The 80s were the beginning of a new generation of actors, some of whom not only became stars but also money-making machines. There are Tom Cruise (62), John Travolta (71), Charlie Sheen (59), Michelle Pfeiffer (66), and Kevin Bacon (66). The latter became a mass idol thanks to the success of Footloose (1984), whose eponymous soundtrack by Kenny Loggins was danced in almost every nightclub in the world.
Bacon's partner was Lori Singer (67), a well-known actress at that time thanks to the seriesFame, who is also the sister of Marc Singer (77), one of the protagonists of the 80s series V.
Portraying Ren McCormack, a city boy who defies the dancing ban in a small town, Bacon became a teenage idol and secured his place in pop culture history. It may sound strange, but Kevin Bacon recently confessed on the YouTube show Last Meals-Mythical Kitchen that he was close to stepping away from all the fame and success because at 25, he felt overwhelmed.
With daily public attention, a failed romantic relationship, and constant traveling, the Philadelphia native contemplated retreating and being alone. "I just thought, 'I'll be a man with a dog and live alone. I don't need anything. I don't need anyone," he admitted.
He described his sudden rise to fame as "from zero to 60" and in the mentioned interview, he mentioned that he believed he had gone through the intensity of Footloose and had exploded into a kind of national stardom, trying to deal with it. Before achieving stardom with the musical film, Kevin had bought a small rundown farm with a small wood stove in Connecticut. That was his refuge when he became a generational idol.
When he met his wife, actress Kyra Sedgwick, in 1987, they both decided to move to the farm where they started to create a simple, normal home away from any media distractions. At one point, the actor described the house as "small, rundown, and quirky." During that time, he chopped wood while she brought in the dogs, Jane and Tybalt. This countryside adventure lasted until 1995, when their son Travis turned six because Kyra confessed she was tired of such a mundane life. Bacon recalls it this way: "She said, 'This is awful. I want to go out to lunch. I want to go to the movies or the theater. I want to go shopping in the Village."
It is precisely in the New York Village where the couple, who got married in 1988, enjoys a bohemian life. Neighbors claim that they don't act like stars, they are always extremely friendly with people, and it is very easy to find them at an ice cream shop just a few meters from their apartment. Regarding this, the actor said that with the perspective that time gives, moving "was the best thing we did. She was absolutely right. Raising kids in Manhattan was the best idea."
In 1989, their son Travis was born, and three years later, their daughter Sosie Ruth arrived. In an interview with More magazine, Sedgwick confessed that their decision to start a family was a spur-of-the-moment during their honeymoon: "We didn't use contraceptives. I didn't think it would happen so quickly. I got pregnant in two weeks."
Kevin and Kyra have worked together on several occasions, with the most successful being when she starred in the series The Closer, for which she earned around 350,000 dollars per episode and he directed her on four occasions.
On December 11, 2008, they woke up to the unpleasant news that they were among the victims of the greedy Bernie Madoff, who through a Ponzi scheme took billions of dollars from numerous clients. "We found out when the world found out. It was our savings, all the money we had. My sister called me because she had also invested in it because our stepfather had suggested it," as reported by People magazine. It was said that the Bacons had lost around 100 million dollars. According to the Celebrity Net Worth portal, the couple currently has a combined fortune of 45 million dollars.
A few days ago, the American actor premiered the series The Bondsman on Prime Video, which combines various genres like horror and comedy.