Corey Hawkins

Corey Antonio Hawkins (born October 22, 1988) is an American actor. He rose to prominence for his role in the TV series The Walking Dead (2015–2016), as well as his portrayal of Dr. Dre in the 2015 film Straight Outta Compton, the latter of which earned him a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination. He's also known for his performances on Broadway starring in Six Degrees of Separation (2017) and Topdog/Underdog (2022), both of which earned him nominations for the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play.

Corey Hawkins
Hawkins in 2016
Born
Corey Antonio Hawkins

(1988-10-22) October 22, 1988 (age 35)
EducationJuilliard School (BFA)
OccupationActor
Years active2011–present

That same year, Hawkins starred in the Fox network series 24: Legacy (2017), along with Jordan Vogt-Roberts' monster film Kong: Skull Island. In 2018, he was featured in Spike Lee's biographical crime-comedy BlacKkKlansman, which earned him a nomination for a Screen Actors Guild Award. Hawkins received a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award, for his portrayal of Paul in the Quibi series Survive (2020).

His other roles include Michael Bay's action-comedy 6 Underground (2019), Jon M. Chu's musical film In the Heights (2021), and Joel Coen's 2021 historical thriller film The Tragedy of Macbeth. He starred in the 2023 film adaptation of The Color Purple.

Life and career

Hawkins was born in Washington, D.C., where he was raised by his mother, a police officer.[1] He attended the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, and graduated from the Juilliard School in New York City, a member of the drama division's "Group 40".[2] While studying at Juilliard, Hawkins received the prestigious John Houseman Award for excellence in classical theatre.[3] Upon graduation, he began a career starring Off-Broadway[4] and guest-starring on television. Hawkins garnered a brief role in Marvel Studios' Iron Man 3 and went on to star opposite Liam Neeson and Julianne Moore in Universal Pictures' action-thriller Non-Stop.[5]

In 2013, Hawkins made his Broadway debut as Tybalt in the revival of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, acting alongside Orlando Bloom and Geoffrey Owens. In 2015, The Hollywood Reporter announced that Hawkins would join the cast of AMC's The Walking Dead as Heath, a key character from Robert Kirkman's comic series.[6] Hawkins played Dr. Dre in the biopic Straight Outta Compton, from Universal Pictures, which was theatrically released on August 14, 2015,[7] and grossed $201 million at the box office.

In 2017, Hawkins began playing a lead role in the 24 reboot 24: Legacy on Fox.[8] Also that year, he co-starred in the film Kong: Skull Island,[9] alongside Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson and Tom Hiddleston.[10] In spring 2017, Hawkins played a limited-engagement run on Broadway in the play Six Degrees of Separation opposite Allison Janney and John Benjamin Hickey.[11] He received a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play.[12]

Hawkins performed "God Bless America" for the men's singles final at the 2017 U.S. Open.[13] In January of 2024, it was announced that Hawkins would replace Jonathan Majors for The Man In My Basement.[14]

Filmography

Film

Key
Denotes works that have not yet been released
YearTitleRoleNotes
2011Digital AntiquitiesKaiShort film
2012AllegianceWillie
2013Iron Man 3Navy Op
2014Non-StopTravis Mitchell
Romeo and JulietTybaltFilmed live performance
2015Straight Outta ComptonAndre "Dr. Dre" Young
2017Kong: Skull IslandHouston Brooks
2018BlacKkKlansmanStokely Carmichael
2019GeorgetownDaniel Volker
6 UndergroundBlaine / Seven
2021In the HeightsBenny
The Tragedy of MacbethMacduff
2023The Last Voyage of the DemeterClemens
The Color PurpleHarpo Johnson
TBAThe Piano LessonAvery BrownPost-production
The Man In My BasementCharles BlakeyPost-production

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2011Royal PainsBusboyEpisode: "The Shaw/Hank Redemption"
2013Golden BoyEvanderEpisode: "Young Guns"
2015–2016The Walking DeadHeathRecurring role (seasons 6-7)
201724: LegacyEric CarterMain role
2020SurvivePaulMain role

Theater

YearTitleRoleStage
2011Hurt VillageBuggySignature Theatre Company
2011Suicide IncPerryRoundabout Theatre Company
2013Romeo and JulietTybaltRichard Rodgers Theatre
2017Six Degrees of SeparationPaulEthel Barrymore Theatre
2022–23Topdog/UnderdogLincolnJohn Golden Theatre

Awards and nominations

AssociationYearCategoryProjectResultRef.
African-American Film Critics Association Awards2015Best EnsembleStraight Outta ComptonWon[15]
2024The Color PurpleWon[16]
Astra Film and Creative Awards2024Best Cast EnsembleThe Color PurpleWon[17]
Black Reel Award2016Best Supporting ActorStraight Outta ComptonNominated[18]
Celebration of Cinema and TelevisionDecember 4, 2023Ensemble Award – FilmThe Color PurpleWon[19]
Critics' Choice Movie Award2016Best Acting EnsembleStraight Outta ComptonNominated[20]
2024The Color PurpleNominated[21]
Florida Film Critics Circle2016Best EnsembleStraight Outta ComptonNominated[22]
Georgia Film Critics Association Awards2024Best EnsembleThe Color PurpleNominated[23]
[24]
Hollywood Film Awards2015Breakout Ensemble AwardStraight Outta ComptonWon[25]
NAACP Image Award2015Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion PictureStraight Outta ComptonNominated[26]
2024The Color PurpleNominated[27]
Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion PictureWon
Primetime Emmy Award2020Outstanding Actor in a Short Form SeriesSurviveNominated[28]
San Diego Film Critics Society2016Best EnsembleStraight Outta ComptonNominated
Screen Actors Guild Award2015Outstanding Cast in a Motion PictureStraight Outta ComptonNominated[29]
2018BlacKkKlansmanNominated[30]
2024The Color PurpleNominated[31]
Tony Award2017Best Actor in a PlaySix Degrees of SeparationNominated[32]
2023Topdog/UnderdogNominated[33]
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association2015Best EnsembleStraight Outta ComptonNominated

References