Ethan Hawke | Biography, Movies, TV Shows, Dead Poets Society, Books, & Facts | Britannica

Ethan Hawke: Biography and Career Highlights

Ethan Hawke, born November 6, 1970, in Austin, Texas, is an American actor, director, and novelist known for playing thoughtful and sensitive characters. Raised in New Jersey, he started acting in high school and made his film debut at 15 in Explorers (1985), portraying a teenager who builds a spaceship.

Early Life and Education

Hawke briefly attended Carnegie Mellon University in 1988 to study drama but left after a few months to pursue acting full-time. His breakout role came in Dead Poets Society (1989), where he played a prep school student alongside Robin Williams, who portrayed an inspiring English teacher. The film was critically acclaimed and helped launch Hawke’s career.

Notable Films

"The film, which also stars Robin Williams as a charismatic English teacher, was a critical success."

By the age of 25, Hawke had starred in 15 films, steadily building a diverse and respected body of work.

Summary

Ethan Hawke is a versatile artist known for his portrayals of introspective characters, with a career spanning film, directing, and writing.

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Britannica Britannica — 2025-11-02

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