Ethan Green Hawke was born inAustin, Texas, on November 6, 1970.[1] His father, James Hawke, was an insuranceactuary, while his mother, Leslie (née Green), was a charity worker and teacher.[2][3][4] Hawke's parents were high school sweethearts fromFort Worth, Texas, and married when his mother was seventeen.[5] Hawke was born a year later, while both of his parents were attending theUniversity of Texas in Austin. His parents separated and later divorced in 1974, when he was four years old.[2][6]
After his parents separated, Hawke was raised by his mother.[7] Hawke recalled first donning different personas as a child trying to please his parents, by pretending to be an "artistic, literary, conscientious political thinker" for his mother and a well-mannered, religious football lover when visiting his father.[4] Hawke and his mother moved several times before settling inBrooklyn, where he attended thePacker Collegiate Institute.[7][8] Hawke often shifted his personality to fit in with different groups of peers that he encountered in their moves.[4] When Hawke was ten or twelve, his mother remarried and the family relocated toWest Windsor Township, New Jersey.[7][9] There, he attendedWest Windsor Plainsboro High School[10] before transferring to theHun School of Princeton, a boarding school from which he graduated in 1988.[11][12] Around this time, Hawke volunteered with his mother's organization, the Alex Fund, a charity that supported educational opportunities for underprivilegedchildren in Romania.[4]
With his mother's permission, Hawke attended his first casting call at age fourteen and was cast inJoe Dante'sExplorers (1985), playing a misfit schoolboy alongsideRiver Phoenix.[17][18] Although the film received positive reviews,[19] it performed poorly at the box office, leading Hawke to step away from acting for a time. He later described the experience as difficult to handle at such a young age, remarking, "I would never recommend that a kid act".[16] In 1989, Hawke had hisbreakthrough role as a shy student inPeter Weir'sDead Poets Society.[20][21] The film was critically and commercially successful and won theBAFTA Award for Best Film.[22] Reflecting on the impact of its success, Hawke later said, "I didn't want to be an actor and I went back to college. But then the film's success was so monumental that I was getting offers to be in such interesting movies and be in such interesting places and it seemed silly to pursue anything else."[18] After filmingDead Poets Society, he auditioned for his next project, the comedy-dramaDad (1989), and settled in New York City due to its prominent theater industry and variety of opportunites.[23][24]
In 1993, actressWinona Ryder offered Hawke a leading role inBen Stiller'sGeneration X dramaReality Bites (1994).[35][36] Hawke was reluctant to accept the offer due to his dislike of the characters, but he reconsidered it because he admired Ryder and appreciated the script.[37] The film grossed $41 million on a budget of $11 million and later became acult classic;[35][38][39] of Hawke's performance,Owen Gleiberman said that he had "suddenly grown up into a magnetic performer".[40] WithReality Bites, Hawke attainedcelebrity status and became known as analternative heartthrob, a perception fueled by his blue eyes, well-defined jaw,goatee, and tousled hair.[41][42][43] His portrayal of a disillusioned musician in the film led to him being strongly associated with the character and deemed theposter boy of Generation X,[44][45][46] with journalistVanessa Grigoriadis describing his image at the time as "the sensitive pretty boy hanging around a patchouli-scented dorm hall discussing the meaning of life".[47] Hawke felt initially irked by the label, believing it to be a restricting marketing term, but he embraced it later in his career.[44][45]
Instead of accepting roles in big-budget Hollywood films offered to him, Hawke chose to collaborate with directors whom he believed "could stoke his creativity", starring inRichard Linklater'sBefore Sunrise (1995) among others.[41][48] Linklater said that, at the time, he had been searching for actors as well as creative partners, inviting Hawke and co-starJulie Delpy to contribute to the dialogue and character development with their own personal experiences.[49] The first installment of theBefore film trilogy,Before Sunrise follows an American man (Hawke) and a French woman (Delpy) who meet on a train and disembark together inVienna.[41][49] The film received positive reviews praising Hawke and Delpy's performances;[50]The Hollywood Reporter retrospectively called it "one of cinema's most sustained explorations of love and the passage of time".[51]
Hawke directed the music video forLisa Loeb's USBillboard Hot 100 number-one single "Stay (I Missed You)"; Loeb was then a member of Hawke's theater company.[52][53]Spin magazine named the video its Video of the Year in 1994.[54] Hawke appeared in a 1995 production ofSam Shepard'sBuried Child, directed byGary Sinise at theSteppenwolf Theater in Chicago.[55] He published his first novel, titledThe Hottest State, in 1996, which tells the story of a love affair between a young actor and a singer. He described writing the book as both the "scariest[... but also] one of the best things I ever did."[18]Entertainment Weekly said that Hawke "opens himself to rough literary scrutiny inThe Hottest State. If Hawke is serious [...] he'd do well to work awhile in less exposed venues."[56]The New York Times thought Hawke did "a fine job of showing what it's like to be young and full of confusion", concluding thatThe Hottest State was ultimately "a sweet love story".[57]
"Writing the book had to do with dropping out of college and with being an actor. I didn't want my whole life to go by and not do anything but recite lines. I wanted to try making something else. It was definitely the scariest thing I ever did. And it was just one of the best things I ever did."
