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IMDbPro

Ethan Hawke

  • Actor
  • Producer
  • Writer
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,00047
Ethan Hawke at an event for One Last Thing... (2005)
Get a closer look at Ethan Hawke with a look back at some of his iconic roles over the years.
Play clip1:34
Ethan Hawke | Career Retrospective
99+ Videos
99+ Photos
Ethan Green Hawke was born on November 6, 1970 in Austin, Texas, to Leslie Carole (Green), a charity worker, and James Steven Hawke, an insurance actuary. His parents were students at the University of Texas at the time but divorced when Ethan was 5 years old. His mother raised him alone for the next five years, moving around the country, until she remarried in 1981 and the family settled in Princeton Junction, New Jersey.

He attended West Windsor-Plainsboro High School and then transferred to the Hun School of Princeton and it was while he was there that he began taking acting classes at the McCarter Theatre on the Princeton campus. His early ambition had been to be a writer, but as a result of the acting lessons and appearances in student productions he persuaded his mother to allow him to attend an audition for a role in a sci-fi adolescent adventure, Explorers (1985). He got the role (along with River Phoenix) but although the movie was favourably reviewed, it met with little commercial success which discouraged Hawke from pursuing further movie roles for several years.

He was admitted to the prestigious Carnegie-Mellon University to study theatre but his studies were interrupted when he won his break-through role opposite Robin Williams in Dead Poets Society (1989) and he did not complete his degree. He then appeared in numerous films before taking a role in the Generation X drama Reality Bites (1994) for which he received critical praise. He starred in the romantic drama Before Sunrise (1995), and its later sequels Before Sunset (2004) and Before Midnight (2013).

His subsequent acting career was a mix of theatre work (earning a number of awards and nominations, including a Tony Award nomination for his role in "The Coast of Utopia" at the Lincoln Center in New York), and a mix of serious and more commercial movies, notably Gattaca (1997) (where he met his first wife, Uma Thurman) and Training Day (2001). His role as the father in the coming-of-age drama Boyhood (2014) earned him multiple award nominations, including the Academy, BAFTA, Golden Globe, and SAG Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Meanwhile, he also wrote two novels: "The Hottest State" (1996) and "Ash Wednesday" (2002).
BornNovember 6, 1970
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornNovember 6, 1970
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,00047
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
  • Nominated for 4 Oscars
    • 71 wins & 169 nominations total

On the Scene at Cannes 2023

On the Scene at Cannes 2023

See some of our favorite photos from this year's Cannes Film Festival.
See the full gallery
Production art
Photos

Photos981

Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal in Strange Way of Life (2023)
Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal in Strange Way of Life (2023)
Ethan Hawke, Ewan McGregor, Rodrigo García, and Maribel Verdú
Ethan Hawke in Raymond & Ray (2022)
Ethan Hawke and Mason Thames in The Black Phone (2021)
Ethan Hawke and Mason Thames in The Black Phone (2021)
Ethan Hawke
Ethan Hawke in The Black Phone (2021)
Ethan Hawke in Moon Knight (2022)
Ethan Hawke in The Black Phone (2021)
Ethan Hawke and Joshua Caleb Johnson in Last Words (2020)
Ethan Hawke and Joshua Caleb Johnson in Smells Like Bear (2020)

Known for

Ethan Hawke and Denzel Washington in Training Day (2001)
Training Day
7.7
  • Jake
  • 2001
Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy in Before Sunrise (1995)
Before Sunrise
8.1
  • Jesse
  • 1995
Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy in Before Midnight (2013)
Before Midnight
7.9
  • Jesse
  • 2013
Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy in Before Sunset (2004)
Before Sunset
8.1
  • Jesse
  • 2004

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Actor

  • Fishpriest
    • Tommy 'Fishpriest' Barth
    • Released
    • Podcast Series
    • 2022
  • Leave the World Behind
    • Clay
    • Post-production
    • 2023
  • The Whites
    • Pre-production
    • TV Series
  • Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90
    • Completed
  • Tonight at Noon
    • Lefty
    • Completed
  • Revolver
    • Pre-production
  • Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal in Strange Way of Life (2023)
    Strange Way of Life
    • Jake
    • Short
    • 2023
  • Batwheels (2022)
    Batwheels
    • Bruce Wayne
    • Batman
    • TV Series
    • 2022
  • Edward Norton, Kate Hudson, Daniel Craig, Kathryn Hahn, Dave Bautista, Leslie Odom Jr., Janelle Monáe, Madelyn Cline, and Jessica Henwick in Glass Onion (2022)
    Glass Onion
    • Efficient Man
    • 2022
  • Ethan Hawke and Ewan McGregor in Raymond & Ray (2022)
    Raymond & Ray
    • Ray
    • 2022
  • Ethan Hawke, F. Murray Abraham, Oscar Isaac, Antonia Salib, May Calamawy, Karim El Hakim, Saba Mubarak, and Sofia Danu in Moon Knight (2022)
    Moon Knight
    • Arthur Harrow
    • TV Mini Series
    • 2022
  • Ethan Hawke, Nicole Kidman, Willem Dafoe, Björk, Alexander Skarsgård, Claes Bang, and Anya Taylor-Joy in The Northman (2022)
    The Northman
    • King Aurvandil War-Raven
    • 2022
  • The Black Phone (2021)
    The Black Phone
    • The Grabber
    • 2021
  • Jake Gyllenhaal in The Guilty (2021)
    The Guilty
    • SGT. Bill Miller (voice)
    • 2021
  • Zeros and Ones (2021)
    Zeros and Ones
    • JJ
    • Justin
    • 2021
  • Waiting for Godot (2021)
    Waiting for Godot
    • Vladimir
    • 2021
  • Ethan Hawke and Hubert Point-Du Jour in The Good Lord Bird (2020)
    The Good Lord Bird
    • John Brown
    • TV Mini Series
    • 2020
  • Ethan Hawke, Wesley Snipes, Terrence Howard, Kat Graham, Denzel Whitaker, T.I., Eiza González, Shameik Moore, Keean Johnson, and Demetrius Shipp Jr. in Cut Throat City (2020)
    Cut Throat City
    • Jackson Symms
    • 2020
  • Ethan Hawke in Tesla (2020)
    Tesla
    • Nikola Tesla
    • 2020
  • The Purge (2018)
    The Purge
    • James Sandin
    • TV Series
    • 2019
  • Ethan Hawke, Juliette Binoche, Catherine Deneuve, and Clémentine Grenier in The Truth (2019)
    The Truth
    • Hank
    • 2019

