Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Ethan Hawke
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Ethan Hawke made an impact.
Ethan Hawke is a versatile American actor, author, and film director known for his work in both mainstream and independent cinema. Spanning a career of over four decades, he has received critical acclaim and numerous awards, including a Daytime Emmy Award and nominations for multiple Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, a British Academy Film Award, and a Tony Award. Hawke's success extends to both stage and screen, establishing him as a prominent figure in the entertainment industry.
1985: Casting in Explorers
In 1985, Ethan Hawke attended his first casting call at age fourteen and was cast in Joe Dante's Explorers.
1988: Graduation and Volunteering
In 1988, Ethan Hawke graduated from The Hun School of Princeton. Around this time, Hawke volunteered with his mother's organization, the Alex Fund, a charity that supported educational opportunities for underprivileged children in Romania.
1989: Breakthrough Role in Dead Poets Society
In 1989, Ethan Hawke had his breakthrough role as a shy student in Peter Weir's Dead Poets Society. After filming Dead Poets Society, he auditioned for his next project, the comedy-drama Dad.
1989: Recognition in Dead Poets Society
In 1989, Hawke gained wider recognition for his role in Dead Poets Society.
1991: Co-founding Malaparte and Leading Role in White Fang
In 1991, Ethan Hawke co-founded Malaparte, a Manhattan-based theater company. Also in 1991, he had his first leading role in the film White Fang, an adaptation of Jack London's novel.
1992: Broadway Debut in The Seagull
In 1992, Ethan Hawke made his Broadway debut in Anton Chekhov's The Seagull.
1992: Roles in A Midnight Clear and The Seagull
In 1992, Ethan Hawke starred in A Midnight Clear and made his Broadway debut in The Seagull.
1993: Starring in Alive
In 1993, Ethan Hawke played Nando Parrado in the survival drama Alive, adapted from Piers Paul Read's non-fiction book.
1994: Directing Stay (I Missed You) music video
In 1994, Ethan Hawke directed the music video for Lisa Loeb's US Billboard Hot 100 number-one single "Stay (I Missed You)". Spin magazine named the video its Video of the Year.
1994: Role in Reality Bites
In 1994, Ethan Hawke starred in the Generation X drama Reality Bites.
1995: Appearance in Buried Child
In 1995, Ethan Hawke appeared in a production of Sam Shepard's Buried Child.
1995: Starring in Before Sunrise
In 1995, Ethan Hawke starred in Richard Linklater's Before Sunrise, the first installment of the Before film trilogy.
1995: First Before Trilogy Film
In 1995, Ethan Hawke starred in the first film of the Before trilogy, Before Sunrise, directed by Richard Linklater.
1996: Publication of The Hottest State
In 1996, Ethan Hawke published his first novel, titled The Hottest State.
1997: Role in Gattaca
In 1997, Ethan Hawke starred in Andrew Niccol's science fiction film Gattaca.
1998: Collaboration with Robert De Niro on Great Expectations
In 1998, Ethan Hawke collaborated with Robert De Niro on "Great Expectations". He admired De Niro's work ethic during filming.
1998: Roles in Great Expectations and The Newton Boys
In 1998, Ethan Hawke starred in Great Expectations, and collaborated with Linklater on The Newton Boys.
1998: Leading Role in Great Expectations
In 1998, Hawke played a leading role in Alfonso Cuarón's Great Expectations.
1999: Starring in Camino Real and Snow Falling on Cedars
In 1999, Ethan Hawke starred in the play Camino Real and in the film Snow Falling on Cedars.
2000: Starring in Hamlet
In 2000, Ethan Hawke starred in Michael Almereyda's Hamlet, set in contemporary New York City.
2000: Malaparte Shuts Down
In 2000, Malaparte, the Manhattan-based theater company co-founded by Ethan Hawke, closed.
2000: Preparation for Daybreakers Role
In 2009, Ethan Hawke prepared for his role in the movie "Daybreakers", studying previous vampire performances like Willem Dafoe's portrayal in "Shadow of the Vampire" from 2000.
2001: Roles in Waking Life, Tape, and Training Day
In 2001, Ethan Hawke appeared in Waking Life and Tape, and starred in Training Day, earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
2001: Co-founding the Young Lions Fiction Award
In 2001, Ethan Hawke co-founded the Young Lions Fiction Award, an annual prize recognizing outstanding fiction by writers under 35.
2001: Academy Award Nomination for Training Day
In 2001, Ethan Hawke earned a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Training Day.
2001: Filming Training Day with Denzel Washington
In 2001, Ethan Hawke filmed "Training Day" with Denzel Washington, whom he later called the greatest actor of their generation. He admired Washington's work ethic.
2001: Directorial Debut with Chelsea Walls
In 2001, Ethan Hawke made his directorial debut with the film Chelsea Walls.
2002: Directorial Debut and Second Novel
In 2002, Ethan Hawke made his directorial debut with Chelsea Walls and published his second novel, Ash Wednesday.