Hawke called his script inAndrew Niccol's science fiction filmGattaca (1997) "one of the more interesting" ones he had read in "a number of years".[58] In it, he played the role of a man who infiltrates a society of genetically perfect humans by assuming another man's identity.[59] Ebert called him a good choice for the lead role, stating that he "combin[es] the restless dreams of a 'Godchild' with the plausible exterior of a lab baby".[59] AlongsideGwyneth Paltrow andRobert De Niro, he starred inGreat Expectations (1998), a contemporary film adaptation ofCharles Dickens's 1861novel of the same name, directed byAlfonso Cuarón.[60] Hawke criticized the film's time of release, stating that "nobody gave a shit about anything butTitanic for about nine months after[...] particularly another romance".[61] He collaborated with Linklater once again onThe Newton Boys (1998), based on the true story of theNewton Gang.[62] The film saw generally negative reception;Rotten Tomatoes' consensus said that the "sharp" cast made up for "the frustrations of a story puzzlingly short on dramatic tension".[63]
In 1999, he starred as Kilroy in theTennessee Williams playCamino Real at theWilliamstown Theater Festival in Massachusetts.[64] That year, Hawke starred inSnow Falling on Cedars, adapted fromDavid Guterson'snovel of the same name. Set in the 1950s, he played a young reporter who covers the murder trial of a fisherman.[65] The film received a tepid response,[66] withEntertainment Weekly commenting that "Hawke scrunches himself into such a dark knot that we have no idea who [his character] Ishmael is or why he acts as he does".[67] Hawke's next film role was inMichael Almereyda'sHamlet (2000), in which he played thetitular character. The adaptation setWilliam Shakespeare's play in contemporary New York City, a choice Hawke said made the story feel more "accessible and vital".[68]
2001–2006:Training Day and further Linklater films
Hawke explored several projects outside of acting in the early 2000s. He made his directorial debut withChelsea Walls (2002), an independent drama about five struggling artists living in New York City'sHotel Chelsea.[79] That same year, he published his second novel,Ash Wednesday (2002), which appeared onThe New York Times Best Seller list.[80] Centered on anAWOL soldier and his pregnant girlfriend,[18] the novel earned praise from critics.The Guardian described it as "sharply and poignantly written[...] an intense one-sitting read",[81] while James noted that Hawke showed "a novelist's innate gifts[...] a sharp eye, a fluid storytelling voice and the imagination to create complicated individuals", though it found him "weaker at narrative tricks that can be taught".[82] Returning to Broadway, he playedHenry Percy (Hotspur) inJack O'Brien's 2003 production ofHenry IV.[83]Ben Brantley, writing inThe New York Times, opined that Hawke's interpretation of Hotspur might be "too contemporary for some tastes", but allowed "great fun to watch as he fumes and fulminates".[84]
Hawke returned to film in 2004 with two releases: the psychological thrillerTaking Lives and the romantic dramaBefore Sunset. Upon release,Taking Lives received broadly negative reviews,[85] though Hawke's performance as a serial killer who takes on the identities of his victims was favored by a critic from theStar Tribune, who said that he played the "complex character persuasively".[86] He then reunited with Linklater forBefore Sunset, the second installment of theBefore trilogy.[87] Co-written by Hawke, Linklater, and Delpy, the film follows a young man and woman who reunite in Paris nine years after meeting in Vienna.[88] AHartford Courant writer remarked that the screenwriting collaboration between the three "[kept] Jesse and Celine iridescent and fresh, one of the most delightful and moving of all romantic movie couples".[89] Hawke called it one of his favorite films, a "romance for realists".[90][91]Before Sunset was nominated for anAcademy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.[92]
Hawke starred alongsidePhilip Seymour Hoffman,Marisa Tomei, andAlbert Finney in the crime dramaBefore the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007), the final direction ofSidney Lumet. Hawke prepared for his role by working closely with Lumet during a two-week rehearsal period, which allowed the cast to make creative decisions before filming began. On-set, Lumet intentionally pitted Hawke and Hoffman against each other to heighten the tension.[102][103][104] InBefore the Devil Knows You're Dead, Hawke played the younger brother of a debt-ridden broker who entices him into a plan to rob their parents' bank, but the scheme goes awry.[105]USA Today'sClaudia Puig deemed the film "highly entertaining", describing Hawke and Hoffman's performances as excellent,[106] whilePeter Travers, writing forRolling Stone, stated that Hawke "[dug] deep to create a haunting portrayal of loss".[107]
