Kevin Spacey (born July 26, 1959) is an American actor and film director. He grew up in California, and began his career as a stage actor during the 1980s, before being cast in supporting roles in film and television. He gained critical acclaim in the early 1990s, culminating in his first Oscar for The Usual Suspects (Supporting), followed by a Best Actor Oscar win for American Beauty (1999). He has starred in many other Hollywood films including Se7en, Pay It Forward, L.A. Confidential, and as the villain Lex Luth.