John Hawkes won over audiences and critics alike with his soulful portrayal of "Bugsy", the lovelorn sailor in The Perfect Storm. Last fall, he starred opposite Keanu Reeves in Hard Ball as "Tricky" Reeves' best friend and business partner. This spring he will be seen in Identity with John Cusack and Ray Liotta. Hawkes also starred in and co-produced the independent film Don't Try This at Home (Buttleman). Other feature credits include A Slipping-Down Life, Playing God and From Dusk Till Dawn. Last summer he was invited to participate in the Sundance Film Lab alongside Ed Harris, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Stanley Tucci, among others.

Hawkes has delivered memorable performances on television as well. This spring he goes into production with Timothy Olyphant and Keith Carradine on the new HBO series, Deadwood, written by David Milch (NYPD Blue) and directed by Walter Hill. In addition to a leading role in Taken (aka Steven Spielberg Presents Taken (USA: complete title)), Steven Spielberg's mini-series for the Sci-Fi channel, he had a recurring role on the hit series The Practice and guest-starred on The X-Files and 24.

Hawkes was born and raised in rural Minnesota and moved to Austin, Texas, where he began his career as an actor and musician. He co-founded the Big State Productions theatre company and appeared in the group's original play, "In the West" at the Kennedy Centre in Washington, DC. He also starred in the national touring company production of the play, "Greater Tuna", which included engagements in Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

Additionally, Hawkes wrote and performed a critically acclaimed solo play, "Nimrod Soul" at the Theatre at the Improv. He currently writes, records and plays music with his band, Gangster Folk.
Graduate of Jefferson High School (Alexandria, Minnesota), 1977. Cites Robert Duvall as the actor he most admires. In an interview with "Fade In" magazine, Hawkes revealed that while hitch-hiking through America, he would play various characters when he was getting a ride.