Ethan Hawke’s resilient artist journey began with a defining setback: his very first lead role as a young teenager in Joe Dante’s sci-fi adventure comedy, The Explorers, came with high hopes but failed to connect with audiences, marking it a box office disappointment. Despite the discouragement, Hawke’s experience on this film, coupled with the emotional fallout that followed, became the catalyst for his relentless pursuit of growth and authenticity in his acting career. The actor, 55, reflected candidly on his formative years during a recent conversation, describing the weight of the film’s lack of success and the lessons he carried forward from that time.
He shared,
In 1984, I made The Explorers and so in the year following that, was kind of difficult,
—Ethan Hawke. The sense of winning a “childhood lottery” by starring in a Hollywood movie was quickly tempered when Hawke returned to his suburban upbringing only to see his “dream of being an actor” questioned after the film’s commercial failure. Instead of stalling his ambitions, these early hardships built the foundation for Hawke’s creative resilience.
Hawke’s perseverance during these challenging years set him apart from many young actors. He revealed the emotional struggle as he navigated rejection at 15, stating,
It was very hard for me to… I loved Joe Dante so much. It was very hard for me not to feel like that was my fault. That this kind of childhood dream of being an actor wasn’t going to happen. And I had to find something else to do, which is very common. A lot of kids that want to be actors and then it doesn’t work out and they have to find something. That’s very common. And I wanted to be ready for that. And so 1985, I was 15 thinking that I’d proven myself a loser at acting.
—Ethan Hawke
Remarkably, Hawke sees purpose in those difficulties:
I don’t know what I’d say to that kid. It’s not like I would say don’t feel those feelings. Those are very helpful to me. Everything I learned in that experience was really, really helpful and prepared me to keep my balance through this really, really strange profession. I learned really early on what to take seriously and what not to take seriously.
—Ethan Hawke
Influence of Family and Television in Artistic Growth
Hawke’s appreciation for storytelling forms traces back to his family’s values around television and literature. He recalled a small black-and-white TV that was reserved for weekends, illustrating a childhood shaped by selective media exposure. As he recalled, the set was
about the size of our computer,
—Ethan Hawke. Sundays became an oasis for his curiosity.
I was a fanatic of Star Trek, Twilight Zone, all the old television westerns,
—Ethan Hawke.
My parents would be gone on Sunday, and I could watch on Sunday. They would do all the reruns, and so I could just space out and watch a ton of television on Sundays.
—Ethan Hawke. These supervised, almost rebellious TV sessions—whether sneaking in episodes of MASH* after school or savoring beloved reruns—influenced how Hawke came to value the craft of narrative.
This formative television experience contributed directly to his nuanced understanding of characters. As an adult actor portraying Lee Raybon on FX’s The Lowdown, Hawke pointed to classic influences:
There’s a little bit of Rockford Files in Lee Raybon. I love that show. It made me laugh. I was never one for balls-out comedies, you know, things that are overtly funny or are trying to make me laugh. I, for some reason, resist. That’s not my happy place.
—Ethan Hawke. Hawke’s taste for subtlety and authentic humor continues to shape the roles he seeks and the performances he delivers.
A Character Built on Human Flaws and Heart
In The Lowdown, Hawke embraces the role of Lee Raybon, bringing depth and humor to a character stumbling, sometimes literally, through the underbelly of Tulsa. The series weaves together the hardships, triumphs, and eccentricities of a vibrant community, making Lee an emblem of resilient humanity. With moments of raw comedy nestled among more serious themes, the portrayal never feels forced; instead, Hawke integrates his own life experience—his resilience and imperfection—into Lee Raybon.
This dynamic is not lost on his loved ones. Hawke shared a personal anecdote:
My mom texted me the other night. I don’t understand why you love this character so much. He’s doing everything wrong. He’s driving me crazy. And I think that’s part of what I love about him. He’s irascible. We live in a time period where everybody wants something to be left or right or this or that or good or bad or the anti-hero or ironic. And Lee Raybon is just all heart. And he’s just made wrong and off balance. But he’s got a compass I really like. And he makes a lot of mistakes that feel like mistakes I can relate to.
—Ethan Hawke
The character’s resilience, like Hawke’s own early career story, is defined by getting up after every fall, driven not by perfection but by persistent authenticity.
Creative Partnerships that Shape an Artist
A key element in Hawke’s recent work has been his collaboration with Sterlin Harjo, creator of Reservation Dogs and The Lowdown. Hawke’s only appearance on Reservation Dogs, in the episode “Elora’s Dad” alongside Devery Jacobs, left an enduring mark on him—igniting a working friendship with Harjo and deepening his attachment to Tulsa, both professionally and personally.
Sterlin Harjo has affected me. This whole thing is kind of born out of a young friendship that we had. I really like him,
—Ethan Hawke. The move to Tulsa shaped Hawke’s family life, as he explained:
Tulsa, I moved down there and my kids went to school there. This job is a part of our life now. It’s not just a job. It’s like my daughter’s college essay is about her time in Tulsa. It’s become a part of us. And so, yeah, it’s changed me.
—Ethan Hawke
Hawke also values how The Lowdown approaches serious themes, especially around truth and journalism, without pretension:
Also, making a comedy about serious subjects is something that really turns me on. The question of truth in journalism is a very serious question right now. And the show attacks it in a really unpretentious way. It doesn’t have any answers. The way that Tulsa invites such a diverse view of America without being about diversity or something cute or PC like that, it’s part of the story of Tulsa. It’s the real story. And so, these amazing characters that I get to act with and the people that are working on the show, that all definitely has changed me.
