Kevin Spacey - Milestones

• 2004: Starred, directed and produced "Beyond the Sea," a biopic of his idol, singer Bobby Darren, that Spacey had tried to bring to the screen for five years; received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Lead Actor (Musical Or Comedy)
• 2003: Named artistic director of London's historic Old Vic Theater; tenure begins in the fall of 2004
• 2003: Served as a producer and had a supporting role in the independent film "United States of Leland"
• 2003: Had lead role of anti-capital punishment advocate accused of murder in "The Life of David Gale"
• 2002: Headed launch of website Triggerstreet.com, intended as an online community where aspiring filmamkers could get their ideas to Hollywood power brokers
• 2002: Cameoed as himself playing a Hollywood version of Dr. Evil in "Austin Powers: Goldmember"
• 2001: Had lead in film version of the award-winning novel "The Shipping News"
• 2001: Starred as a mental patient convinced he's from another planet in "K-Pax"
• 2000: Agreed to serve as a consultant to London's Old Vic Productions
• 2000: Co-starred with Helen Hunt in "Pay It Forward"
• 1999: Received star on Hollywood Walk of Fame (October 5)
• 1999: Garnered critical acclaim and his second Oscar for his lead performance as married man undergoing a mid-life crisis in "American Beauty"; Peter Gallagher featured in supporting role
• 1999: Produced and starred in "The Big Kahuna", a three-character drama about industrial lubricant salesmen; debuted at the Toronto Film Festival; released theatrically in 2000
• 1998: Headlined a London stage production of Eugene O'Neill's "The Iceman Cometh", staged by Howard Davies; reprised role in acclaimed Broadway revival in 1999
• 1997: Had strong featured role as a cop in "L.A. Confidential"
• 1997: Starred as accused murderer Jim Williams in the film version of "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil"
• 1995: Breakthrough screen role in Bryan Singer's "The Usual Suspects"; won Best Supporting Actor Oscar
• 1995: Feature film directorial debut "Albino Alligator"; released in 1997
• 1994: Producing debut (as co-producer) of "Swimming With Sharks"; also starred opposite Frank Whaley as a ruthless Hollywood executive
• 1991: Starred as "Darrow" in the PBS drama
• 1991: Garnered accolades (including a Tony Award) for his supporting role as a gangster wannabe in Neil Simon's nostalgic comedy-drama "Lost in Yonkers"
• 1990: Portrayed televangelist Jim Bakker to Bernadette Peters' Tammy Faye in the NBC biopic "Fall From Grace"
• 1989: Played Lemmon's son-in-law in the feature "Dad"
• 1989: Acted in Long Wharf Theater production of "National Anthem" alongside Tom Berenger and Mary McDonnell; had hoped to produce the play on Broadway but financing fell through
• 1988: Had featured role in the NBC miniseries "The Murder of Mary Phagan", starring Gallagher and Lemmon
• 1987: Auditioned to replace Alan Rickman in "Les Liaisons Dangereuse"; reportedly director Howard Davies wanted to hire him but the play's producers nixed the idea
• 1987: TV acting debut in a guest role on the CBS series "The Equalizer"
• 1987: Recreated stage role in Showtime adaptation of "Long Day's Journey Into Night"
• 1986: First collaborations with Jack Lemmon and Peter Gallagher, the stage revival of "Long Day's Journey Into Night", performed in London and on Broadway
• 1986: Film debut in "Heartburn", directed by Nichols; played a subway rider who mugs Meryl Streep's character
• 1984: Broadway debut in production of "Hurlyburly; originally hired as understudy for role of Phil, played by Harvey Keitel; later understudied roles of Mickey and Eddie
• 1982: Broadway debut in "Ghosts" opposite Liv Ullmann
• 1981: New York stage debut as a soldier in New York Shakespeare Festival's "Henry VI, Part I"
• 1981: Worked for Joseph Papp in the Xerox room of the New York Shakespeare Festival (NYSF)
• 1978: Performed one-man comedy show wherein he displayed a gift for impressions
• 1963: Moved to Southern California with family
• ---: Will star opposite Morgan Freeman in the thriller "Edison" (lensed 2004)
• Began performing stand-up comedy while still in high school
• Auditioned for "The Gong Show" with comedy routine; rejected
• Formed Trigger Street Productions
• Appeared with numerous regional and repertory companies (i.e., Kennedy Center, American National Theatre, Seattle Rep)
• "Fired" from job at NYSF by Papp in effort to encourage him to pursue an acting career
• Auditioned for the national tour of "The Real Thing"; director Mike Nichols instead suggested auditioning for "Hurlyburly"