Dead Poets Society Breakthrough: At 19, his role as shy Todd in Dead Poets Society (1989) made him a Gen-X icon and still his highest-grossing film ($235M)
Before Trilogy Legacy: Co-wrote and starred in Linklater’s Before Sunrise/Sunset/Midnight, earning two Oscar nods for screenplays with Julie Delpy
Secret Author Mode: Penned novels like The Hottest State (1996) and Rules for a Knight (2015), blending personal crises with medieval wisdom
Behind the Camera: Directed indie films (Chelsea Walls, Blaze) and documentaries (Seymour: An Introduction), showcasing his love for raw storytelling
Oscar-Nominated Versatility: Earned Best Supporting Actor nods for Training Day (2001) and Boyhood (2014) proving his range from villain to everyman
Broadway’s Favorite Rebel: Tony-nominated for The Coast of Utopia (2007), directed Sam Shepard plays, and revived True West with Paul Dano
Family & Humility Lessons: Married to Ryan Shawhughes, father of four kids roasted him for writing a book on humility: “They bust my balls!”
Creativity Guru: His viral TED Talk urges artists to “play the fool” and embrace failure — wisdom from 30+ years in film and literature
Future Projects & Legacy: From Marvel’s Moon Knight (2022) to directing HBO’s The Last Movie Stars (2022), Hawke remains Hollywood’s restless Renaissance man