Ethan Hawke

Ethan Hawke Profile Photo

Characters played by Ethan Hawke

Jake — Training Day (2001)

Young ambitious LAPD officer undergoing a dangerous one-day evaluation with Alonzo.

Todd Anderson — Dead Poets Society (1989)

An initially shy junior assigned Neil as his roommate. Keating's guidance helps him write a spontaneous poem. He reluctantly signs a false blame letter under parental pressure, later confesses the truth to Keating, and initiates a desk-standing tribute as the teacher leaves.

Ellison Oswalt — Sinister (2012)

Ambitious true-crime author who discovers cursed home movies.

Clay Sandford — Leave the World Behind (2023)

The Sandford father who attempts to maintain normalcy and rationality during the escalating crisis. He hosts G.H. and Ruth, ventures into town to investigate the blackout, witnesses the breakdown of civil order, and mediates a tense standoff with Danny. He gradually accepts the severity of the impending societal collapse.

John Brown — The Good Lord Bird (2020)

Leader of an abolitionist crew during Bleeding Kansas and the 1859 Harpers Ferry raid. A complex, philosophically challenging figure who sacrificed his life and his sons' lives for Black freedom, ultimately sparking the American Civil War.

Goodnight Robicheaux — The Magnificent Seven (2016)

A former Confederate sharpshooter haunted by past violence. He initially leaves before the battle but returns to warn the group of an incoming Gatling gun. He is killed by the weapon while covering Faraday's charge, later buried as a hero.

Efficient Man — Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)

Island staff member handling logistics.

James Sandin — The Purge (2013)

Ethan Green Hawke (born November 6, 1970) is an American actor, writer and director. He made his feature film debut in 1985 with the science fiction movie Explorers, before making a supporting appearance in the 1989 drama Dead Poets Society which is considered his breakthrough role. He then appeared in such films as White Fang (1991), A Midnight Clear (1992), and Alive (1993) before taking a role in the 1994 Generation X drama Reality Bites, for which he gained critical acclaim. In 1995, he starred in the romantic drama Before Sunrise, and later in its sequel Before Sunset (2004). In 2001, Hawke was cast as a rookie police officer in Training Day, for which he received a Screen Actors Guild and Academy Award nomination in the Best Supporting Actor category. Other films have included the science fiction feature Gattaca (1997), the title role in Michael Almereyda's Hamlet (2000), the action thriller Assault on Precinct 13 (2005), and the crime drama Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007). Hawke has appeared in many theater productions including The Seagull, Henry IV, Hurlyburly, The Cherry Orchard, The Winter's Tale and The Coast of Utopia, for which he earned a Tony Award nomination. He made his directorial debut with the 2002 independent feature Chelsea Walls. In November 2007 Hawke directed his first play, Jonathan Marc Sherman's Things We Want. Aside from acting, he has written two novels, The Hottest State (1996) and Ash Wednesday (2002). Between 1998 and 2004, Hawke was married to actress Uma Thurman.

Vincent Freeman — Gattaca (1997)

Vincent Freeman is the naturally conceived protagonist, classified as an in-valid because his genetic profile predicts serious disorders and a short life. He disguises himself as Jerome Eugene Morrow to join Gattaca, pursue space travel, survive the murder investigation, and prove to Adult Anton Freeman that determination can overcome genetic prejudice.

The Grabber — Black Phone 2 (2025)

Terrifying serial kidnapper and murderer haunting the suburban neighborhood.

Jack Valentine — Lord of War (2005)

Dedicated Interpol agent pursuing Yuri with unwavering moral integrity

King Aurvandil War-Raven — The Northman (2022)

King Aurvandill War-Raven is the ruler of Hrafnsey, Gudrún’s husband, and Amleth’s father. He returns from war to prepare his son for succession and participates in a ritual meant to teach him about destiny. Fjölnir’s coup ends his life and establishes the vengeance that governs Amleth’s later actions.

Career Overview

Ethan Hawke has 178 screen credits in a career dating back to 1985. Their work spans 13 cinematic universes — most prominently Before Trilogy with 3 titles. Signature works include Training Day, Batwheels, The Lowdown. Explore the interactive character relationship maps on each title page to trace how their roles connect across franchises.

Personal Facts

Known For
Acting
Gender
male
Known Credits
178
Birth Date
1970-11-06
Birth Place
Austin, Texas, USA

Known For

Associated Universes

Universe traveler — spans 13 universes

Frequent Collaborators

Credits

Content sources

Related entry on Wikidata (Q484615), public domain (CC0).