In November 2007, Hawke directedThings We Want, a two-act play byJonathan Marc Sherman, for the artist-drivenoff-Broadway companythe New Group.[108]New York praised Hawke's "understated direction", particularly his ability to "steer a gifted cast away from the histrionics".[108] InBrian Goodman's crime dramaWhat Doesn't Kill You (2008), Hawke played the childhood friend ofMark Ruffalo's character, who both become involved in crime in theirSouth Boston neighborhood and scheme a heist to escape poverty.[109]Peter Brunette named Hawke's performance a "personal best",[110] and theNew York Times criticManohla Dargis wrote that he "holds [the viewer] with a physically expressive performance that telegraphs each byroad of his character's inner world".[109] Hawke appeared in two features in 2009:New York, I Love You, a romance film comprising twelve short films;[111] andStaten Island, a crime drama in which he co-starred alongsideVincent D'Onofrio andSeymour Cassel.[112]
To prepare for his role as a vampirehematologist in the science fiction horror filmDaybreakers (2009), Hawke studied "the greats" of past cinematic vampire performances, includingWillem Dafoe's portrayal inShadow of the Vampire (2000).[113][114] He traveled to Australia to filmDaybreakers, which was directed byThe Spierig Brothers.[115] The film fared well both critically and commercially, grossing $51million on a $20million budget.[116][117] Hawke's next role was inAntoine Fuqua'sBrooklyn's Finest, in which he portrayed a corrupt narcotics officer.[118] Although the film—released in the US in 2010—opened to mediocre reception,[119] his performance garnered praise from critics, including a New YorkDaily News reviewer who remarked, "Hawke—continuing an evolution toward stronger, more intense acting than anyone might've predicted from him 20 years ago—drives the movie."[118]
In January 2010, Hawke directed his second play, Sam Shepard'sA Lie of the Mind, on the New York stage.[120] It marked the first major off-Broadway revival of the play since its 1985 debut.[121] Hawke was attracted to the play's exploration of "the nature of reality" and its "weird juxtaposition of humor and mysticism".[122][121] In his review forThe New York Times, Brantley lauded the production's "scary, splendid clarity" and praised Hawke for eliciting a performance that "connoisseurs of precision acting will be savoring for years to come".[123]Entertainment Weekly commented that althoughA Lie of the Mind "wobbles a bit in its late stages", Hawke's "hearty" revival managed to "resurrect the spellbinding uneasiness of the original".[124] The production garnered fiveLucille Lortel Award nominations, including one forOutstanding Revival,[125] and earned Hawke aDrama Desk Award nomination forOutstanding Director of a Play.[126]
In the2011 television adaptation ofHerman Melville'sMoby-Dick, Hawke played the role ofStarbuck, the first officer toWilliam Hurt'sCaptain Ahab.[127] He then starred oppositeKristin Scott Thomas inPaweł Pawlikowski'sThe Woman in the Fifth, a "lush puzzler" about an American novelist struggling to rebuild his life in Paris.[128][129] In 2012, Hawke appeared in the horror genre for the first time, playing a true crime writer inScott Derrickson'sSinister, written along withC. Robert Cargill. Before the US release ofSinister, Hawke said that he had previously been hesitant about horror films because they often do not require strong acting performances. However, he mentioned that the producer ofSinister,Jason Blum, with whom Hawke had a background in theater, approached him with an offer involving a script that featured both a "great character and a real filmmaker".[130][131]
Hawke reunited with director Linklater and co-star Delpy for the third installment of theBefore trilogy, titledBefore Midnight (2013).[132] The film follows a couple, he and Delpy's character, who spend a summer vacation in Greece with their children.[133]Before Midnight received critical acclaim,[134] with one fromVariety naming the scene in the hotel room "one for the actors' handbook".[135] The film earned Hawke, Linklater, and Delpy another Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.[136] Hawke next starred in the horror-thrillerThe Purge (2013), set in a future America where all crime is legal for one night each year.[137][138] Despite mixed reviews, the film opened atop the box office on its opening weekend with a $34million debut.[139][140] In early 2013, Hawke starred in and directed the playClive, written by Jonathan Marc Sherman and inspired byBertolt Brecht'sBaal.[141]
