Occupational Inheritance: NA
Social Class: father farmer
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Training: Began acting in Austin
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Film Debut: 1985; age 26
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Oscar Role: Winter’s Bone, 2010; age 51
Other Noms: No
Other Awards: Globe nomination
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Screen Image: character actor
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Death: NA
John Hawkes (born John Marvin Perkins; September 11, 1959) is recipient of two Independent Spirit Awards, and nominee for an Oscar and Golden Globe Award.
Hawkes is best known for his roles in the films Winter’s Bone (2010), 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).
Hawkes was born John Marvin Perkins in Alexandria, Minnesota, 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.
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 4 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 Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his performance in Winter’s Bone, as well as 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.
In 2012, the film The Sessions was considered one of the Sundance breakout hits of that year.[10] 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 April 2017, Ian McShane confirmed that David Milch has submitted a script for a two-hour Deadwood movie to HBO. Hawkes expressed interest in reprising his role as Sol Star. The film began production in October 2018, and premiered on May 31, 2019.