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 at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival
Born
Corey Antonio Hawkins

(1988-10-22) October 22, 1988 (age 36)
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

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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 2024, it was announced that Hawkins would replace Jonathan Majors for The Man In My Basement.[14]

Filmography

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Film

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Key
Denotes works that have not yet been released
Year Title Role Notes
2011 Digital Antiquities Kai Short film
2012 Allegiance Willie
2013 Iron Man 3 Navy Op
2014 Non-Stop Travis Mitchell
Romeo and Juliet Tybalt Filmed live performance
2015 Straight Outta Compton Andre "Dr. Dre" Young
2017 Kong: Skull Island Houston Brooks
2018 BlacKkKlansman Stokely Carmichael
2019 Georgetown Daniel Volker
6 Underground Blaine / Seven
2021 In the Heights Benny
The Tragedy of Macbeth Macduff
2023 The Last Voyage of the Demeter Clemens
The Color Purple Harpo Johnson
2024 The Piano Lesson Avery Brown
TBA The Man In My Basement Charles Blakey Post-production
Crime 101 TBA Filming

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2011 Royal Pains Busboy Episode: "The Shaw/Hank Redemption"
2013 Golden Boy Evander Episode: "Young Guns"
2015–2016 The Walking Dead Heath Recurring role (seasons 6-7)
2017 24: Legacy Eric Carter Main role
2020 Survive Paul Main role

Theater

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Year Title Role Stage
2011 Hurt Village Buggy Signature Theatre Company
2011 Suicide Inc Perry Roundabout Theatre Company
2013 Romeo and Juliet Tybalt Richard Rodgers Theatre
2017 Six Degrees of Separation Paul Ethel Barrymore Theatre
2022–23 Topdog/Underdog Lincoln John Golden Theatre

Awards and nominations

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Association Year Category Project Result Ref.
African-American Film Critics Association Awards 2015 Best Ensemble Straight Outta Compton Won [15]
2024 The Color Purple Won [16]
Astra Film and Creative Awards 2024 Best Cast Ensemble The Color Purple Won [17]
Black Reel Award 2016 Best Supporting Actor Straight Outta Compton Nominated [18]
Celebration of Cinema and Television December 4, 2023 Ensemble Award – Film The Color Purple Won [19]
Critics' Choice Movie Award 2016 Best Acting Ensemble Straight Outta Compton Nominated [20]
2024 The Color Purple Nominated [21]
Florida Film Critics Circle 2016 Best Ensemble Straight Outta Compton Nominated [22]
Georgia Film Critics Association Awards 2024 Best Ensemble The Color Purple Nominated [23]
[24]
Hollywood Film Awards 2015 Breakout Ensemble Award Straight Outta Compton Won [25]
NAACP Image Award 2015 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture Straight Outta Compton Nominated [26]
2024 The Color Purple Nominated [27]
Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture Won
Primetime Emmy Award 2020 Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Series Survive Nominated [28]
San Diego Film Critics Society 2016 Best Ensemble Straight Outta Compton Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Award 2015 Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture Straight Outta Compton Nominated [29]
2018 BlacKkKlansman Nominated [30]
2024 The Color Purple Nominated [31]
Tony Award 2017 Best Actor in a Play Six Degrees of Separation Nominated [32]
2023 Topdog/Underdog Nominated [33]
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association 2015 Best Ensemble Straight Outta Compton Nominated

