Trivia

Does not have any formal Acting training and never attended Drama school.

Got his first major starring role as Sol in Deadwood (2004) at 45 years old.

As of 2018, he has been in 3 films that were Oscar nominated for Best Picture: Winter's Bone (2010), Lincoln (2012), and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017).

Turned down the role of The Governor in the television series The Walking Dead (2010).

Inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame on March 10, 2011 in Austin, TX.

In an interview in Fade In magazine, Hawkes revealed that while hitch-hiking around America, he would play various characters when he was getting a ride.

When Hawkes was cast as Sol Star, a Jewish merchant, on Deadwood (2004), he frankly told the show's creator, David Milch, upon their first meeting, that there was one catch: "I'm not Jewish". "David asked me, 'Have you ever felt shame or sadness or ostracized?' I said, 'Every day.' And David said, 'Then you're Jewish.'".

Cites Robert Duvall as the actor he most admires.

Graduate of Jefferson High School (Alexandria, Minnesota), 1977.

He has English, Irish, Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish ancestry.

Was previously in the bands Meat Joy and King Straggler, and is now working on a solo album.