Kevin Costner honored his friendship with the late and great Whitney Houston on his 70th birthday over the weekend.
The veteran actor remembered his co-star in 1992’s romantic thriller The Bodyguard, reposting a behind-the-scenes photo of the two shared by Houston’s Instagram account, which is managed by her estate following the multi-hyphenate’s death in 2012.
“This photo reminds me of how lucky I am to be getting another birthday,” Costner said in his Instagram Story Jan. 18. “We lost such a light when we lost Whitney.”
The original post featured Costner and Houston alongside Houston’s hairstylist for the pic, Ellin La Var. “Happy birthday to Kevin Costner!” the caption read.
Warner Bros.’ blockbuster classic stars Costner as a former Secret Service agent hired to protect pop star Rachel Marron (Houston), who is under threat due to a stalker. While the two are initially at odds, especially given the former’s by-the-book security rules, their chemistry soon becomes undeniable as their lives grow further intertwined.
Throughout the years, the Horizon star and director has paid tribute to the multi-Grammy-winning powerhouse singer, who died at the age of 48. Last year, he opened up to People about speaking at Houston’s memorial service, where he delivered a heartfelt 17-minute eulogy.
“I remember being in the pews, and I had never been in a church that was more electric. Two bands were playing … I thought this place was on fire,” he said at the time.
Recalling that he was advised to keep his speech short due to the media’s presence, he said: “‘I’m sorry, I didn’t realize CNN was here, but they can take a commercial break. I’m going to say what I want to say. I came a long way to talk about this little girl.’”
