How much is Ethan Hawke worth?
| Net Worth: | $50 Million |
|---|---|
| Profession: | Professional Actor |
| Date of Birth: | November 6, 1970 (age 52) |
| Country: | United States of America |
| Height: | 5 ft 10 in (1.79 m) |
About Ethan Hawke
Ethan Hawke is perhaps best known for one of his earliest movie roles in the big screen hit Dead Poet’s Society, but also credited with many subsequent movie roles as well as an extensive record in theater and some television roles. Born in 1970 in Austin, Texas, Hawke in his early childhood was subjected to numerous relocations due to his parents’ divorce when he was four years old. Eventually, he and his mother would find their way to New York City, and by the time he was ten, his mother remarried and the new family settled in nearby New Jersey.
While in his teens, Hawke had ambitions to become a writer. But after participating in a handful of theater productions, he realized he was more interested in acting. At 14, he landed a part in a movie called Explorers, which also starred a young River Phoenix, who happened to be making his first film as well. Explorers was not received well at the box office, and for a short time Hawke became disillusioned with the profession.
While studying acting at prestigious Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Hawke in 1989 found himself cast in a movie with Robin Williams called Dead Poet’s Society. The film centered around the arrival of a new teacher at a prep school he had also happened to attend himself as a teenager. Hawke played one of his students, one of the shyest and reserved teens in the classroom. The moral of the story was essentially “seize the day”, and Hawke’s character became the center of attention in his unwillingness to come out of his shell and express himself. Ethan was tailor made for the part with his good looks and naturally unassuming and reserved appearance. In its time, the movie was unconventional, but the story and performances were so undeniably good that the movie became a huge success, earning $235 million after its June, 1989 release. The film won an Oscar for “Best Screenplay”, and the ensemble cast- many the same age as Hawke- became the benefactors of acting roles based on the success of the film.
As of the latest estimates, actor Ethan Hawke is worth approximately $50 million. How did he amass all that wealth? In the wake of Dead Poet’s Society, Hawke performance had made such an indelible impression on movie goers and casting directors that he quickly became a sought after commodity in Hollywood. At just 20 years old, Hawke found himself besieged with scripts and job offers. His babyface appeal was perfect for a new generation of movie fans who were looking for a bit more substance to the content they consumed. Hawke was poised to take advantage of his newfound success, and it was his generation-Generation X-that was in his corner, as he was, after all, one of them.
Hawke chose his roles wisely, choosing what he believed were high quality scripts in a bid to be taken as a serious actor. He did not disappoint. Over the next couple of years, he was cast with Jack Lemmon and Ted Danson in Dad, Seymour Cassel in White Fang, and the blockbuster hit Alive, the true story of the Uruguayan soccer team that survived a plane crash, only to be forced into cannibalism to survive in the dead of winter. The three movies combined made an impressive $150 million. But equally as important, it launched Hawke’s career to a level where he could start commanding top dollar for his being cast in movie productions.
Hawke continued to make sound career choices in films to make. Reality Bites was an aforementioned Gen X offering. Before Sunrise and Snow Falling on Cedars solidified his status as a serious actor who was unafraid to step out of his comfort zone. Throughout his career, Ethan has also been sure to make time to keep his skills sharp by doing live theater, with more than 15 productions to his name.
Despite all his success, Hawke has never shied away from taking on new material and being willing to put on new hats. He’s also written scripts and directed movies. Despite having yet to win, he’s been nominated four times for Oscars and twice for Golden Globes. Whether he’s playing a lead role or working within an ensemble, Hawke has made it top priority to deliver the highest quality of performance. After thirty plus years in the game, he’s also managed to age and mature very well into roles where some with less talent would have been forgotten. His work has certainly matured from the shy kid in Dead Poet’s Society, and as the world of film has changed over time, he has adapted with it.
I would be remiss not to mention Hawke’s philanthropy over the years. For over two decades, he has championed aspiring fiction writers in the form of his own co-founded Young Lions Fiction Award.
His litany of film credits has afforded Hawke a generous income, and his real estate holdings reflect his wealth. A Brooklyn, New York purchase of a $3.9 million home is one of numerous transactions that he has made.
Summing-Up
Ethan Hawke is a long celebrated actor and director who got his big break in the movie Dead Poet’s Society. Since the 1989 film, Hawke has painstakingly crafted a resume that has kept him ahead of the game while building upon his past success. His career arc, interestingly enough, can be compared to his character Todd Anderson in DPS…a timid and unassuming young man who transforms before our eyes into a man who understands his own gifts and talent while consistently making sure to maintain the standard that brought him to this point. It stands to reason that Hawke’s next act will reveal the wisdom of middle age while sacrificing nothing of the original charm and innocence that endeared him to so many of us all those many years ago.