—Ethan Hawke
On and Off-Screen Camaraderie with Peter Dinklage
One of the most memorable moments in The Lowdown is Hawke’s onscreen pairing with Peter Dinklage, his friend of more than three decades. Reflecting on their real-life friendship and the ease of blending it into their characters, Hawke said,
It’s like taking a test when you’ve been given all the answers. It’s so easy. To get to play old best friends for Peter and I, I met him in 1991, probably like our characters would have. I’ve argued with him about Beckett till four in the morning. I’ve been stupid with him. I’ve been on walks in the country. I’ve played with our kids and dogs and we’ve been idealistic together and we’ve disappointed each other and we’ve survived. And so to have him, this guy I’ve known forever, show up on set to play my old best friend. And we’ve even lost friends. So when we’re talking about Jesus, all that stuff, we know all this. And so the acting can kind of have a subconscious to it.
—Ethan Hawke
Hawke praised Sterlin Harjo’s bold approach to storytelling:
One of the things I love about the Dinklage episode is that, A, obviously Peter, but also that Sterlin has the guts to pump the brakes and the plot right in the middle of the series and take you down a digression that might seem like it’s not related, but it’s actually kind of the point of the whole show. The show is a lot of, particularly Lee, is searching for an authentic definition of masculinity, of how to be a good man. What is the definition of courage? And male friendship is a part of that.
—Ethan Hawke
Exploring Human Complexity Through Performance
Television allows Hawke to bring out the multitudes within Lee Raybon—his relationships, flaws, aspirations, and humor. This concept of multidimensionality excites Hawke:
What I’m enjoying about playing Lee is seeing somebody with their daughter (played with endless soulful charm by Ryan Kiera Armstrong) versus how they are when they’re trying to be romantic, how they are at work, when they are passionate about their views, and when they’re just stupid hanging out with their friends. And where a person isn’t one thing, that a person is, as Whitman would say, contains multitudes. I find that really thrilling to get to use all of myself to play this guy.
—Ethan Hawke
By embodying Lee, Hawke taps into the soul of a character shaped by contradiction, persistence, and empathy—qualities he has developed over decades in Hollywood.
Artistic Renewal with Richard Linklater and “Blue Moon”
Hawke’s partnership with director Richard Linklater stands as another defining pillar in his creative journey. Their collaboration has endured across iconic films, but this year brought a new sense of fulfillment with “Blue Moon,” where Hawke portrays lyricist Lorenz Hart. He expressed pride in his recent work:
I’m 55 years old and I just had one of the best years acting of my life. It’s taken me by complete surprise. Lee is one of my favorite characters I’ve ever played. And I played it in the same year that I got to work with Richard Linklater again for the first time in 10 years and play one of the most difficult parts I’ve ever played… Whereas Blue Moon was just the biggest challenge of my life, but to have them both in the same year was really thrilling.
—Ethan Hawke
Hawke approached his role in Blue Moon much like a musician would, letting the rhythm, melody, and tone of the words drive his performance:
I had to see the movie like it was a Rogers and Hart song and like Rogers does the music and Hart does the lyrics. And so in a lot of ways, I just let Rick worry about the musculature and the making of the film. And my job was to just kind of deliver this dialogue, like it was lyrics to a great song… In the end, the whole movie might feel like a classic Rogers and Hart tune, a wistful melancholy, bittersweet, funny, heartbreaking… And then it starts not being like dialogue. It’s just, you kind of come into the set every day and you’re singing the song.
—Ethan Hawke
The creative synergy Hawke finds with Linklater is a wellspring of inspiration:
I think that part of why we keep working together is how much fun we have in this space between the movies,
—Ethan Hawke. He added,
Dreaming up the movies, thinking about… We talked about making Blue Moon for 10 years before we made it… What’s nice, unlike Rogers and Hart, who had only worked with each other, Rick and I, we get to go and come back again. I feel like I’ve been in a 30 year conversation with Rick mostly about movies and sometimes the conversation spits off a film.
—Ethan Hawke
An Ongoing Legacy of Resilience and Authenticity
Ethan Hawke’s resilient artist journey is marked not by a string of unbroken successes but by his willingness to persist, adapt, and find richness in every setback. From a childhood spent navigating the disappointment of a film’s underperformance to celebrated turns in Gattaca, the Before trilogy, Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead, and First Reformed, Hawke’s artistry continues to evolve. His more recent portrayals in The Black Phone, The Lowdown, and Blue Moon demonstrate not only the breadth of his talent but also a persistent drive to explore truth, humanity, and complexity in storytelling.
Echoing Lee Raybon’s journey across Tulsa’s streets, Hawke’s path has always been about getting back up, finding heart in the mess, and pushing storytelling into new, authentic realms. As fans anticipate more seasons of The Lowdown and fresh collaborations with voices like Sterlin Harjo and Richard Linklater, Hawke stands as both an emblem and a champion of creative resilience—proof that the most compelling stories, on screen and in life, are born from weathering challenges with curiosity and courage.
Audiences can currently watch The Lowdown on Hulu and catch Hawke’s performance in Blue Moon. For those interested in a deeper exploration of Hawke’s process, as well as his television passions from Game of Thrones to classic westerns, a full episode of TV Topics is available to enjoy.
