Born in Bethpage, Long Island, New York, Kevin O'Connell's early years were rooted in the San Fernando Valley, a suburb of Los Angeles. At 18, immediately after high school, he joined the Los Angeles County Fire Department, serving at Camp 8 in Malibu, California. However, the rigors of his duty, underscored by a particularly grueling six-day brush fire assignment in the Angeles National Forest, prompted his mother Skippy, an employee at the 20th Century Fox Studios Sound Department, to urge him to consider a career change. Consequently, she facilitated an interview with Donald C. Rogers, the head of the revered Samuel Goldwyn Studios Sound Department.
In January 1978, Kevin embarked on his career in sound starting at the entry-level position of machine-room operator at Goldwyn Sound, which would later become known as Warner Hollywood Studios. During this time, he made contributions to iconic films like "Grease," "Hair," "Animal House," "Star Trek: The Motion Picture," and "Raiders of the Lost Ark," among others. By 1980, he earned his first official screen credit for "The Empire Strikes Back."
1982 marked a significant milestone as Kevin was promoted to the role of re-recording mixer at the age of 23. His talents resonated through films like "Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid," "Poltergeist,", “Gremlins,” “Dune”, “Field Of Dreams”, "Top Gun” and “Days Of Thunder”, which led to his first of twenty-one Academy Award nominations for his work on “Terms Of Endearment”.
By 1990, he was among the foundational re-recording mixers at Skywalker Sound South in Santa Monica, lending his expertise to movies such as "Misery,” "A Few Good Men,” ” City Slickers” and “True Romance."
Kevin's journey continued in 1993 when he joined the renowned Cary Grant Theater at Sony Pictures. His signature touch can be heard in films ranging from "Tombstone" and "The Rock" to the "Spider-Man" trilogy as well as “Pearl Harbor,” “Memoirs Of A Geisha,” “The Da Vinci Code,” “Armageddon,” “Starship Troopers,” “The Passion Of The Christ” and "Transformers."
In 2013, Kevin shifted to Todd-Soundelux in Hollywood, assuming both mixing responsibilities and a creative leadership role. Two years later, he revisited Sony Pictures Sound Department, working on contemporary masterpieces like "Little Women," "Jumanji," “The Woman King” the latest “Spider-Man” trilogy and Mel Gibson’s "Hacksaw Ridge."
Notably, after 20 nominations and the dubious distinction of being the "most nominated without a win," Kevin secured an Academy Award in 2017 for "Hacksaw Ridge," a win he poignantly dedicated to his late mother, Skippy.
In 2023, Kevin lent his talents to two of the most outstanding films of the year, “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer”, which resulted in the cultural phenomenon known as “Barbenheimer” as both films were released simultaneously and captured the public's imagination.
Outside of his professional achievements, Kevin's life is enriched by his family. He and his wife, Heather, are parents to Cooper and Casey.
His collaborations in the industry are both vast and impressive, including work with luminaries like Christopher Nolan, Greta Gerwig, Jerry Bruckheimer, Tony Scott, Mel Gibson, Ridley Scott, William Friedkin, Barbra Streisand, David Lynch, Lawrence Kasdan, Steven Spielberg, James L.Brooks and Bruce Springsteen.
Television audiences may also recognize him from personal appearances on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," and “The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson,” and being featured on programs like “The Jimmy Fallon Show,” “Inside Edition” and several other programs including CBS News and “The Oprah Winfrey Show”.
Kevin is currently putting the finishing touches on Sony’s upcoming “Madame Webb”.
