He Was the Ultimate '80s Hollywood Alpha, but His Messy Split Took an Unexpected Turn – Here Is What He Looks Like at 71

Their romance spanned more than two decades before an acrimonious divorce dominated headlines, and readers can scroll to the end of this article to see photos of the once-happy couple and what the celebrated actor looks like today.

Long before his personal life became tabloid fodder, this Academy Award-winning actor had established himself as one of Hollywood's defining leading men.

After breaking through in the late 1980s with films including "The Untouchables," "Bull Durham," and "Field of Dreams," he reached even greater heights in the early 1990s with "Dances with Wolves," "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves," and "The Bodyguard."

Around this time, he was preparing to play an aspiring golf champion in the 1996 romantic comedy "Tin Cup" when a chance meeting would quietly set the stage for one of the most significant relationships of his life.

While rehearsing for the role at a golf course, the actor was introduced to a model. At the time, however, their encounter went no further. He was still married to his first wife, whom he had met during college.

However, after that marriage ended in 1994, the actor dated other women before fate brought the model back into his life. Their paths crossed again in 1998 when they met at a restaurant, and this time the connection quickly developed into a romance. He admitted:

"We exchanged numbers, and I told her that I would — did she mind if I called her in two weeks. I did not realize that was like an insult to a woman."

Despite the initial misstep, the relationship flourished. But it was not without challenges. After dating for four years, the couple briefly separated in 2002 because they disagreed about starting a family.

Already the father of four children, the Hollywood star initially did not want more, while his girlfriend considered having children essential to her future.

Years later, he explained that fear had prevented him from committing to marriage because he worried he could not be the kind of father another child deserved.

Eventually, he realized he was risking losing the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, prompting him to reconsider. Thus, the couple reunited and exchanged vows on September 25, 2004, during a three-day celebration at the actor's 165-acre Dunbar Ranch.

According to reports, he arrived at the ceremony in a horse-drawn wagon, while his bride traveled in his vintage green pickup truck. They later shared their first dance as husband and wife to "Unchained Melody."

Over the following years, the happy couple expanded their family, welcoming son Cayden in May 2007, son Hayes in February 2009, and daughter Grace in June 2010.

For nearly two decades, their marriage appeared to be one of Hollywood's most enduring relationships. However, that all changed in May 2023 when the actor's wife filed for divorce after 18 years of marriage.

A representative for the actor confirmed the split in a statement, saying, "It is with great sadness that circumstances beyond his control have transpired which have resulted in [the actor] having to participate in a dissolution of marriage action." The statement continued:

"We ask that his, [his ex-wife's], and their children's privacy be respected as they navigate this difficult time."

Both requested joint custody of their three children, but the divorce soon became increasingly contentious. Just weeks after the filing, "The Bodyguard" star asked a judge to require his estranged wife to move out of the Santa Barbara home where they had been living.

He argued that their prenuptial agreement required her to vacate the property within 30 days of the commencement of divorce proceedings.

According to court filings, his legal team alleged that the model refused to leave unless certain financial demands were met. However, she disputed those claims, arguing there was no legal basis to force her and the children from the only home they had known.

The actor maintained that his children would always have a home with him, and in July 2023, a judge ordered his estranged wife to vacate the property by the end of the month.

The legal battle continued as his attorneys later sought reimbursement of more than $99,000 in legal fees, along with a $29 filing fee, related to the dispute over the prenuptial agreement.

And so, life moved forward for the actor's former wife following the split. In January 2025, she became engaged to financier Josh Connor, a longtime family friend.

Court filings also addressed allegations surrounding possible extramarital relationships. After his estranged wife's legal team requested documents concerning any alleged affairs, the Hollywood star responded that he had engaged in none during their 18-year marriage.

His attorneys further argued that the request served only to harass him and was unnecessarily burdensome.

The former couple also clashed over child support. His estranged wife initially sought monthly payments that were later reduced before a judge ultimately ruled that the actor would pay $63,209 per month, substantially less than the amount she had requested.

Their messy divorce was eventually finalized on February 16, 2024, officially ending a marriage that had lasted nearly two decades after months of highly publicized legal disputes.

And so, life moved forward for the actor's former wife following the split. In January 2025, she became engaged to financier Josh Connor, a longtime family friend.

The couple tied the knot on October 18, 2025, during an outdoor ceremony at Santa Ynez Ranch, a private vineyard in Santa Barbara County, California, attended by just over 100 family members and friends. One guest shared:

"It was magical — truly. The setting was gorgeous, but what made it special was the intimacy of it all. This wasn't a big production. It was authentic, heartfelt, and so very them. Everyone there felt like they were witnessing something really precious."

The Hollywood star whose career captivated audiences throughout the 1980s and beyond is none other than Kevin Costner, while the former model at the center of his highly publicized marriage and divorce is Christine Baumgartner.

Scroll below to see photos of the once-happy couple throughout their relationship, along with a look at what Costner looks like today at 71.

Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner

Kevin Costner Today