90s nostalgia: What happened to the actors of 'The Bodyguard' (1992)?

30 years ago, one of the most outstanding titles of the 1990s arrived in theaters: 'The Bodyguard.' Starring Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston, the film embarked on the love story between a celebrity and her protector.

Originally, the film was to be made in the 1970s and would have Steve McQueen and Diana Ross in the lead roles. However, at that time, the plot was still very controversial, which culminated in its postponement.

Later, in 1979, Diana Ross and Ryan O'Neal (photo) were scheduled to play the lead duo. However, due to personal differences, the plan was shelved again. It wouldn't be released until 13 years later with Kevin Costner as the bodyguard.

The film came out in 1992. Although it divided critics, it was a complete success financially. In its first weekend in theaters, it grossed US$16.6 million and ranked third among the most watched.

Proof that 'The Bodyguard' really charmed audiences was its 10-week stay in the theaters' Top 10 and its earnings of more than $121 million in the U.S. and $410 million worldwide.

It was the seventh highest-grossing film of 1992 in North America and the second highest-grossing film of 1992 worldwide, behind only 'Aladdin'.

With the idea of having a singer as the protagonist, several names for the role of Rachel were considered. Among them were Pat Benatar, Olivia Newton-John (photo), Joan Jett, Debbie Harry, Janet Jackson, Terri Nunn, Kim Carnes, and Dolly Parton.

'The Bodyguard' was the first movie that Houston starred in. Afterward, the diva took a taste for acting and participated in productions such as 'Sparkle' (2012), 'Nora's Hair Salon' (2004), 'Boston Public' (2003), 'The Preacher's Wife' (1996), and 'Waiting to Exhale' ( 1995).

When you talk about 'The Bodyguard' as a musical movie, the song 'I Will Always Love You' comes to mind. The lyrics appear to be immortalized in the voice of Whitney Houston, but contrary to what some may think, the hit was originally written and sung by country icon Dolly Parton in 1974.

The single 'I Will Always Love You' was the first song to be released from the film's soundtrack. It had overwhelming success with 14 consecutive weeks at number one on the Hot 100. In fact, no other song had achieved that success before then.

The complete album spent 20 weeks at number one, sold more than 38 million copies worldwide, and became the best-selling soundtrack in history, according to the Guinness Book of Records at the time.

Many locations were used for this movie. Some expert viewers may have noticed that some of them had already appeared in other productions. This is the case of Rachel's mansion: it is the same one used in 'The Godfather'.

Another familiar place is the ranch where the protagonists hid from the stalker. The location is in Sierra Nevada and would later reappear in the film 'City of Angels' (1998).

The movie poster, which became known all over the world, is not what it seems. When the photo was to be taken, Whitney Houston had already left the set. She was replaced by a stuntwoman, who, under Costner's guidance, hid her face and portrayed a sense of fear adequate for the thriller's message.

Kevin Costner was already quite well-known before the film. After 'The Bodyguard', he kept working tirelessly and lent his talent to more than 35 productions. He stood out in films such as 'Molly's Game' (2017), 'Hatfields & McCoys' (2012), 'The Guardian' (2006), and 'Dragonfly' (2002).

In one of his most recent jobs, Costner participated in the series 'Yellowstone' with a large audience on North American cable.

Gary Kemp, who played Rachel's music producer in the film, followed with a few acting, podcasting, and music projects. In 2015, he appeared in the movie 'Molly Moon and the Incredible Book of Hypnotism' (2015).

He was already quite well-known when he played Bill Devaney in 'The Bodyguard'. After this work, Bill Cobbs was part of the cast of 'Night at the Museum' (2006) and participated in more than 120 television series, with a special role in 'Star Trek: Enterprise' (2001).

Her participation in 'The Bodyguard' was the kickstart for her film career. After that, he worked in productions such as 'Jack Reed: Badge of Honor' (1993), 'Top Dog' (1995), and 'Bar Room Babies' (2014).

After 'The Bodyguard', Tomas Arana performed alongside big names in cinema such as Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro. In 2019, he played Eden Bauen in the Italian comedy 'Ma Cosa ci dice il Cervello.

On February 11, 2012, Whitney Houston was found unconscious in the bathtub at the Beverly Hills Hilton Hotel in California. She died, hours later, after paramedics tried to revive her. According to the autopsy, the singer/actress suffered from cardiovascular disease and had taken illicit substances.

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