John Hawkes

For his outstanding portrayal of real life poet, Mark O'Brien in THE SESSIONS, John Hawkes won Best Actor from the Independent Spirit Awards and was nominated for a Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award as well. Rolling Stone critic Peter Travers stated, "John Hawkes does the kind of acting that awards were invented for in this exhilarating gift of a movie that's funny, touching and vital." The film won the Audience Award and a Special Jury Prize for the Ensemble Cast at Sundance.

Having completed production on the Elmore Leonard feature, LIFE OF CRIME, Hawkes has been working non-stop since his critically acclaimed performance as 'Teardrop' in WINTER'S BONE. That role earned him an Independent Spirit Award win and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, along with nominations from the Screen Actors Guild and several film critic groups. Other film credits include Steven Spielberg's LINCOLN, ARCADIA, THE PLAYGROUND, HIGHER GROUND, Steven Soderbergh's CONTAGION and the Sundance hit MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE, for which Hawkes received an Indie Spirit Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Hawkes previously starred in ME AND YOU AND EVERYONE WE KNOW which won a Special Jury Prize at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival. He also starred in and co-produced the independent film, BUTTLEMAN for which he received a Breakout Performance Award at the 2004 Sedona Film Festival. Additional credits include AMERICAN GANGSTER, MIAMI VICE, IDENTITY, THE PERFECT STORM, SMALL TOWN SATURDAY NIGHT, HARDBALL, WRISTCUTTERS: A LOVE STORY, THE AMATEURS, FROM DUSK TILL DAWN, and A SLIPPING-DOWN LIFE.

On television, Hawkes has starred in two acclaimed series for HBO. He portrayed 'Sol Star' in the critically lauded drama "Deadwood" and Danny McBride's brother 'Dustin' in the comedy "Eastbound and Down."

Born and raised in rural Minnesota, Hawkes moved to Austin, Texas where he began his career as an actor and musician. He co-founded the Big State Productions theater company and appeared in the group's original play, "In the West" at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. He also starred in the national touring company production of the play "Greater Tuna" including extended engagements in Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco. Hawkes wrote and performed the solo play "Nimrod Soul" at the Theatre at the Improv and appeared on Broadway in the "24 Hour Plays" alongside Sam Rockwell.

Hawkes has penned several songs featured in films and television shows. His song 'Bred and Buttered' appears on the WINTER'S BONE soundtrack. With his band King Straggler he performed at the Sundance Film Festival, SXSW Music Festival and numerous clubs across the U.S.

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