Some in Hollywood Once Found It 'Irritating,' But Ethan Hawke Refuses to Be Typecast
As a young actor, Ethan Hawke’s drive for diverse roles sometimes caused friction. This fall, his commitment to "shaking it up" has resulted in significant parts in The Lowdown, Blue Moon, and Black Phone 2.
Ethan Hawke has built a career full of surprises. Throughout his prolific journey, he has moved seamlessly between prestige drama, quirky comedy, and intense horror, tackling each role with dedication.
Unlikely Convergence of Projects
This year stands out with a rare combination of roles. In Richard Linklater’s Blue Moon, Hawke portrays real-life songwriter Lorenz Hart, a complex and contradictory figure. On the FX series The Lowdown, created by his friend Sterlin Harjo, he plays Lee Raybon, a reckless journalist. Meanwhile, in Black Phone 2, he takes on the chilling role of a serial killer tormenting children from beyond the grave.
“It makes you believe in astrology or something,” Hawke said over Zoom from New York City. “All these disparate parts of my life are being released at the same time. I’ve been so worried about this whole aging process. But the great thing about it is that the roles get a lot more complicated. They get fewer, but the ones you get are complicated and interesting. I feel astonished to have been doing this job for 30 years and have two of the best parts I’ve ever had this year.”
It's especially notable given that Hawke has been planning to portray Lorenz Hart for over a decade.
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