Hawke prepared for his role as a former racecar driver inGetaway (2013) by attending a one-day driving school at theMid-Ohio Sports Car Course, where he learned high-performance driving techniques such as180-degree spins ande-brake maneuvers.[142] The film was critically panned.[143] He played thetitle role in a Broadway production ofMacbeth at the Lincoln Center Theater in late 2013.The Hollywood Reporter critic David Rooney criticized the "disharmonious acting styles led by Hawke's underpowered take on [his] role".[144] Released in mid-2014, Linklater'sBoyhood follows the life of an American boy from age six to eighteen, with Hawke portraying his father.[145] The film became the best-reviewed release of 2014 and was named best film of the year by numerous critics' associations.[146][147] Hawke later admitted that the film's widespread acclaim came as a surprise, recalling that when he first joined the project, it felt less like a "proper movie" and more like "a radical '60s film experiment or something".[148]He earned several nominations for his performance, including the Academy Award,BAFTA,Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor.[149][150][151]
Hawke reunited with the Spierig brothers for the science fiction thrillerPredestination (2014), in which he played a time-traveling agent on his final assignment.[152][153] Writing forVulture,David Edelstein wrote how he enjoyed Hawke's "low-key, solemn, enigmatic" performance.[154] He next reunited with hisGattaca director Andrew Niccol forGood Kill (2014), a contemporary war drama. In his "best screen role in years" according to Rooney, Hawke portrayed a drone pilot grappling with a troubled conscience.[155] He made his documentary debut withSeymour: An Introduction, which premiered at the2014 Toronto International Film Festival.[156][157] The film was conceived after a dinner party attended by both Hawke and its subject, classical pianistSeymour Bernstein.Seymour: An Introduction is a profile of Bernstein, who later said that, although he was normally a private person, he was unable to decline Hawke's request to make the film because the actor was "so endearing".[158]
In 2016, Hawke took on two unpleasant roles in succession, first playing the abusive father of a promising young baseball player inThe Phenom,[169] and then the stern husband ofMaud Lewis—portrayed bySally Hawkins—inMaudie. While some critics commended his surprising range, others argued that Hawke was "miscast" as a harsh figure.[170][171][172] He reunited withTraining Day director Antoine Fuqua and actor Denzel Washington forThe Magnificent Seven (2016), a remake of the1960 western film of the same name.[173] In the film, Hawke played a formerConfederatesharpshooter struggling withPTSD from theAmerican Civil War.[174][175] In the US, the film grossed $34.7 million in its opening weekend, topping the box office.[176] Also in 2016, Hawke narrated the interactive short filmInvasion!, which earned him and his co-creators aDaytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Interactive – Original Daytime Content,[177][178] and released his fourth book,Indeh: A Story of the Apache Wars, which chronicles theconflicts between the Apache and the US.[179]
Hawke starred inPaul Schrader's dramaFirst Reformed (2017) as a former military chaplain tormented by the death of his son, whom he had encouraged to join the armed forces, while grappling with the looming threat ofclimate change.[180][181] Critics, includingSlate's K. Austin Collins, praised his performance, calling it "extraordinarily well-tuned" and stating that "every ounce of likability, vulnerability, angry cynicism and ineptitude [in his career] seems to be summed up here".[182] Hawke had two films premiere at the2018 Sundance Film Festival.[183][184] InJuliet, Naked, a romantic comedy adapted fromNick Hornby's 2009novel of the same name, he played an obscure rock musician whose eponymous album drives the plot.[185]Blaze, his third direction, is a biographical film about the obscure country musicianBlaze Foley and was selected for the festival's main competition.[186]
2019–present: Mainstream popularity
Hawke returned to Broadway in the revival of Shepard'sTrue West, which began previews in December 2018, opened in January 2019, and closed two months later.[187] Critics disparaged the lack of synergy between him and co-starPaul Dano.[188][189][190] In 2019, Hawke appeared in Vincent D'Onofrio's feature film directorial debut,The Kid, in which he portrayed asheriff hunting the outlawBilly the Kid.[191]Bilge Ebiri said that his "melancholy stoicism" in the role "fail[ed] to convey much of an inner life".[192] Hawke then produced and starred inAdopt a Highway (2019), which received mixed reviews that nonetheless appreciated his performance.[193] He portrayed a failed actor inHirokazu Kore-eda's first English-language film,The Truth (2019), which opened the76th Venice International Film Festival.[194]Entertainment Weekly described Hawke as "brilliantly cast",[195] whileAlonso Duralde said that he had managed to play an "untalented, struggling" actor "without delving into condescension".[196]
