- Says that he is constantly mistaken for Mark McGrath from the band Sugar Ray so often that he signs autographs as "Mark McGrath" and, apparently, the same thing happens to Mark McGrath who, in turn, signs autographs as "Ethan Hawke" to fans.
- His cat appeared in Lisa Loeb's music video "Stay (I Missed You)", which he directed.
- Became a father for the first time at age 27 when his wife Uma Thurman gave birth to their daughter Maya Ray Hawke, aka Maya Hawke, on July 8, 1998.
- First cousin twice removed of Tennessee Williams. Hawke's great grandfather and Williams' father were brothers.
- Became a father for the second time at age 31 when his wife Uma Thurman gave birth to their son Levon Green Hawke, aka Levon Hawke, on January 15, 2002.
- His parents were University of Texas students when Ethan was born, and they separated when he was three.
- Remains close friends with Dead Poets Society (1989) co-stars, Robert Sean Leonard and Josh Charles. Because of that movie's theme - triumph of the human spirit - Hawke laughingly refers to it as "One Flew Over the Robin's Nest" (due in part to Robin Williams's starring role).
- Proposed to ex-wife Uma Thurman twice before she said yes.
- In Before Sunset (2004) (which he co-wrote with Julie Delpy and Richard Linklater), Hawke's character Jesse is in a failing marriage with a woman he married because she had become pregnant. Soon after the film's release, Hawke divorced his real-life wife Uma Thurman, whom he had married while she was pregnant with their first child.
- Twice during his 20s, he took a two-year leave of absence, once to attend NYU and study English (he dropped out when a role came up), and then to write a novel.
- Was accepted by Carnegie-Mellon University, School of Drama in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but dropped out after only 5 months.
- Took a year off acting after Training Day (2001) to complete his novel "Ash Wednesday".
- Five Easy Pieces (1970), One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) and Reds (1981) are among his favorite films.
- Met and became friends with River Phoenix during the making of Explorers (1985).
- Is a huge fan of the Star Wars movie series.
- He was the original choice to play FBI Agent Will Graham in Red Dragon (2002), but turned the role down to take time off from making movies.
- Co-founded the now-defunct theater company called "Malaparte" with Robert Sean Leonard, Frank Whaley and Steve Zahn.
- Became a father for the third time at age 37 when his wife Ryan Hawke gave birth to their daughter Clementine Hawke on July 18, 2008.
- Published his first novel, "The Hottest State" (1996). The novel sold for $400,000 to Little, Brown and Company. A decade later, wrote & directed a film adaptation: The Hottest State (2006).
- He was inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame in Austin, Texas. (March 2004)
- Became a father for the fourth time at age 40 when his wife Ryan Hawke gave birth to their daughter Indiana Hawke on July 23, 2011.
- Has appeared in eight films directed by Richard Linklater: Before Sunrise (1995), The Newton Boys (1998), Waking Life (2001), Tape (2001), Before Sunset (2004), Fast Food Nation (2006), Before Midnight (2013) and Boyhood (2014).
- When he was in the seventh grade, he played Lon in West Windsor-Plainsboro junior high school production of the play "Meet Me in St. Louis".
- He has English, as well as Scottish, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, and Cornish, ancestry.
- Has appeared in three films that have been Oscar nominated for Best Picture: Dead Poets Society (1989), Quiz Show (1994), and Boyhood (2014).
- Very good friends with Catalina Sandino Moreno and Julie Delpy.
- Turned down the role of Bobby Mercer in Four Brothers (2005). He loved the script but could not commit to this because of scheduling conflicts. The role eventually went to Mark Wahlberg.
- His mother is a strict vegetarian and animal rights activist.
- Was in a production of "Great Expectations" at West Windsor Plainsboro High School.
- He was considered for the role of Gordie Lachance in Rob Reiner's Stand by Me (1986), which went to Wil Wheaton.
- Attended West Windsor-Plainsboro High School in central New Jersey, but is not pictured in the yearbook (1984-1986).
- He was offered the role of Bruce Wayne/Batman in Batman Forever (1995) but turned it down as he didn't want to be typecast in the role. He later admitted to regretting turning it down due to the valuable career opportunities it could have led to.
- Close friends with actor/director Frank Whaley, whom he met while filming A Midnight Clear (1992).
- Attended and graduated from the Hun School of Princeton in Princeton, New Jersey (1988).
- He was considered for the role of Sean Dignam in Martin Scorsese's The Departed (2006), which went to Mark Wahlberg.
- Stepbrother Patrick Powers is a Green Beret who served a six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan, and is currently (late 2006/early 2007) serving a six-month tour in Iraq.
- Currently resides in New York City. (February 2012)
- To prepare for his role in the film version of Hamlet (2000), he spent the summer before filming attending three study sessions a week with a friend who had played the role on the stage.
- Supports LGBT rights.
- Attended the Packer Collegiate Institute in Brooklyn, New York, for one year.
- Has appeared in two film adaptations of Shakespearean plays which were set in the present day: Hamlet (2000) and Cymbeline (2014).
- His six favorite films of all time are: The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), A Woman Under the Influence (1974), One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), Apocalypse Now (1979), Reds (1981) and The Year of Living Dangerously (1982).
- Identifies as a feminist.
- Revealed in Rolling Stone (March 1995) that he auditioned for the role of Paul Maclean in A River Runs Through It (1992) but director Robert Redford believed Hawke was too young for the part. Brad Pitt was cast instead.
- Has appeared in two film adaptations of William Wharton novels: Dad (1989) and A Midnight Clear (1992).
- His first acting role was at McCarter Theater in Princeton, New Jersey, at age 12.
- Is a huge fan of the rock band Wilco.
- Son of James 'Jim' Steven Hawke & Leslie Hawke. They divorced in 1974.
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