Ethan Hawke

Season 8, Episode 807

Original Airdate: April 21, 2002

Ethan Hawke was born on November 6, 1971 in Austin, Texas to teenage parents who split up shortly after he was born. When his mother remarried, the family moved to Princeton, New Jersey where Ethan began studying acting at the McCarter Theater.

His film debut came in 1985 when he appeared in a sci-fi thriller Explorers opposite River Phoenix. His breakout performance came 4 years later when he starred in Peter Weir's drama Dead Poets Society (1989). This coming-of-age drama was set at an elite private boy's school and starred Robin Williams, Robert Sean Leonard and Josh Charles. Subsequent roles included Dad (1989), Waterland (1992), A Midnight Clear (1992) and Ben Stiller's Reality Bites (1994).

In 1997, Hawke appeared in Gattaca, a sci-fi thriller co-starring Jude Law and Ethan's future wife, Uma Thurman. Other roles include The Newton Boys (1998), Great Expectations (1998), Joe the King (1999) and Hamlet (2000).

Also in 2000, Hawke co-starred with Denzel Washington in Antoine Fuqua's gritty drama Training Day. It's the story of a young cop training to become a member of LA's elite Narcotics Squad. The performance earned Hawke his first Oscar nomination as Best Supporting Actor.

In 2001, Hawke stepped behind the camera to direct his first feature Chelsea Walls. It's a look at life in a NY hotel for struggling artists. Hawke has also directed music videos and published his first novel The Hottest State in 1996. He and wife Uma Thurman have a son and a daughter.