Ethan Hawke

Ethan Hawke (also credited as Ethan Green Hawke) is an American screen artist known for emotionally precise performances and a career that spans acting, writing, and directing. Born on November 6, 1970, in Austin, Texas, he first reached movie audiences with his feature debut in the 1985 sci-fi adventure Explorers.

Hawke’s breakout arrived with the acclaimed drama Dead Poets Society, where he played Todd Anderson. He continued building momentum through the early 1990s before earning wider recognition in Reality Bites. His portrayal of Jesse in Richard Linklater’s romantic landmark Before Sunrise—and later Before Sunset—cemented him as a defining presence in modern character-driven cinema.

Equally at home in genre and prestige projects, Hawke starred in the sci-fi favorite Gattaca as Vincent Freeman and delivered a standout turn in Training Day as rookie cop Jake, a performance that brought major awards attention. His filmography also includes Snow Falling on Cedars, Lord of War, and The Phoenix Portal (archive footage).

Beyond the screen, Hawke has maintained a strong connection to theater, earned a Tony nomination, and expanded his creative reach by directing and publishing novels—underscoring a career defined by curiosity and craft.