Ethan Hawke

Ethan Green Hawke was born on November 6, 1970, in Austin, Texas. He began his acting career in 1985 with his film debut in "Explorers." However, it was his role in "Dead Poets Society" (1989) that brought him widespread recognition.
Hawke's collaboration with director Richard Linklater in the "Before" trilogy, spanning from "Before Sunrise" (1995) to "Before Midnight" (2013), further solidified his reputation as a versatile actor. He received critical acclaim and two Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor for his performances in "Training Day" (2001) and "Boyhood" (2014). Additionally, he received two nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay for co-writing "Before Sunset" (2004) and "Before Midnight" (2013).
Throughout his career, Hawke has taken on diverse roles in films such as "Reality Bites" (1994), "Gattaca" (1997), "Great Expectations" (1998), "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead" (2007), "Maggie's Plan" (2015), "First Reformed" (2017), "The Black Phone" (2021), and "The Northman" (2022).


In addition to acting, Hawke has ventured into directing, helming films like "Chelsea Walls" (2001), "The Hottest State" (2006), and "Blaze" (2018), as well as the documentary "Seymour: An Introduction" (2014). He also created, co-wrote, and starred as John Brown in the Showtime limited series "The Good Lord Bird" (2018), and directed the HBO Max documentary series "The Last Movie Stars" (2022). Hawke's latest television role was as Arthur Harrow in the Marvel miniseries "Moon Knight" (2022).
In the realm of theater, Hawke has made significant contributions, making his Broadway debut in 1992 in Anton Chekhov's "The Seagull" and earning a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Play in 2007 for his performance in Tom Stoppard's "The Coast of Utopia." He also directed Sam Shepard's "A Lie of the Mind" in 2010, receiving a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Director of a Play. In 2018, he starred in the Roundabout Theater Company's revival of Sam Shepard's play "True West."
Hawke's talent and versatility have earned him numerous accolades, including four Academy Award nominations, two Golden Globe Awards, and a Tony Award nomination.


Ethan Green Hawke was born on November 6, 1970, to Leslie and James Hawke. His parents were originally from Fort Worth, Texas, and were high school sweethearts who married young. Ethan was born a year later, while they were both students at the University of Texas at Austin. However, their marriage ended in separation and eventual divorce in 1974, when Ethan was just four years old.
Following the separation, Ethan was primarily raised by his mother. They moved around frequently before settling in New York City, where Ethan attended the Packer Collegiate Institute in Brooklyn Heights. When Ethan was 10 years old, his mother remarried, and the family relocated to West Windsor Township, New Jersey. There, Ethan attended West Windsor Plainsboro High School before transferring to the Hun School of Princeton, a secondary boarding school, from which he graduated in 1988.
During his high school years, Ethan initially aspired to become a writer but became increasingly interested in acting. He made his stage debut at the age of 13 in a production of George Bernard Shaw's "Saint Joan" at The McCarter Theatre. He also participated in various school productions, including "Meet Me in St. Louis" and "You Can't Take It with You."
While attending the Hun School, Ethan took acting classes at the McCarter Theatre located on the Princeton campus. After graduating from high school, he briefly studied acting at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh but dropped out after being cast in "Dead Poets Society" (1989). He later enrolled in New York University's English program but ultimately decided to leave to pursue his acting career further.


In the 1980s, Ethan Hawke began his acting career with his mother's permission at the age of 14. He secured his first film role in Joe Dante's "Explorers" (1985), where he portrayed an alien-obsessed schoolboy alongside River Phoenix. Despite receiving favorable reviews, the film performed poorly at the box office, leading Hawke to briefly quit acting due to the disappointment.
However, in 1989, Hawke experienced a breakthrough with his role in Peter Weir's "Dead Poets Society." He played one of the students taught by Robin Williams' charismatic English teacher character. Hawke's performance as the painfully shy Todd received critical acclaim, and the film itself was highly praised, winning the BAFTA Award for Best Film and receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture. The success of "Dead Poets Society" propelled Hawke's career forward, leading him to continue pursuing acting despite his initial reservations.


Following the success of "Dead Poets Society," Hawke appeared in various films throughout the early 1990s, including "Dad" (1989), "White Fang" (1991), "A Midnight Clear" (1992), and "Alive" (1993). He showcased his versatility as an actor by taking on diverse roles in different genres.
In 1994, Hawke starred in the Generation X drama "Reality Bites," where he portrayed Troy Dyer, a slacker who challenges the ambitions of his girlfriend, played by Winona Ryder. His performance was praised for its authenticity and depth, solidifying his reputation as a talented actor.
The following year, in 1995, Hawke received further critical acclaim for his role in Richard Linklater's "Before Sunrise." The film followed the romantic encounter between a young American man, played by Hawke, and a young French woman, played by Julie Delpy, as they spend a night exploring Vienna together. Hawke's portrayal was lauded for its subtlety and emotional resonance, further establishing him as a versatile and accomplished actor.
Apart from his acting career, Hawke also delved into directing, directing the music video for the 1994 song "Stay (I Missed You)" by Lisa Loeb. The video received widespread acclaim and was named Spin magazine's video of the year in 1994. Hawke's involvement in directing showcased his multifaceted talents beyond acting.

References

1.  "Ethan Hawke biography and filmography | Ethan Hawke movies". Tribute. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
2. ^ Sprung, Shlomo (November 6, 2015). "November 6, birthdays for Ethan Hawke, Emma Stone, Sally Field". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
3. a b Schindehette, Susan (June 17, 2002). "Mom on a Mission". People. Archived from the original on November 7, 2009. Retrieved October 26, 2009.
4. a b Solomon, Deborah (September 16, 2007). "Renaissance Man?". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 11, 2008. Retrieved February 5, 2009.
5. ^ Grossman, Anna Jane (January 20, 2012). "Vows: Leslie Hawke and David Weiss". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 2, 2014. Retrieved December 13, 2014.
6. a b c "Ethan Hawke". Inside the Actors Studio. Season 8. Episode 12. April 21, 2002. Bravo.
7. a b c "Ethan Hawke Biography". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved March 20, 2011.