HOLLYWOOD star Kevin Costner confronted a tenant living on his plush estate amid claims he had become close friends with his wife, The Sun can reveal.

The furious actor, 68, found Christine Costner, 49, had been regularly hanging out with tech entrepreneur Daniel Starr while he was away filming.

An angry exchange erupted into a legal dispute, with Kevin and his wife trying to turf ­Daniel from their £50,000-a-month beachfront guest house.

But Daniel, who signed a 12-month lease in June last year, claimed to have done nothing wrong and refused to budge, sparking a flurry of emails and legal letters.

Handbag designer Christine has since filed for divorce from her husband of 19 years.

Last week it emerged Oscar winner Kevin has claimed his estranged wife has left him “homeless” by refusing to move out of the £115million property in Carpinteria, California.

A source said: “Daniel was really happy living in the house. It’s right on the beach and he has a four-year-old son who he wanted to feel settled.

“After he moved in he became close friends with Chris and Kevin. They’d hang out together with their kids. But Kevin was always away filming, so Chris must have been lonely.

“Chris and Daniel hung out a lot. She would come into his house almost daily.

“But there was a fallout and Kevin got wind of it. There was a row between him and Daniel and things escalated from there.”

The source said fitness buff Daniel, 42, is a “respectful guy” and did not cross any lines.

They said: “Chris didn’t like Daniel’s attitude towards their friendship.

She texted him and said she wanted him out.”

Daniel, just six months into his tenancy, tried to calm the situation. Our source added: “Daniel was really upset.

He loved living there and felt he’d done nothing wrong. That’s when he brought his lawyer in.”

Daniel had a close relationship with all of Kevin’s children, the source said, particularly his older son Joe, 35.

They continued: “Daniel thought really highly of Kevin and thought he was an excellent father to his kids. But Kevin hit the roof and sided with his wife.

“Ultimately, he wasn’t willing to hear Daniel out.”

Daniel eventually moved out in March this year, cutting his lease short by three months.

The Costners and businessman Daniel did not comment.

Source: The Sun