11 Things You (Probably) Don't Know About Kevin Bacon

Whether it was his heartthrob role in "Footloose" or his breakout role in the 1978 comedy "National Lampoon's Animal House," Kevin Bacon has demonstrated both his longevity and exceptional adaptability as an actor. Despite him being in the public eye for nearly 40 years now, there are a few facts you (probably) haven't heard about the "Patriots Day" star, and here they are.

1. Philly Life

Kevin Norwood Bacon was born July 8th, 1958, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as one of six kids. His mom, a teacher and liberal activist, and his dad, a prominent architect, were highly respected in the community.

2. East Coast FTW

Unlike most actors, Bacon spent the majority of his career not living in Los Angeles. He and his wife reside primarily in New York City, and also have a Connecticut vacation pad.

3. Strong Start

At the age of 16, Bacon received a scholarship to attend the Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Arts at Bucknell University, where he studied theater.

4. Headed for Broadway

Bacon left his parents' home for New York City when he was just 17 to pursue a career in theater.

5. Big Break

Bacon got his acting debut in the 1978 flick "National Lampoon’s Animal House."

6. Study Up

To help with his role in "Footloose," Bacon used a fake name to enroll in high school as a transfer student. While there, he studied the teenagers around him in his classes. Now that's dedication. But also kinda creepy.

7. On-Set Love

Bacon met his wife, Kyra Sedgwick, on the set of "Lemon Sky" in 1988.

8. Awkward or Nah?

Bacon and Sedgwick were featured on the genealogy series "Finding Your Roots." Sedgwick was nervous that the two would be distantly related, and her fear came true! Turns out they are ninth cousins. Does that count or ... ?

9. All The (Degrees of) Bacon

Bacon inspired the game, "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon," where players connect him to any other actor or celebrity in no more than six steps. Sound confusing? Kind of. Sound fun? YES.

10. Big Loss

Bacon's personal finances were affected by the Bernie Madoff scandal. If you aren't familiar, Madoff ran a Ponzi Scheme disguised as a wealth management firm, and when he was busted in 2008, Bacon and several other wealthy individuals suffered heavy losses. While Bacon has yet to confirm the exact amount of cash he lost, he has admitted that it was "the majority" of his life savings. Tragic? BEYOND.