Hawke collaborated again with Blum, Cargill, and Derrickson on the supernatural horror filmThe Black Phone (2021), portraying a maskedserial killer of children.[204][205] Up to that point, Hawke had avoided playing villains for fear of beingtypecast by audiences.[205] However, he accepted the role because he was intrigued by the idea of wearing a mask for most of the film's runtime, comparing it to the masked performers ofAncient Greek theater.[204] Hawke said it allowed him to focus on physicality and voice acting, instead of facial expressions.[204]Empire praised him for a "frightening and fascinating physical performance" and a critic for the Roger Ebert website said that he effectively conveyed the character's "personality reversal" through his voice, body language, and eyes.[206][207]The Black Phone was commercially successful, grossing $161.4 million.[208] Released in February 2021, Hawke's third novel and fifth book, titledA Bright Ray of Darkness, drew direct inspiration from his real-life experiences.[209][210]Ron Charles described it as a "witty, wise and heartfelt novel about a spoiled young man growing up and becoming, haltingly, a better person".[211]
Hawke traveled to Ireland to filmRobert Eggers'sViking epicThe Northman (2022) as part of itsensemble cast.[212] Owen Gleiberman appreciated the quality of "squalid humanity" brought by Hawke in his portrayal of KingAurvandill andJustin Chang wished that he had been given more screen time.[213][214] He next starred in thecomedy-drama filmRaymond & Ray (2022), portraying along withEwan McGregor two half-brothers.[215] The film received mixed reviews, but Hawke and McGregor's performances were praised;[216] a critic from the Roger Ebert website said that "only Hawke [had] the rough edges" that were needed for the film.[215] He played the antagonistArthur Harrow in the superhero miniseriesMoon Knight (2022), produced byMarvel Studios.[217] Although Hawke had previously criticizedsuperhero films,[217] he accepted the role to create an original superpowered character and collaborate with co-starOscar Isaac, who had initially offered him the part.[218] His portrayal of Harrow was inspired by psychiatristCarl Jung and cult leaderDavid Koresh.[204]Entertainment Weekly called him "unsettlingly charismatic" in the role,[219] whileVariety said that Hawke and Isaac had managed to bring novelty to theMarvel Cinematic Universe.[220]
Hawke and Linklater's ninth film together wasBlue Moon (2025),[227] a biopic in which Hawke starred as lyricistLorenz Hart reflecting on himself on the opening night of the musicalOklahoma!.[228] Linklater had shared the draft with Hawke over a decade earlier,[227] but chose to delay the project until Hawke became old enough to portray a middle-aged Hart.[228] Hawke shaved his head and usedstagecraft devices that made him appear shorter for the role, undergoing a transformation that he said helped him better understand the character's feelings.[228] TheHouston Chronicle praised his performance as one of the year's best,[229] whileNBC News described it as a career highlight.[230] It earned him nominations for theAcademy Award,BAFTA,Golden Globe, andActor Award for Best Actor.[a]
Later that year, Hawke reprised his role fromThe Black Phone in its sequel,Black Phone 2,[235] which grossed $132 million.[236]Frank Scheck said that Hawke "deliver[ed] one for the ages",[235] whileThe New York Times remarked that his performance "create[d] a more cohesive picture than the original".[237] He then portrayed an investigative journalist in the crime drama seriesThe Lowdown (2025).[238] Critics identified the role as one in a series of Hawke's portrayals of self-righteous heroic characters driven to extremes that included his performances inFirst Reformed andThe Good Lord Bird;The New Republic added that Hawke had been able to reiterate thearchetype in a "striking variety of ways" across different genres.[239][238][240] He then starred in the historical filmThe Weight, which premiered at the2026 Sundance Film Festival.[241]
Hawke is set to reprise his role fromThe Lowdown in its second season and star in a film adaptation ofMonte Reel's bookThe Last of the Tribe (2010) and a television adaptation ofRichard Price's novelThe Whites (2015).[242][243][244] He has stated that he and Linklater have been working on a period film set in the 19th century.[245]
Acting style and reception
