, yet Costner’s approach of adapting to each child’s individuality ensures his family remains close despite challenges. His involvement in their lives, from accompanying them to film premieres to sharing musical moments, highlights the meaningful connection they share.
As his youngest children continue to grow and explore their paths, Kevin Costner’s dedication to nurturing their talents, values, and memories suggests that the actor’s family will remain a central and cherished part of his life going forward.
