# John Hawkes (actor)

John Hawkes is an American actor. He is the recipient of two Independent Spirit Awards and has been nominated for an Academy Award, two Primetime Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award.
Hawkes is known for his roles in the films Winter's Bone (2010) and The Sessions (2012), for which he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama, respectively. Some of his other film credits include From Dusk till Dawn (1996), The Perfect Storm (2000), Me and You and Everyone We Know (2005), American Gangster (2007), Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011), Lincoln (2012) and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017). He has also appeared in many television series, notably Deadwood (2004–2006) and Eastbound & Down (2009–2013), as well as the fourth season of True Detective (2024).

## Early life

Hawkes is the son of Patricia Jeanne (née Olson) and Peter John "Pete" Perkins, a farmer of wheat, corn, hogs and cattle. He was raised in a "pastoral, small city... a midwest Scandinavian community." Hawkes graduated from Jefferson High School and moved to Austin, Texas, where he was a member of the bands Meat Joy, with Gretchen Phillips, and King Straggler, with fellow actors Rodney Eastman and Brentley Gore.

## Career

His first film role was in Future-Kill (1985), credited as John Perkins. He changed his stage name to John Hawkes because there was another actor named John Perkins.
Hawkes played the role of Greg Penticoff in season 1 of 24. From 2004 to 2006, Hawkes played merchant Sol Star on the HBO series Deadwood. He portrayed Dustin Powers, brother of protagonist Kenny Powers, on all four seasons of the HBO series Eastbound & Down, and played Lennon on ABC's Lost.
His other film roles include Me and You and Everyone We Know, The Perfect Storm, American Gangster, Wristcutters: A Love Story, Martha Marcy May Marlene, and Lincoln.
In 2011, he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Winter's Bone, as well as for a number of other awards, including the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role. He won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male. Also in 2011, Hawkes was honored with a Rising Star Award by the Texas Film Hall of Fame. Hawkes was offered the role of The Governor in AMC's horror-drama series The Walking Dead. He turned it down feeling he was not the right fit for the role. The role eventually went to David Morrissey.
In 2012, the film The Sessions was considered one of the Sundance breakout hits of that year. Hawkes received two prolonged standing ovations at the film's screening. It was praised by critics at the festival as "accessible, enjoyable, and light-hearted".
In 2016, it was announced that Hawkes would star in the Amazon pilot The Legend of Master Legend, which is based on the popular real-life superhero Master Legend.
Along with cast members, Hawkes expressed interest in reprising his role as Sol Star in a proposed Deadwood film. Deadwood: The Movie began production in October 2018, and premiered on May 31, 2019. Hawkes, along with virtually the entire series cast, took part in it.
Hawkes had a small role as a robber in the music video for the cover version of the song "Crying in the Rain" by A-ha in 1990.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1985 | Future-Kill | The Light Man | Credited as John Perkins |
| 1988 | Bar-B-Que Movie | Jerry | Short film |
| 1988 | D.O.A. | Sloane | |
| 1988 | Johnny Be Good | Pizza Boy #1 | |
| 1988 | Murder Rap | Christopher / Wiseman | |
| 1988 | It Takes Two | Thief #2 | |
| 1988 | Heartbreak Hotel | M.C. | |
| 1988 | Dakota | "Rooster" | |
| 1989 | Rosalie Goes Shopping | Schnucki Greenspace | |
| 1990 | Never Leave Nevada | Christo | |
| 1991 | Scary Movie | Warren | |
| 1993 | Freaked | "Cowboy" | |
| 1993 | Flesh and Bone | Groom | |
| 1995 | Congo | Bob Driscoll | |
| 1995 | Night of the Scarecrow | Danny Thompson | |
| 1995 | Angry Cafe | "Turtle" | |
| 1996 | From Dusk till Dawn | Pete Bottoms | |
| 1996 | Deep in the Heart | Mac | |
| 1997 | 'Til There Was You | Gawayne | |
| 1997 | Steel | Mugger | |
| 1997 | Playing God | Flick | |
| 1998 | Boogie Boy | "T-Bone" | |
| 1998 | Home Fries | Randy | |
| 1998 | Rush Hour | Stucky | |
| 1998 | Where's Marlowe? | Earl | |
| 1998 | I Still Know What You Did Last Summer | Dave | |