References

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  1. ^ "Straight Outta D.C.: Corey Hawkins Plays Dre in Rap Biopic - Front Row Features". 11 August 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  2. ^ "Juilliard Alumni News (Drama)". Juilliard.edu. Archived from the original on 21 June 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  3. ^ "Corey Antonio Hawkins Completes Cast of LATW's A Raisin in the Sun". Playbill.com. 2010-11-15. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  4. ^ "Casting Is Complete for Premiere of Katori Hall's Hurt Village". Playbill.com. 2012-01-11. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  5. ^ "Watch Lupita Nyong'o, Nate Parker, Corey Hawkins In Clips From Liam Neeson Thriller, Non-Stop". Indiewire.com. Archived from the original on 22 July 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  6. ^ "'Walking Dead' Books 'Straight Outta Compton' Star as Key Comic Character (Exclusive)". HollywoodReporter.com. 5 June 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  7. ^ "Corey Hawkins to Play Dr. Dre in N.W.A. Biopic 'Straight Outta Compton'". TheWrap.com. 2014-06-19. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  8. ^ Ausiello, Michael (January 25, 2016). "24 Legacy's 'New Jack': Walking Dead's Corey Hawkins to Star in Fox Reboot". TVLine. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  9. ^ "'Straight Outta Compton' to 'Kong: Skull Island'". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  10. ^ "Could Samuel L. Jackson bring His Fire to 'Kong: Skull Island'? - Bloody Disgusting". bloody-disgusting.com. 2015-08-06. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  11. ^ "Home - SpotCo". sixdegreesbroadway.com. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  12. ^ "2017 Tony Award Nominations: The Great Comet and Hello, Dolly! Lead the Pack | Playbill". Playbill. 2017-05-02. Retrieved 2017-05-02.
  13. ^ "Rafael Nadal v Kevin Anderson LIVE: Latest US Open 2017 final updates from New York". Sunday Express. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
  14. ^ "Jonathan Majors Replaced by Corey Hawkins in 'The Man in My Basement'". 31 January 2024.
  15. ^ Dave McNary (December 7, 2014). "'Straight Outta Compton' Named Top Film by African-American Film Critics". Variety. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
  16. ^ "AAFCA Awards - AAFCA". 2024-01-15. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
  17. ^ "AwardsWatch - Barbie and Oppenheimer Lead Hollywood Creative Alliance (HCA) Astra Awards Nominations". AwardsWatch. December 7, 2023. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  18. ^ "16th Annual Black Reel Award Nominations". Archived from the original on 2016-10-16. Retrieved 2015-12-18.
  19. ^ Thompson, Jaden (November 13, 2023). "America Ferrera, Colman Domingo and Greta Lee Among Critics Choice Association Honorees for Black, Latino and AAPI Achievements". Variety. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  20. ^ Hipes, Patrick (December 14, 2015). "Critics' Choice Awards Nominations: 'Mad Max' Leads Film; ABC, HBO, FX Networks, & 'Fargo' Top TV". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
  21. ^ "FILM NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED FOR THE 29TH ANNUAL CRITICS CHOICE AWARDS HOSTED BY CHELSEA HANDLER – Critics Choice Awards". Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  22. ^ "'Moonlight' leads 2016 Florida Film Critics Awards Nominations" (Press release). Florida Film Critics Circle. December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
  23. ^ Neglia, Matt (December 29, 2023). "The 2023 Georgia Film Critics Association (GAFCA) Nominations". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  24. ^ Neglia, Matt (January 5, 2024). "The 2023 Georgia Film Critics Association (GAFCA) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  25. ^ "Straight Outta Compton, Alicia Vikander, Benicio Del Toro to be Honored at Hollywood Film Awards". E!. October 7, 2015. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  26. ^ "'Creed,' 'Empire' Top NAACP Image Award Nominations; Full List". The Hollywood Reporter. February 4, 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  27. ^ Brathwaite, Lester Fabian (January 25, 2024). "Colman Domingo, Ayo Edebiri, and The Color Purple dominate 55th NAACP Image Awards". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  28. ^ "Nominees/Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  29. ^ "22nd Screen Actors Guild Awards". sagawards.org. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  30. ^ "25th Screen Actors Guild Awards". sagawards.org. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  31. ^ "Nominations Announced for the 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®" (Press release). Screen Actors Guild. January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  32. ^ "Tony Awards 2017: Complete Winners List". Variety. 11 June 2017. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  33. ^ "2023 Tony Award Nominations: Jessica Chastain, Josh Groban and More Earn Noms — See the Full List". People. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
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