Producer

  • Fishpriest
    • executive producer
    • Released
    • Podcast Series
    • 2022
  • The Whites
    • executive producer
    • Pre-production
    • TV Series
  • Wildcat
    • producer
    • Post-production
  • Stoner
    • executive producer
    • Pre-production
  • Ethan Hawke and Hubert Point-Du Jour in The Good Lord Bird (2020)
    The Good Lord Bird
    • executive producer
    • TV Mini Series
    • 2020
  • Ethan Hawke in Adopt a Highway (2019)
    Adopt a Highway
    • producer
    • 2019
  • Blaze (2018)
    Blaze
    • producer
    • 2018
  • Exit Strategy (2015)
    Exit Strategy
    • producer
    • TV Movie
    • 2015
  • Straight to One (1993)
    Straight to One
    • producer
    • Short
    • 1993

Writer

  • Wildcat
    • script
    • Post-production
  • Ethan Hawke and Hubert Point-Du Jour in The Good Lord Bird (2020)
    The Good Lord Bird
    • created for television by
    • written for television by
    • TV Mini Series
    • 2020
  • Blaze (2018)
    Blaze
    • written by
    • 2018
  • Making a Scene (2013)
    Making a Scene
    • lines written by
    • Short
    • 2013
  • Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy in Before Midnight (2013)
    Before Midnight
    • written by
    • 2013
  • The Hottest State (2006)
    The Hottest State
    • novel "The Hottest State"
    • screenplay
    • 2006
  • Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy in Before Sunset (2004)
    Before Sunset
    • screenplay
    • 2004
  • Straight to One (1993)
    Straight to One
    • written by
    • Short
    • 1993
  • In-development projects at IMDbPro

Videos201

Ethan Hawke Inspired by Paul Schrader for Grim Opening Ritual of "Moon Knight"
Clip 3:38
Ethan Hawke Inspired by Paul Schrader for Grim Opening Ritual of "Moon Knight"
What Sets "Moon Knight" Apart from the Marvel Cinematic Universe
Clip 2:09
What Sets "Moon Knight" Apart from the Marvel Cinematic Universe
Ethan Hawke | Career Retrospective
Clip 1:34
Ethan Hawke | Career Retrospective
Late-Breaking Summer of '85 Movie News
Clip 3:07
Late-Breaking Summer of '85 Movie News
'In a Valley of Violence': The Scar in the Bar
Clip 1:14
'In a Valley of Violence': The Scar in the Bar
"You're Done" from Brooklyn's Finest
Clip 1:03
"You're Done" from Brooklyn's Finest
"Let's Just Take a Ride" from Brooklyn's Finest
Clip 0:53
"Let's Just Take a Ride" from Brooklyn's Finest
"It's Not What You Expect" from Brooklyn's Finest
Clip 0:40
"It's Not What You Expect" from Brooklyn's Finest
"You Need a New House" from Brooklyn's Finest
Clip 1:20
"You Need a New House" from Brooklyn's Finest
"Think You're a Tough Guy?" from Brooklyn's Finest
Clip 1:04
"Think You're a Tough Guy?" from Brooklyn's Finest
"I'm Not a Role Model" from Brooklyn's Finest
Clip 0:57
"I'm Not a Role Model" from Brooklyn's Finest
"They're Gonna Pin a Medal on You" from Brooklyn's Finest
Clip 1:01
"They're Gonna Pin a Medal on You" from Brooklyn's Finest

Personal details

Edit
  • Official sites
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
  • Alternative name
    • E. Hawke
  • Height
    • 5′ 10½″ (1.79 m)
  • Born
    • November 6, 1970
    • Austin, Texas, USA
  • Spouses
      Ryan HawkeJune 21, 2008 - present (2 children)
  • Children
      Clementine Jane Hawke
  • Parents
      Leslie Hawke
  • Other works
    Co-founder and Artistic Director of Malaparte, a nonprofit theater company in NYC.
  • Publicity listings
    • 17 Interviews
    • 25 Articles
    • 3 Pictorials
    • 15 Magazine Cover Photos

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Says that he is constantly mistaken for Mark McGrath from the band Sugar Ray so often that he signs autographs as "Mark McGrath" and, apparently, the same thing happens to Mark McGrath who, in turn, signs autographs as "Ethan Hawke" to fans.
  • Quotes
    I think most people are good at more things than the world gives them the opportunity to do.
  • Trademarks
      In later roles, meek and mild-manner demeanor
  • Salaries
      Daybreakers
      (2009)
      $4,000,000

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