Basic Information
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Mark Douglas Costner |
| Birth Date | January 17, 1953 |
| Birth Place | Lynwood, Los Angeles County, California, USA |
| Death Date | January 18, 1953 |
| Age at Death | 1 day |
| Parents | William Von “Bill” Costner; Sharon Rae Tedrick (Sharon Costner) |
| Siblings | Daniel Craig Costner (older brother); Kevin Michael Costner (younger brother) |
| Memorial Record | Listed at Rose Hills Mortuary (Los Angeles County, California) |
| Descendants | None |
Family Map: Names, Roles, and Notes
| Name | Relation to Mark | Birth (if known) | Brief Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| William Von “Bill” Costner | Father | — | Worked as an electrician; later held utilities-industry positions. |
| Sharon Rae Tedrick (Sharon Costner) | Mother | — | Reported to have worked in social or welfare roles. |
| Daniel Craig Costner | Brother | — | A private individual; occasionally referenced in family profiles. |
| Kevin Michael Costner | Brother | January 18, 1955 | Actor/director; often noted as the youngest of three Costner sons. |
A Short Life in a Larger Story
Mark Douglas Costner lived only one day—born January 17, 1953, in Lynwood, California, and gone by January 18. His brief life is a stark, luminous thread in the tapestry of the Costner family: a middle son whose name endures in genealogical records, memorial listings, and in the way families remember what was, and what might have been. When later profiles introduce Kevin Costner, they often describe him as the youngest of three sons—adding, almost in a whisper, that the middle child died shortly after birth. That middle child was Mark.
William “Bill” Costner and Sharon Rae Tedrick built their home life in California. Bill worked with his hands and with systems—an electrician before he transitioned into utilities-industry roles—while Sharon is described in accounts as serving in social or welfare capacities. Together, they raised their children in a state where freeways, orange groves, and postwar neighborhoods spread across Los Angeles County like a living map. Within that map is Lynwood, where Mark first opened his eyes.
The Costner household had three boys: Daniel Craig, the elder; Mark Douglas, the middle; and Kevin Michael, the youngest, born two years after Mark on January 18, 1955. In family narratives, the presence of Mark—a son remembered but not seen growing into boyhood—shaped the cadence of the family’s story. He left no career, no school records, no public achievements; yet his name appears in memorial registers and family trees, marking a life measured by dates rather than decades.
Timeline: Dates That Frame a Life
| Date | Event | Place |
|---|---|---|
| January 17, 1953 | Birth of Mark Douglas Costner | Lynwood, Los Angeles County, California |
| January 18, 1953 | Death of Mark Douglas Costner | California, USA (recorded the day after birth) |
| January 18, 1955 | Birth of Kevin Michael Costner | California, USA |
| Post-1953 | Mark recorded in family trees and memorials | Los Angeles County records and cemetery listings |
Numbers at a Glance
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Days lived | 1 |
| Costner sons in the household | 3 |
| Years between Mark and Kevin | 2 |
The Family Context: Work, Home, and Memory
Bill and Sharon’s lives were grounded in work and community. The electrician’s trade—and later utilities work—suggests a pragmatic resilience and a steady wage during a period when California’s infrastructure boomed. Reports of Sharon’s involvement in social or welfare roles add a human-focused counterpart to the family’s daily rhythms. They navigated the ordinary responsibilities of mid-century parents: jobs, rents or mortgages, and the milestones of their children. In this environment, an infant’s death would have been both devastating and private, held close and carried forward.
Daniel Craig Costner, the elder brother, kept a low public profile, and most mentions of him simply situate him within the family. Kevin, born on January 18, 1955—exactly two years to the day after Mark’s passing—would later be known globally for acting and directing. The juxtaposition of those dates, two January 18ths in the same family, is more than coincidence to a storyteller’s ear: it’s a poignant echo, a pair of moments that invite reflection on time, chance, and renewal.
Records and Remembrance
Mark’s presence in public documentation is crisp and minimal: a birth date, a death date, a birth place, and a memorial listing. Such entries are the scaffolding of genealogy—sturdy, factual, and spare. In family histories, he is the middle brother whose life was counted in hours. In media profiles and video clips about Kevin Costner, the detail reappears as a line or two, acknowledging not only the celebrity’s upbringing but the family’s quiet grief.
Memorial records in Los Angeles County—such as those listed by Rose Hills Mortuary—ensure that Mark’s name is preserved. These records are the bookends of a life, an inscription in the public ledger that says: he existed; he was loved; he is remembered.
Why This Story Matters
Every family biography holds stories both celebrated and unspoken. Mark’s is measured, respectful, and exacting: born January 17, 1953; died January 18, 1953; son of Bill and Sharon; brother to Daniel and Kevin. There are no photos in stadiums, no speeches, no box office tallies—but there is significance in his brief presence. Families often mark such losses with rituals and remembrances that may never reach headlines, yet they shape the lives of those who remain. The Costner narrative—spanning the working lives of parents in California and the later fame of a youngest son—has, at its center, this simple truth: the family had three boys.
FAQ
Who were Mark Douglas Costner’s parents?
William Von “Bill” Costner and Sharon Rae Tedrick (Sharon Costner).
When and where was Mark born?
He was born on January 17, 1953, in Lynwood, Los Angeles County, California.
How long did Mark live?
He lived for one day, passing away on January 18, 1953.
Did Mark have any children or a spouse?
No; he died in infancy and has no descendants.
Who are Mark’s siblings?
Daniel Craig Costner and Kevin Michael Costner.
Why is Mark mentioned in profiles about Kevin Costner?
Because Kevin is the youngest of three sons, and the middle son—Mark—died shortly after birth.
Is there a memorial or record for Mark?
Yes; a memorial record is listed with Rose Hills Mortuary in Los Angeles County.
What work did Mark’s parents do?
Bill worked as an electrician and in the utilities industry; Sharon is described as having worked in social or welfare roles.
What is Kevin Costner’s birth date?
January 18, 1955.
Where did the Costner family live?
They raised their children in California.