2003: Return to Broadway in Henry IV
In 2003, Ethan Hawke returned to Broadway, playing Henry Percy (Hotspur) in Jack O'Brien's production of Henry IV.
2004: Release of "Taking Lives" and "Before Sunset"
In 2004, Ethan Hawke starred in two films: the psychological thriller "Taking Lives", where he played a serial killer, and "Before Sunset", the second film in the Before trilogy, which he co-wrote with Richard Linklater and Julie Delpy. "Taking Lives" received negative reviews, but Hawke's performance was praised. "Before Sunset" was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.
2005: Starring in "Assault on Precinct 13"
In 2005, Ethan Hawke starred in the action thriller "Assault on Precinct 13", a remake of John Carpenter's 1976 film. Hawke played a police sergeant who defends a precinct from corrupt cops. While the film received mixed reviews, Hawke's performance was generally praised.
November 2006: Starring in The Coast of Utopia
In November 2006, Ethan Hawke began starring as Mikhail Bakunin in Tom Stoppard's trilogy play, "The Coast of Utopia", at the Lincoln Center Theater in New York.
2006: Inspiration from David Bowie in The Prestige
In 2006, David Bowie's portrayal of Nikola Tesla in the movie "The Prestige" inspired Ethan Hawke for his role as Nikola Tesla in the 2020 film Tesla.
2006: Directing The Hottest State
In 2006, Ethan Hawke directed the narrative film The Hottest State.
May 2007: Tony Award Nomination for The Coast of Utopia
In May 2007, Ethan Hawke concluded his run in "The Coast of Utopia" and earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performance.
November 2007: Directing "Things We Want"
In November 2007, Ethan Hawke directed "Things We Want", a play by Jonathan Marc Sherman, for The New Group. His direction was praised for its understatement.
2007: Starring in "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead"
In 2007, Ethan Hawke starred in Sidney Lumet's crime drama "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead", playing the younger brother who gets involved in a bank robbery scheme. Hawke prepared for his role by working closely with Lumet. His performance was praised by critics.
2007: Tony Award Nomination for The Coast of Utopia
In 2007, Ethan Hawke was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performance in Tom Stoppard's The Coast of Utopia.
2008: Starring in "What Doesn't Kill You"
In 2008, Ethan Hawke starred in Brian Goodman's crime drama "What Doesn't Kill You", playing a childhood friend involved in crime. His performance was considered a "personal best" by some critics.
2009: Appearances in "New York, I Love You" and "Staten Island"
In 2009, Ethan Hawke appeared in two features: "New York, I Love You", a romance film comprising short films, and "Staten Island", a crime drama.
2009: Starring in "Daybreakers" and "Brooklyn's Finest"
In 2009, Ethan Hawke starred in the science fiction horror film "Daybreakers" as a vampire hematologist, and in Antoine Fuqua's "Brooklyn's Finest" as a corrupt narcotics officer.
2009: Juliet, Naked novel release
In 2018, Ethan Hawke starred in "Juliet, Naked", a romantic comedy adapted from Nick Hornby's 2009 novel of the same name.
January 2010: Directing "A Lie of the Mind"
In January 2010, Ethan Hawke directed Sam Shepard's "A Lie of the Mind" on the New York stage, marking the first major off-Broadway revival since 1985. The production was praised for its clarity and earned Hawke a Drama Desk Award nomination.
November 2010: Named a Library Lion by the New York Public Library
In November 2010, Ethan Hawke was named a Library Lion by the New York Public Library.
2010: Release of Brooklyn's Finest in the US
In 2010, "Brooklyn's Finest", starring Ethan Hawke, was released in the US, opening to mediocre reception, though his performance garnered praise.
2010: Drama Desk Award Nomination
In 2010, Ethan Hawke was nominated for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Play for directing Sam Shepard's A Lie of the Mind.
March 2011: Supporting Same-Sex Marriage in New York
In March 2011, Ethan Hawke and his wife released a video supporting same-sex marriage in New York.
2011: Starring in "Moby-Dick" and "The Woman in the Fifth"
In 2011, Ethan Hawke played Starbuck in the television adaptation of "Moby-Dick" and starred in "The Woman in the Fifth" opposite Kristin Scott Thomas.
2012: Commercial Success with Sinister
In 2012, Ethan Hawke achieved commercial success starring in the film Sinister.
2012: Starring in "Sinister"
In 2012, Ethan Hawke appeared in the horror film "Sinister", playing a true crime writer. He had been hesitant about horror films previously, but was drawn to the script and the involvement of producer Jason Blum.
2013: Starring in The Purge
In 2013, Ethan Hawke achieved commercial success starring in the film The Purge.
2013: Starring in "Getaway" and "Macbeth"
In 2013, Ethan Hawke prepared for "Getaway" by attending driving school. He also played the title role in "Macbeth" on Broadway, which received negative reviews.