| 1999 | A Slipping-Down Life | David Elliot | |
| 1999 | Blue Streak | Eddie | |
| 2000 | The Perfect Storm | Mike "Bugsy" Moran | |
| 2000 | Sand | Hardy Briggs | |
| 2001 | The Orange Orange | Romeo | Short film |
| 2001 | Hardball | "Ticky" Tobin | |
| 2002 | Harold Buttleman, Daredevil Stuntman | Harold Buttleman | |
| 2003 | Identity | Larry Washington | |
| 2004 | Sweet Underground | Johnny | |
| 2005 | Me and You and Everyone We Know | Richard Swersey | |
| 2005 | The Amateurs | Moe | |
| 2006 | Wristcutters: A Love Story | Yan | |
| 2006 | Miami Vice | Alonzo Stevens | |
| 2007 | Welcome | Bill | Short film |
| 2007 | American Gangster | Freddie Spearman | Nominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture |
| 2008 | Dark Yellow | Man | Short film |
| 2008 | Miracle at St. Anna | Herb Redneck | |
| 2009 | Tender as Hellfire | French | Short film |
| 2009 | S. Darko | Phil | |
| 2009 | Path Lights | Bobby | Short film |
| 2009 | Earthwork | Stan Herd | Winner – Fargo Film Festival for Best Actor |
| 2009 | Wasteland | Daniel | Short film |
| 2010 | Winter's Bone | "Teardrop" Dolly | Detroit Film Critics Society Award for Best Ensemble Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Ensemble Performance Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor San Francisco Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor Santa Barbara International Film Festival – Virtuoso Award Nominated – Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated – Alliance of Women Film Journalists Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated – Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated – Detroit Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated – Indiana Film Critics Association for Best Supporting Actor Nominated – Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated – San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast Nominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role Nominated – Southeastern Film Critics Association Award for Best Ensemble Nominated – St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated – Utah Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated – Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated – Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor |
| 2010 | Everything Will Happen Before You Die | Lane | Also co-executive producer |
| 2010 | Small Town Saturday Night | Donnie Carson | |
| 2010 | Eve's Necklace | William | Voice |
| 2010 | On Holiday | Bill "Wild Bill" | |
| 2011 | Martha Marcy May Marlene | Patrick | Nominated – Alliance of Women Film Journalists Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated – Central Ohio Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated – Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Ensemble Performance Nominated – Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male Nominated – Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated – Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated – St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated – Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor |
| 2011 | Higher Ground | C.W. Walker | |
| 2011 | Contagion | Roger | Nominated – Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Ensemble Acting |
| 2012 | The Sessions | Mark O'Brien | Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead Sundance Film Festival Special Jury Prize for Ensemble Acting Nominated – AACTA International Award for Best Actor Nominated – Alliance of Women Film Journalists Award for Best Actor Nominated – Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor Nominated – Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor Nominated – Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor Nominated – Detroit Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama Nominated – Houston Film Critics Society for Best Actor Nominated – Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor Nominated – Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor Nominated – San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor Nominated – Satellite Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Nominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role Nominated – St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor Nominated – Utah Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor Nominated – Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor |
| 2012 | Arcadia | Tom | |
| 2012 | The Playroom | Martin Cantwell | |
| 2012 | Lincoln | Robert Latham | |
| 2013 | The Pardon | Finnon "Arkie" Burke | |
| 2013 | Life of Crime | Louis Gara | |
| 2013 | Resurrection Slope | John | Short film |
| 2013 | The Sleepy Man | Sleepy Man | Short film |
| 2014 | Low Down | Joe Albany | |
| 2015 | The Driftless Area | Shane Hall | |
| 2015 | Too Late | Mel Sampson | |
| 2015 | Everest | Doug Hansen | |
| 2017 | Small Town Crime | Mike Kendall | |
| 2017 | Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri | Charlie Hayes | Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Acting Ensemble Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture |
| 2017 | You Will Be Loved | Birdwatcher | Short film |
| 2018 | Unlovable | Jim | |
| 2019 | The Peanut Butter Falcon | Duncan | |
| 2019 | End of Sentence | Frank Fogle | |
| 2020 | Tomahawk | Him | Short film |
| 2021 | Water and Smoke | Marvin | Short film |
| 2022 | Roving Woman | Gregory Milloy | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1991 | Sweet Poison | Jimmy | Television film |
| 1991 | The Rape of Doctor Willis | Mateson | Television film |
| 1992 | Mann & Machine | Tommy Chartraw | Episode: "The Dating Game" |
| 1992 | Nails | Harvey Cassler | Television film |
| 1992 | Northern Exposure | Inspector Jason | Episode: "Do the Right Thing" |
| 1993 | The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. | Montana's Assistant | Episode: "Showdown" |
| 1994 | Wings | Mark, The Waiter | 2 episodes |
| 1994 | Roadracers | Nixer | Television film |
| 1994 | Cool and the Crazy | "Crazy" | Television film |
| 1994 | Dead Air | Morton | Television film |
| 1995 | The Marshal | Elton Johnson | Episode: "The Great Train Robbery" |
| 1995 | Touched by an Angel | Mason Cook | Episode: "Trust" |
| 1996 | Dangerous Minds | Evan | Episode: "Bad Apple" |
| 1996 | Promised Land | Jake | Episode: "A Leap of Faith" |
| 1996 | Millennium | Mike Bardale | Episode: "The Judge" |
| 1997 | The Big Easy | Bill "Wild Bill" | Episode: "The Fabulous Bill Brothers" |
| 1997 | Pacific Blue | Paul Brent | Episode: "Excessive Force" |
| 1997 | Nash Bridges | Vaughn Smith | Episode: "Lost and Found" |
| 1997 | ER | Production Assistant | Episode: "Ambush" |
| 1997 | Profit | Dr. Jeremy Batewell | Episode: "Chinese Box" |
| 1997 | The Naked Truth | Duane Baldwin | Episode: "He Ain't Famous, He's My Brother" |
| 1998 | The Crow: Stairway to Heaven | Jake Thompson | Episode: "Death Wish" |
| 1998 | Buffy the Vampire Slayer | George | Episode: "I Only Have Eyes for You" |
| 1998 | Fantasy Island | Arnie White | Episode: "Secret Self" |
| 1998 | Brimstone | Willy Graver | Episode: "Executioner" |
| 1999 | Martial Law | Jake Simms | Episode: "Substitutes" |
| 1999 | The X-Files | Phillip Padgett | Episode: "Milagro" |
| 1999 | Nathan Dixon | Russell Keach | Pilot |
| 2000 | The Practice | Stuart Donovan | 3 episodes |
| 2001 | Strange Frequency | Songwriter | Episode: "Cold Turkey" |
| 2001 | 24 | Greg Penticoff | 2 episodes |
| 2002 | Taken | Marty Erickson | 5 episodes |
| 2003 | Strange Frequency 2 | Jared | Television film |
| 2004–2006 | Deadwood | Sol Star | 36 episodes Nominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series |
| 2007 | Without a Trace | Terry Lee Wicker | Episode: "Where and Why" |
| 2007 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Terry Lee Wicker | Episode: "Who & What" |
| 2008 | Monk | Matthew Teeger | Episode: "Mr. Monk and the Three Julies" |
| 2009 | Psych | Rollins | Episode: "Shawn Takes a Shot in the Dark" |
| 2009–2013 | Eastbound & Down | Dustin Powers | 13 episodes |
| 2010 | Lost | Lennon | 3 episodes |
| 2012 | Outlaw Country | Tarzen Larkin | Television film |
| 2014 | How and Why | Goodman Hesselman | Pilot |
| 2015 | Inside Amy Schumer | Juror #8 | Episode: "12 Angry Men Inside Amy Schumer" |
| 2016 | Dr. Del | Del Canyon | Pilot |
| 2017 | The Legend of Master Legend | Frank Lafount/Master Legend | Pilot |
| 2019 | Deadwood: The Movie | Sol Star | Television film |
| 2019 | Too Old to Die Young | Viggo Larsen | 5 episodes |
| 2021 | Hit-Monkey | Eli (voice) | Episode: "Home Sweet Home" |
| 2024 | True Detective | Hank Prior | Season 4 main cast Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics |
| 2025 | Criminal | Sebastian Hyde | |