Academy Award-winning actor Kevin Spacey has reached an out-of-court settlement with three men who filed civil claims alleging he sexually assaulted them, according to court documents made public in London. The confidential settlement prevents a High Court trial that was scheduled to begin later this year.
Details of the Settlement Agreement
The three claimants alleged that Spacey abused them on various occasions spanning from 2000 to 2013, though the actor has consistently denied all allegations. Case judge Christina Lambert formally ordered a pause in proceedings last week, stating the parties had "agreed to the terms of the settlement."
The judge's order, dated March 13 and published on Wednesday, reads: "By consent, it is ordered that all further proceedings against the defendant in these actions be stayed upon the terms set out in this order and in the confidential schedule." The specific terms remain undisclosed, and no order was made regarding legal costs.
Background and Previous Legal Battles
This settlement follows Spacey's 2023 criminal trial in London, where he was acquitted on all nine counts of alleged sex offenses against four men. Two of the current civil claimants, whose identities are protected by legal orders, provided evidence during that criminal trial.
Spacey, now 66, also successfully defended himself against a $40 million civil lawsuit in New York in 2022, brought by "Star Trek: Discovery" actor Anthony Rapp. Representatives for Spacey have been approached for comment regarding the latest settlement.
Career Impact and Legacy
Once considered one of the most celebrated actors of his generation, Spacey's career has been significantly impacted by multiple sex abuse allegations. His notable roles include films such as "Glengarry Glen Ross," "LA Confidential," and the television political thriller "House of Cards."
Spacey won a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for "The Usual Suspects" in 1995 and a Best Actor Oscar for "American Beauty" in 1999. He also served as artistic director of London's Old Vic Theatre from 2004 to 2015, a period during which some of the alleged incidents are said to have occurred.
The settlement marks another chapter in the ongoing legal challenges facing the actor, though it avoids a potentially lengthy and public civil trial that would have examined the detailed allegations in depth.