2013: Starring in "Before Midnight" and "The Purge", Directing "Clive"
In 2013, Ethan Hawke reunited with Richard Linklater and Julie Delpy for "Before Midnight", which earned him another Academy Award nomination. He also starred in the horror-thriller "The Purge" and directed the play "Clive".
2013: Before Midnight Released
In 2013, Ethan Hawke starred in the third film of the Before trilogy, Before Midnight. He earned a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for his writing in this movie.
2014: Directing Seymour: An Introduction
In 2014, Ethan Hawke directed the documentary Seymour: An Introduction.
2014: Reunion with Directors and Documentary Debut
In 2014, Ethan Hawke reunited with the Spierig brothers for "Predestination" and Andrew Niccol for "Good Kill". He also made his documentary debut with "Seymour: An Introduction", which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.
2014: Boyhood Nomination
In 2014, Hawke starred in Linklater's coming-of-age drama Boyhood, earning nominations for the Academy Award and BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor.
2014: Release of "Boyhood"
In mid-2014, Richard Linklater's "Boyhood", starring Ethan Hawke, was released to widespread acclaim. Hawke portrayed the father in the film and earned several award nominations for his performance.
November 2015: Publication of "Rules for a Knight"
In November 2015, Ethan Hawke published his third book, "Rules for a Knight", written as a letter to his children reflecting on moral values.
May 2016: Joining the Board of Trustees of the New York Public Library
In May 2016, Ethan Hawke joined the board of trustees of the New York Public Library.
November 2016: Running the New York City Marathon for the Doe Fund
In November 2016, Ethan Hawke and his wife, Ryan, ran the New York City Marathon to support the Doe Fund, a non-profit organization.
2016: Roles in "The Phenom", "Maudie", and "The Magnificent Seven"
In 2016, Ethan Hawke played roles in "The Phenom", "Maudie", and "The Magnificent Seven". He also narrated the interactive short film "Invasion!" and released his fourth book, "Indeh: A Story of the Apache Wars."
2016: Starring in The Magnificent Seven and Maudie
In 2016, Ethan Hawke starred in The Magnificent Seven, achieving commercial success, and received critical acclaim for his role in Maudie.
2017: Critical Acclaim for First Reformed
In 2017, Ethan Hawke received critical acclaim for his role in First Reformed.
2017: Starring in "First Reformed"
In 2017, Ethan Hawke starred in Paul Schrader's drama "First Reformed" as a tormented chaplain. His performance was highly praised by critics.
December 27, 2018: Previews for True West Begin
On December 27, 2018, Ethan Hawke began previews for the revival of Sam Shepard's "True West" on Broadway, where he co-starred with Paul Dano.
2018: Premieres at Sundance Film Festival
In 2018, Ethan Hawke had two films premiere at the Sundance Film Festival: "Juliet, Naked" and "Blaze", which he directed.
January 2019: True West Opens on Broadway
In January 2019, Ethan Hawke co-starred with Paul Dano in the revival of Sam Shepard's "True West" on Broadway. The production, which began previews in December 2018, was named a Critic's Pick by The New York Times and closed two months later.
2019: Starring in The Kid
In 2019, Ethan Hawke starred in Vincent D'Onofrio's western drama "The Kid", portraying a sheriff hunting Billy the Kid. Critics noted his performance allowed his co-star room to grow, but also found his stoicism failed to convey much of an inner life.
October 2020: The Good Lord Bird Premieres
In October 2020, the miniseries "The Good Lord Bird", adapted by Ethan Hawke and Jason Blum from the novel of the same name, premiered on Showtime. Hawke's role as abolitionist John Brown later earned him a Golden Globe nomination.
2020: Portrayal of Nikola Tesla in Tesla
In 2020, Ethan Hawke portrayed Nikola Tesla in the biographical drama film "Tesla". Hawke drew inspiration from Tesla's writings and David Bowie's portrayal of Tesla in "The Prestige" (2006) for the role.
2020: Starring in The Good Lord Bird
In 2020, Ethan Hawke portrayed abolitionist John Brown in the miniseries The Good Lord Bird, for which he received a Golden Globe nomination.
February 2021: A Bright Ray of Darkness Published
In February 2021, Ethan Hawke published his third novel and fifth book, titled "A Bright Ray of Darkness".
2021: Starring in The Black Phone
In 2021, Ethan Hawke achieved commercial success starring in the film The Black Phone.
2022: Directing The Last Movie Stars
In 2022, Ethan Hawke directed the documentary series The Last Movie Stars.
2022: Starring in Moon Knight
In 2022, Ethan Hawke starred as Arthur Harrow in the Disney+ series "Moon Knight" produced by Marvel Studios.
2022: The Last Movie Stars Broadcast on HBO Max
In 2022, Ethan Hawke's six-part biographical documentary about Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, "The Last Movie Stars", was broadcast on HBO Max.
2025: Starring as Lorenz Hart in Blue Moon
In 2025, Ethan Hawke portrayed songwriter Lorenz Hart in Linklater's biopic "Blue Moon", reflecting on himself on the opening night of the musical Oklahoma!. His performance was critically acclaimed.
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