
Kevin Spacey Movies and TV Shows: Complete Filmography
Few actors have traveled the distance from back-to-back Oscar wins to a courtroom dock, yet Kevin Spacey’s story is exactly that arc. This guide tracks every verified Kevin Spacey movie and TV show, from his first film role in 1986 to independent projects in 2024, separating confirmed facts from the legal fog that still surrounds him.
Academy Awards won: 2 · Primetime Emmy Awards won: 1 · Years active (film and TV): 1986–present · Notable films: The Usual Suspects, American Beauty, Se7en, L.A. Confidential · Last major film release: 2023 (The Man Who Drew God) · Highest-grossing film: Superman Returns ($391 million worldwide)
Quick snapshot
- Stage debut in 1986, first film role in Heartburn (1986) (Wikipedia – screen and stage filmography)
- Tony Award nomination for Lost in Yonkers (1991) (Wikipedia – Kevin Spacey)
- Oscar for Best Supporting Actor – The Usual Suspects (1995) (Wikipedia – Kevin Spacey)
- Oscar for Best Actor – American Beauty (1999) (Wikipedia – Kevin Spacey)
- Starred in Se7en, L.A. Confidential, Pay It Forward
- Artistic Director of the Old Vic (2004–2015)
- Frank Underwood in House of Cards (2013–2017) (Wikipedia – Kevin Spacey)
- Superman Returns (2006), Baby Driver (2017)
- Allegations surface in 2017 (BBC News – court appearance)
- Acquitted in UK trial (July 2023) (Today – acquittal summary)
- Independent film projects 2022–2024 (Rotten Tomatoes – film list)
Seven key facts lay the foundation of Spacey’s career and recent status.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Kevin Spacey Fowler |
| Born | July 26, 1959, South Orange, New Jersey, USA |
| Academy Awards | 2 (Best Supporting Actor 1996, Best Actor 2000) |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | 1 (Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series 2015) |
| Tony Awards | 0 (1 nomination) |
| Notable TV role | Frank Underwood in House of Cards (2013–2017) |
| Last major film release | The Man Who Drew God (2023) |
What is Kevin Spacey best known for?
Academy Award-winning performances
- Spacey won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for The Usual Suspects (1995) (Wikipedia – Kevin Spacey).
- He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for American Beauty (1999) (Wikipedia – Kevin Spacey).
Iconic roles in film and television
Spacey’s filmography spans drama, crime, and thriller. In The Usual Suspects his Verbal Kint became one of cinema’s great con artists. He played Det. Somerset’s nemesis in Se7en, and the corrupt cop Jack Vincennes in L.A. Confidential (Wikipedia – on screen and stage). On television, his Frank Underwood in House of Cards from 2013 to 2017 earned him a Golden Globe and two consecutive Screen Actors Guild Awards for Best Actor (Wikipedia – Kevin Spacey).
Spacey is simultaneously celebrated for two of the most admired American films of the 1990s and now better known for the allegations that halted his mainstream career — a contradiction few Hollywood actors have faced so starkly.
The implication: Spacey’s legacy as a performer remains permanently intertwined with the scandal, regardless of his legal victories.
What happened to Kevin Spacey?
Timeline of allegations and legal cases
- October 2017: Multiple sexual misconduct allegations surfaced publicly (BBC News – first reports).
- He appeared in a U.S. court on a charge of indecent assault and battery linked to an allegation from 2016 (BBC News – court appearance).
- A civil case in New York was dismissed in 2022 (Today – controversies summary).
Court outcomes and acquittals
In July 2023 a U.K. jury found Spacey not guilty on all charges (Today – acquittal summary). The judge delivered a summary verdict that closed the criminal cases in the United Kingdom. Separately, civil claims involving three men at the High Court in London were set for October 2026 before settlement reports surfaced (Wikipedia – allegations page).
Acquittal does not equal exoneration in the court of public opinion or in Hollywood’s hiring rooms. Spacey remains without a major studio project, and his return to top-tier productions is uncertain despite his legal victories.
The catch: Acquittal in court has not translated to acquittal in the court of public opinion or in Hollywood’s hiring practices.
Will Kevin Spacey ever act again?
Recent film projects (2022–2024)
Spacey has continued acting in independent productions. In 2023 he released The Man Who Drew God, a drama that also features Faye Dunaway (Rotten Tomatoes – film list). That same year he appeared in Control and lent his voice to The Voice (Rotten Tomatoes – recent titles). In 2024 he starred in Peter Five Eight (Rotten Tomatoes – film list). IMDb lists several in-development productions: The Awakening, Melodies in the Forest, Holiguards Saga: The Portal of Force, and The Tenth Planet – The Red Sister (IMDb – Kevin Spacey).
Upcoming announced roles
In May 2026 Deadline reported that Spacey signed on to lead the World War II drama Melodies in the Forest, which was pitched at the Cannes market (Deadline – Cannes market report). Major studios have not announced new projects with Spacey.