Hawke has been recognized for his versatility across a wide range of roles.[4][41][246]Esquire named him the greatest actor of his generation, praising his varied body of work as a departure from contemporary Hollywood conventions.[246] CriticDavid Ehrlich remarked that each director Hawke has collaborated with has elicited a distinct aspect of his screen persona.[247]The A.V. Club described his career turn togenre films starting from the late 2000s as unexpected but successful, calling him the greatest contemporary "genre star".[248] Hawke said that he enjoys the challenges posed by acting in different genres and settings with their own distinct rules,[42] but identifies himself primarily as adramatic actor.[249] Scholar Gary Bettinson commented that Hawke exemplifies what film historianJeanine Basinger described as a "neo-star" – an actor who combines elements of a traditional film star and acharacter actor.[250]: 2 TheObserver described his characters as "rarely [...] easily likable", but "flawed and complex".[251]Texas Monthly remarked that "Hawke's hallmark [...] has often been a certain vulnerability that he brings to characters who should be tougher, more authoritative, cooler, or bolder".[252]
Theater criticJohn Lahr opined that Hawke had first developed the skills that acting demands—"empathy, imagination, charm, [and] surrender"—through his experiences growing up with his mother.[4] Hawke said that his experience on the set ofBefore Sunrise allowed him to develop his own acting technique and style, instead of relying on imitating others.[4] His method involved "breaking the mask we wear for the world and letting as much truth seep out [...] as possible".[4] After increasing his stage work in the 2000s, Hawke said that theater helped him hone his craft and shaped him into his ideal version of an actor.[253] He enjoys theater because it grants actors control over their performance without the intervention ofediting.[254] Hawke named theater directorAustin Pendleton as the "only acting teacher [he's] ever had".[253]
Hawke later described acting as a "shamanistic process" in which one devotes themselves to the portrayal of a character, comparing it to a musician trying to understand the rhythm and sound of a song.[255] By the 2020s, Hawke had begun practising "third-person acting"[b] as opposed to the "first-person acting"[c] technique that he had favored early on in his career.[256] Bettinson described him as a "naturalistic" actor in theNew Hollywood tradition and theObserver characterized his approach to acting as having a "conversational quality".[250]: 2 [251] Hawke memorizes scripts by rewriting them by hand "like it's [his] journal" and recording himself while reciting lines.[254]
Hawke said that he was greatly influenced by the New Hollywood movement.[250] He has citedRobert De Niro andDenzel Washington as major influences, admiring their work ethic and initiative on the set of his collaboration with De Niro onGreat Expectations and with Washington onTraining Day.[255] Hawke later referred to Washington as the "greatest actor of our generation".[258] Hawke has credited several directors as key influences including his collaborators Linklater andPeter Weir, who showed him "what filmmaking could be".[42]
Hawke and Linklater established a creative partnership that spanned four decades, making nine films together mainly focused on the theme of time.[41][42] CriticJustin Chang called theBefore trilogy "Hawke's signature achievement" and his character, Jesse, the "quintessential Hawke character", described as a "charmingly outspoken know-it-all, ardently romantic, philosophical and a bit of a blowhard".[259] Chang opined that over the course of their collaboration Linklater managed to "tease out [Hawke's] sharpest dimensions as an actor and refuse[d] to treat him as just another pretty face".[259] Scholar Jennifer O'Meara argued that Linklater's collaborative filmmaking empowered Hawke to successfully branch out into writing and directing, remarking that critical praise for both theBefore trilogy and Hawke's novels focused on character development.[260]
Hawke has received severallifetime achievement awards honoring his diverse career that encompasses film, television, theater, and literary work.[261][262][263] He found being labeled only as an actor early on in his career to be restricting, as he believes that art forms "are not as different as people make them out to be — that communication and storytelling and expression are all fundamentally coming from the same well".[255] O'Meara named him as an example of the "actor-writer" — a figure that challenges the traditional view of the director as the sole creative authority in film.[260] Chang called Hawke's career the "richest, most accomplished and surprising [...] of any actor now working in American movies".[259] Journalists have described his career as representative of Gen X's life trajectory, and attributed its longevity to his strategy of taking on diverse genres and roles.[d]GQ remarked that Hawke has managed to embody the main moments in a man's life—from high school inDead Poets Society, through first love inBefore Sunrise and fatherhood inBoyhood, and into middle age inFirst Reformed andJuliet, Naked—through his roles.[267]
"The idea of artistic integrity is a real balancing act. [...] Paul Schrader can want you but if he can't raise the money with you attached, you're going to lose that role."
