Ethan Hawke constantly challenges himself as an artist and has established a successful career in film and theater, and as a writer and director.

In film, he most recently starred in Richard Linklater's critically acclaimed Before Sunset. He also co-wrote the script with the director and with costar Julie Delpy. The trio previously worked together on Before Sunrise.

He previously worked with Assault on Precinct 13 producer Jeffrey Silver on Training Day, directed by Antoine Fuqua. Mr. Hawke's performance in the film earned him Academy Award and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations.

He recently completed filming Andrew Niccol's upcoming Lord of War. His other screen credits include D.J. Caruso's Taking Lives, Michael Almereyda's Hamlet, Richard Linklater's Tape and Waking Life, Alfonso Cuáron's Great Expectations, Andrew Niccol's Gattaca, Ben Stiller's Reality Bites, Bruce Beresford's Rich in Love, Frank Marshall's Alive, Keith Gordon's A Midnight Clear, Stephen Gyllenhaal's Waterland, Randal Kleiser's White Fang, Gary David Goldberg's Dad, Peter Weir's Dead Poets Society, and Joe Dante's Explorers (which marked his feature debut).

Mr. Hawke was born in Austin, Texas and later settled in Princeton Junction, New Jersey. He began studying acting at Princeton University's prestigious McCarter Theater, landing his first professional job in their production of St. Joan. He also studied in England (with the British Theater Association) and in Pittsburgh (at Carnegie Mellon University).

His subsequent professional stage appearances include the National Actors Theatre production of The Seagull; Sophistry (off-Broadway); the Steppenwolf (Chicago) production of Buried Child; and the Lincoln Center Theatre production of Henry IV, starring opposite Kevin Kline. He will return to the New York stage in the winter of 2005, starring in a revival of Hurlyburly.

Mr. Hawke directed a short film entitled Straight to One, starring Josh Hamilton, as well as an accompanying music video. Subsequently, he made his feature directing debut with the intimate drama Chelsea Walls, which followed five stories over a single day at NYC's Chelsea Hotel.

He has written two novels. The most recent, "Ash Wednesday," was published in 2002. His first novel, "The Hottest State," was published in 1996 and is in its 19th printing. A feature film version of the latter, which he will adapt and direct, is planned.