John Hawkes

    Actor, Producer, Music Department

    Birthdate: Sep 11, 1959

    Birthplace: Alexandria, Minnesota, USA

    John Hawkes is an award-winning actor known for crafting memorable performances across a wide range of styles and genres. He will next be seen in the upcoming fourth season of HBO's "True Detective" with Jodie Foster. Previous projects include the indie film "Roving Woman," "The Peanut Butter Falcon" with Shia LaBouf, which won a number of critics' honors as well as being recognized by the National Board of Review and winning the audience award at SXSW, along with Nicholas Winding Refn's crime drama "Too Old to Die Young" which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and boasted an eclectic ensemble cast. Hawkes also reunited with other original cast members for the highly anticipated "Deadwood" reunion movie, reprising his role of 'Sol Star' from the critically lauded HBO series. Additional film credits include "End of Sentence" with Logan Lerman, "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri," which won the Toronto International Film Festival Audience Award along with the SAG Award for Best Ensemble; "Small Town Crime" opposite Octavia Spencer and "Unlovable" with Melissa Leo.

    Hawkes delivered tour de force performances in a succession of films. For his outstanding portrayal of real-life poet, 'Mark O'Brien' in "The Sessions," Hawkes won Best Actor from the Independent Spirit Awards and was nominated for a Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award. In addition, the film won the Audience Award and a Special Jury Prize for the Ensemble Cast at Sundance. He received rave reviews for his portrayal of pianist 'Joe Albany' in the gritty indie drama, "Low Down." His critically acclaimed performance as 'Teardrop' in "Winter's Bone" earned him an Independent Spirit Award win and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, along with nominations from the Screen Actors Guild and several film critics groups.

    Further film credits include "Everest," alongside Jake Gyllenhaal, Josh Brolin and Jason Clarke, indie ensemble "Driftless Area" and the modern noir "Too Late" plus Elmore Leonard's "Life of Crime," Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln," Steven Soderbergh's "Contagion" and the Sundance hit "Martha Marcy May Marlene," for which Hawkes received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He starred in "Me and You and Everyone We Know" which won a Special Jury Prize at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival as well as starring in and co-producing the independent film, "Buttleman" for which he received a Breakout Performance Award at the 2004 Sedona Film Festival. Earlier movie credits are "American Gangster," "Miami Vice," "Identity," "The Perfect Storm," "Hardball," "Wristcutters: A Love Story," "The Amateurs," "From Dusk Till Dawn," and "A Slipping-Down Life."

    Born and raised in rural Minnesota, Hawkes moved to Austin, Texas where he began his career as an actor and musician. He co-founded the Big State Productions theater company and appeared in the group's original play, "In the West" at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. He starred in the national touring company production of the play "Greater Tuna" including extended engagements in Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco. Hawkes wrote and performed the solo play "Nimrod Soul" at the Theatre at the Improv and appeared on Broadway in the "24 Hour Plays" alongside Sam Rockwell. He co-starred with Tracie Thoms in the Manhattan Theater Club's off-Broadway play, "Lost Lake." In addition, he's co-written script and songs for workshop performances of a new rock and roll musical entitled "Where's Cherry?"

    Hawkes has written and recorded several songs featured in films and television shows. Most recently he wrote an original song which he performs on-screen for "True Detective." Previously, he co-wrote a song with legendary producer T-Bone Burnett for "Peanut Butter Falcon." He also wrote and performed original songs for the film "Unlovable." His song 'Bred and Buttered' appears on the "Winter's Bone" soundtrack and he composed and performed 'Down with Mary' for "Too Late." With his former band, King Straggler, he performed at the Sundance Film Festival, SXSW Music Festival and numerous clubs across the U.S. Hawkes continues to write, record and perform shows in numerous locations, including of late in Reykjavik.

    Known For

    The Sessions
    The Sessions

    (2012)

    Winter's Bone
    Winter's Bone

    (2010)

    Martha Marcy May Marlene
    Martha Marcy May Marlene

    (2011)

    John Hawkes Movies

    actor

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    Upcoming (1)

    • 1970 |

      Scary Movie

      asWarren
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    Previous (48)

    • 2022 |
      Roving Womanas Gregory Milloy
    • 2019 |
      End of Sentenceas Frank Fogle
    • 2019 |

      The Peanut Butter Falcon

      asDuncan
    • 2018 |
      Unlovableas Jim
    • 2017 |
      Small Town Crimeas Mike Kendall
    • 2016 |

      Too Late

      asMel Sampson
    • 2015 |
      The Driftless Areaas Shane
    • 2015 |

      Everest

      asDoug Hansen
    • 2013 |
      The Pardonas Finnon 'Arkie' Burke
    • 2014 |
      Low Downas Joe Albany
    • 2013 |
      Life of Crimeas Louis Gara
    • 2012 |
      The Playroomas Martin Cantwell
    • 2012 |
      Arcadiaas Tom
    • 2012 |

      Lincoln

      asRobert Latham
    • 2012 |
      The Sessionsas Mark
    • 2011 |
      Higher Groundas CW Walker
    • 2011 |
      Martha Marcy May Marleneas Patrick
    • 2010 |
      Eve's Necklaceas William
    • 2010 |
      Everything Will Happen Before You Dieas Lane
    • 2010 |
      Small Town Saturday Nightas Donnie Carson
    • 2010 |
      Winter's Boneas Teardrop
    • 2009 |
      Earthworkas Stan Herd
    • 2009 |
      S. Darkoas Phil
    • 2007 |
      American Gangsteras Freddie Spearman
    • 2007 |

      American Gangster

      asFreddie Spearman
    • 2005 |
      The Amateursas Moe
    • 2005 |
      Me and You and Everyone We Knowas Richard Swersey
    • 2004 |
      Sweet Undergroundas Johnny
    • 1999 |
      A Slipping-Down Lifeas David Elliot
    • 2003 |
      Buttlemanas Harold Buttleman
    • 2003 |
      Identityas Larry
    • 2001 |
      Hardballas Ticky Tobin
    • 2000 |
      Sandas Hardy
    • 2000 |
      The Perfect Stormas Mike 'Bugsy' Moran
    • 2000 |

      The Perfect Storm

      asMike 'Bugsy' Moran
    • 1998 |
      Boogie Boyas T-Bone
    • 1998 |
      I Still Know What You Did Last Summeras Dave
    • 1998 |

      I Still Know What You Did Last Summer

      asDave
    • 1997 |

      Playing God

      asFlick
    • 1996 |
      Deep in the Heartas Mac
    • 1996 |

      From Dusk Till Dawn

      asPete Bottoms, Liquor Store Clerk
    • 1995 |
      Angry Cafeas Turtle
    • 1995 |
      Night of the Scarecrowas Danny
    • 1991 |
      Scary Movieas Warren
    • 1990 |
      Never Leave Nevadaas Christo Chevalier
    • 1989 |
      Rosalie Goes Shoppingas Schnucki Greenspace
    • 1988 |
      Dakotaas Rooster
    • 1988 |
      Murder Rapas Christopher