Award-winning actor Kevin Costner recently opened up about a deeply personal and emotional Christmas memory involving his late father, William. The 70-year-old "Yellowstone" star recounted the story during an interview promoting his new Disney+ holiday special, Kevin Costner Presents: The First Christmas.
A Truck and a Flood of Tears
Costner described the first significant gift he gave his father after achieving fame in the 1980s. He orchestrated an elaborate surprise, guiding his father with a series of cryptic clues that ultimately led to a brand new Silverado truck. "We never really do that … So he was like, ‘Why am I getting these go over to here?’" Costner told Fox News Digital in December 2025.
The moment of realization was profoundly moving. Costner explained that his father, who had endured the hardship of the Dust Bowl era in Oklahoma and witnessed his own parents lose everything, was overwhelmed. "And then it dawned on him, and he fell out of his seat, and he wept … he wept that he could have a present like that. That his son would buy him a truck," the actor shared.
Roots in Humility and Faith
Beyond the touching anecdote, Costner emphasized the core values he associates with the holiday season. He urged people to "live with humility" and "live with kindness," focusing on the well-being of others. The Oscar winner also addressed the personal nature of faith, which motivated his involvement in the Christmas special.
"I was raised in a church. I haven’t probably proclaimed that to the world, but anybody who knows me, knows that," Costner stated in a separate interview with the Deseret News. He described the special as a "friendly invitation" to the Christmas story, acknowledging religion as a "highly personal" yet enduring part of his life and global culture.
A Legacy of Perseverance for His Children
When reflecting on the lessons he hopes to pass to his own seven children, Costner highlighted the importance of resilience and passion. In a 2014 Huffington Post interview he referenced, the actor said his children have witnessed him chase important dreams without giving up, even in the face of setbacks.
"They’ve seen me not be afraid to chase the things that are important to me," Costner said. "I don’t fall out of love with things. My opinion doesn’t change because the world doesn’t feel that it has value." This message of steadfast dedication mirrors the deep familial love and respect evident in his Christmas story about his father.
The actor's holiday special, Kevin Costner Presents: The First Christmas, is now available for streaming on Disney+.
