Kevin Costner Reveals He’s Not Thinking About Retiring
Kevin Costner Isn’t Slowing Down: “Retirement Isn’t Even on My Mind”
At 70, legendary actor Kevin Costner is proving he’s far from done with Hollywood. Best known for his iconic roles in The Bodyguard, Field of Dreams, and Dances with Wolves, the Oscar-winning star made it clear in a recent interview that retirement isn’t in his plans.
“I don’t even think about retiring,” Costner said. “I’ll just move to the next thing that captures my imagination. Imagination is what determines what I do, not a boss.”
Reflecting on his decades-long career, Costner added that he feels “really lucky” and attributes his success to hard work rather than luck alone. “I’ve worked for all of it,” he said. “Not everybody can live in the same blueprint.”
From his directorial debut in Dances with Wolves—which earned him two Academy Awards—to acclaimed TV roles in Hatfields & McCoys and Yellowstone, Costner has consistently delivered powerful performances across genres. And according to him, the true measure of success isn’t box office numbers.
“You know, I think we have false gods when it comes to how we judge success,” he explained. “I understand what it’s like to have a huge hit. But what’s success? Is it money? Is it doing what you wanted in life? Movies aren’t just about opening weekend.”
“Ten years later, a good movie will still be shared,” he continued. “Success is: Will you revisit it and show your daughter, your son? Will you go back because you find new meaning in it? Those are the measures.”
Costner isn’t alone in rejecting the idea of retirement. Fellow Hollywood legend Arnold Schwarzenegger, 77, echoed similar thoughts. “There’s just so many things that I do that I feel like, why would I stop? This is exactly the very thing that provides fun for me,” he said. “To wake up with those challenges — it is the difference between living and existing.”
Brad Pitt, 61, also shows no signs of slowing down. Speaking about his latest project, the upcoming F1 racing film, Pitt said the experience has reinvigorated his passion for filmmaking. “Doing this this long, and to find something that was almost like starting over… it was so full of passion, and it gave me a feeling like I’ve never had before.”
For stars like Costner, Schwarzenegger, and Pitt, age is just a number—and retirement is just another storyline they’re not interested in.