Hawke has starred in bothindependent cinema andHollywood blockbusters, but called the former his "first love".[249][247] Ehrlich said that "there's hardly anyone who can flit betweenarthouse stuff and big-money studio schlock [...] as effortlessly as he".[247] Hawke has become known for eschewing to seek commercial success or fame as a film star, saying that he did not wish to become a "name brand".[41][251][268] However, he has commented on the need to balance less profitable independent productions with lucrative endeavors to support his family and several charities.[267] Although Hawke has expressed disinterest for being in the public sphere, he frequently participates in press tours to promote his films, saying that "if you want people to have a chance to see a movie [...] you have to do it".[42][253] Throughout his career, interviewers have described him as having an energetic, chatty, and "boyish" personality.[e] Some commentators also described Hawke as "pretentious",[269] especially early on in his career.[248][270] Lahr remarked that Hawke's later public persona has become that of a "rough-edged, raucous actor" with a "full-blown [and] happy maturity".[4]
On May 1, 1998, Hawke married actressUma Thurman, whom he had met on the set ofGattaca in 1996.[271][272] They have two children,Maya (born 1998) andLevon (born 2002), both of whom became actors.[273] The couple separated in 2003 amidst allegations of infidelity and filed for divorce the following year, which was finalized in August 2005.[274][275][276] Hawke and Thurman were described as asupercouple, with their marriage and divorce becoming the subject of intensetabloid scrutiny, much to their displeasure.[277][278] Hawke found the tabloid attention "humiliating even when they [were] saying positive things".[41] In June 2008, Hawke married Ryan Shawhughes, aColumbia University graduate who had previously worked briefly as a nanny for his children with Thurman.[279][280] He stated that their relationship had begun a year after his divorce and that his first marriage had ended for reasons unrelated to Shawhughes.[280] Together, they have two daughters and run a production company called Under the Influence Productions.[273][281]
Hawke began participating in charity work at the behest of his mother,[291] who encouraged him to donate a portion of his salary fromDead Poets Society tothe Doe Fund, a non-profit.[291] He attended their annual fundraising gala in October 2011 and ran theNew York City Marathon alongside Shawhughes in November 2015 in support of the non-profit.[292][293] Hawke serves on the board of trustees of his mother's foundation, the Alex Fund.[294] He served as co-chair of the Young Lions Committee, one of theNew York Public Library's (NYPL) major philanthropic boards, and co-founded theYoung Lions Fiction Award in 2001.[295][296] He was named a Library Lion by the NYPL in November 2010 and joined the library's board of trustees in May 2016.[297][298] He joined the board of trustees of theClassical Theatre of Harlem in April 2023 and made fundraising videos for theAmerican Library Association and theCoolidge Corner Theatre.[299][300][301]
^Hawke defined "third-person acting" as a technique, similar tocharacter acting, in which the actor aims to disappear into the role and become unrecognizable across different portrayals. He namedDaniel Day-Lewis andPhilip Seymour Hoffman as examples of "third-person actors".[256][257]
^Hawke defined "first-person acting" as a technique in which the actor's public persona informs every portrayal, ensuring that they remain recognizable to audiences across different roles. He namedPaul Newman as an example of a "first-person actor".[256]
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