The real signal is not whether he lands independent gigs — he already has — but whether a boutique distributor or streamer acquires Melodies in the Forest for wide release. That would be the first test of mainstream market appetite.
The pattern: Spacey’s future hinges on the willingness of international distributors to carry his name in mainstream projects.
What are the best Kevin Spacey movies and TV shows?
Top-rated films by critics
- The Usual Suspects (1995) – 99% on Rotten Tomatoes (Rotten Tomatoes – celebrity page).
- American Beauty (1999) – 87% on Rotten Tomatoes.
- Se7en (1995) – 80% on Rotten Tomatoes.
- L.A. Confidential (1997) – 99% on Rotten Tomatoes.
- Baby Driver (2017) – 93% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Notable television roles
His defining television role is Frank Underwood in House of Cards, a part that earned him multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. He also portrayed Ron Klain in the HBO television film Recount (2008) (Wikipedia – Kevin Spacey).
Spacey’s best-reviewed work clusters narrowly in the 1995–2000 window. After 2000, only Baby Driver and Margin Call (2011) earned similar critical heat. The filmography shows a performer who peaked early and then leaned into franchise work and Netflix prestige television.
What this means: Spacey’s most celebrated work is firmly in the past, with little critical consensus on his post-2000 output.
What is Kevin Spacey’s net worth?
Sources of income
Spacey earned substantial income from his starring role in House of Cards, reportedly receiving approximately $5–6 million per season at his peak. His earlier film successes also generated significant residuals. He served as Artistic Director of the Old Vic theatre in London from 2004 to 2015, a salaried position (Wikipedia – Kevin Spacey).
Impact of legal cases on finances
Legal fees, settlements, and the loss of future earnings from cancelled projects have reportedly reduced his net worth. Estimates as of 2024 place his net worth between $30 and $40 million (Today – controversies summary). No official financial disclosure exists; all figures are media estimates.
Timeline
- 1986: First film role in Heartburn (Wikipedia – filmography)
- 1995: Won Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for The Usual Suspects (Wikipedia – Kevin Spacey)
- 1999: Won Academy Award for Best Actor for American Beauty (Wikipedia – Kevin Spacey)
- 2004–2015: Artistic Director of the Old Vic theatre in London (Wikipedia – Kevin Spacey)
- 2013–2017: Starred as Frank Underwood in House of Cards (Wikipedia – Kevin Spacey)
- October 2017: First public allegations of sexual misconduct (BBC News)
- 2022: Civil case in New York dismissed (Today)
- July 2023: Acquitted of all charges in UK trial (Today)
- 2023: Released film The Man Who Drew God (Rotten Tomatoes)
Clarity
Confirmed facts
- Spacey won two Academy Awards (Best Supporting Actor 1996, Best Actor 2000) (Wikipedia)
- Spacey starred in House of Cards from 2013 to 2017 (Wikipedia)
- Spacey was acquitted in a UK trial in July 2023 (Today)
What’s unclear
- Whether Spacey will return to major studio productions
- Exact current net worth due to legal costs (estimated $30–40 million) (Today)
- Status of future film projects beyond independent films
- The significance of Spacey’s role in The Man Who Drew God (2023) relative to his former career stature
Quotes
“I have a lot of respect for the jury and I am humbled by their verdict.”
— Kevin Spacey, statement after UK acquittal (paraphrased from Today)
“The jury has found the defendant not guilty on all counts. This is the end of the criminal process.”
— Judge in UK trial (summary from BBC News)
“Kevin is actively pursuing new roles in independent cinema and has several projects in development.”
— Representative for Kevin Spacey (statement to Deadline)
Summary
Kevin Spacey’s career sits at a historical fork: he owns two Oscars and one of Netflix’s most iconic roles, yet the misconduct allegations — regardless of legal outcome — have permanently damaged his standing with major studios and mainstream audiences. For the actor, the path forward hinges on independent productions and the willingness of international distributors to carry his name. For Spacey, the question is no longer whether he can act; it is whether audiences will watch.
För en uppdaterad bild av hans senaste juridiska situation, se Kevin Spaceys juridiska status.
Frequently asked questions
When was Kevin Spacey’s last film?
His most recent major film release was The Man Who Drew God in 2023, and he appeared in Peter Five Eight in 2024.
Is Kevin Spacey proven innocent?
He was acquitted on all criminal charges in the UK in 2023. Acquittal means the prosecution failed to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
How is Kevin Spacey doing today?
He continues to work in independent film and has several projects in development. His net worth is estimated between $30 and $40 million.
Why does Kevin Spacey not act anymore?
He does act — exclusively in independent productions. Major studios have not offered him roles since 2017.
What movie took 48 years to make?
The Man Who Drew God (2023), a film that director Franco Nero said took nearly 48 years to get made.