LaRoyce Hawkins
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{short description|American actor (born 1988)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = LaRoyce Hawkins
| image = LaRoyce Image for Wikki.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Hawkins in 2022
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|05|04}}
| birth_place = Harvey, Illinois, US
| death_date =
| occupation = {{Flatlist|
- Actor
- Comedian
- Poet
}}
| children = 1
| alma_mater = Illinois State University
| years_active = 2008–present
}}
LaRoyce C. Hawkins (born May 4, 1988) is an American actor, stand-up comedian, spoken word artist,{{cite web|title=Actor Bio - LaRoyce Hawkins|url=http://www.nbc.com/chicago-pd/credits/character/detective-kevin-atwater|publisher=NBC|access-date=February 21, 2017}} and musician. Hawkins stars on NBC's police drama Chicago P.D., where he portrays Officer Kevin Atwater. The show is in its twelfth season. Hawkins also has a regular role on the crossover show Chicago Fire.{{cite web|last=Rackl|first=Lori|title=Harvey actor LaRoyce Hawkins brings local flavor to 'Chicago Fire' spinoff|url=http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/television/24018170-421/harvey-actor-brings-local-flavor-to-chicago-fire-spinoff.html|work=Chicago Sun-Times|access-date=April 11, 2014}}
Early life and education
Hawkins was born and raised in Harvey, Illinois, a southern suburb of Chicago. His parents are Leah Bradley and Leonard Hawkins. While Hawkins was growing up he lived with his grandparents until he was 13 and he credits them with shaping his life and the lives of his siblings.
Hawkins attended Thornton High School,{{cite news |title=Harvey native, ‘Chicago PD' actor LaRoyce Hawkins visits his alma mater |url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/harvey-native-chicago-pd-actor-laroyce-hawkins-visits-his-alma-mater/3212800/ |access-date=6 May 2025 |publisher=NBC5 |date=August 22, 2023}} where he initially played basketball.{{cite web |title=It All Started Here: Chicago P.D.'s LaRoyce Hawkins |url=https://www.nfhs.org/articles/it-all-started-here-chicago-pds-laroyce-hawkins/ |publisher=National Federation of State High School Associations |access-date=November 11, 2020}} Influenced by his grandfather's advice to "choose what makes you feel better," Hawkins left the basketball team sophomore year and joined the speech team, where he became a two-time state champion.
In 2005, Hawkins won the state title in the Illinois High School Association's Original Comedy event, also placing third at the IHSA state competition in Humorous Interpretation. In 2006, he and a partner won the state title in Humorous Duet Acting, while Hawkins also placed fourth at state that year in Original Comedy.{{cite web |title=IHSA Speech Individual Events Medalists |url=https://www.ihsa.org/data/ie/records/ybysch3.htm |publisher=Illinois High School Association |access-date=November 11, 2020}} He graduated later that year.
Hawkins attended Illinois State University on a full tuition scholastic scholarship where he majored in theatre arts. In his first college play, he starred as Toledo from the August Wilson production Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. While in college, he landed his first major motion picture role in the feature film The Express: The Ernie Davis Story, the biopic of Ernie Davis, portraying Davis' teammate Art Baker. He took a year-and-a-half off from school, returning in 2007 and graduating in 2012. He is a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity. {{Cite web|url=https://news.illinoisstate.edu/2014/01/former-redbird-stars-new-nbc-show-chicago-p-d/|title=Former Redbird stars on new NBC show Chicago P.D.|publisher=Illinois State University|date=January 6, 2014}}
Career
In 2008, the same year Hawkins starred as Art Baker in the The Express: The Ernie Davis Story, Hawkins appeared in Tyler Perry's House of Payne. Hawkins appeared in one episode of ABC's Detroit 1-8-7 in 2011. In 2012, he appeared in an episode of MTV's Underemployed. In 2013, Hawkins began appearing in a recurring role as Kevin Atwater in Chicago Fire. In 2014, Hawkins was cast in a main role in Chicago Fire's spin-off, Chicago P.D..{{cite news |last1=Patterson |first1=Demetrius |title=A ‘Chicago P.D.’ Lifer, LaRoyce Hawkins Is Proud of Atwater’s Evolution |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/chicago-pd-laroyce-hawkins-kevin-atwater-season-12-1236135172/ |access-date=6 May 2025 |publisher=The Hollywood Reporter |date=February 12, 2025}}{{cite news |last1=Baruch |first1=Yolanda |title=LaRoyce Hawkins Discusses Clothing Label ‘Be Powerful’ And Giving Back To Chicago |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/yolandabaruch/2022/07/31/actor-laroyce-hawkins-discusses-what-be-powerful-means-to-him-and-how-hes-using-platform-to-give-back-to-chicago/ |access-date=6 May 2025 |publisher=Forbes |date=July 31, 2022}} Starting in 2019, Hawkins began appearing in a recurring role in a second spin-off, Chicago Med. Hawkins has also made appearances in HBO's Ballers{{cite news |last1=Arbonida |first1=Jilianne |title='Ballers' season 1 spoilers: Ricky goes bananas |url=https://www.christiantoday.com/trends/ballers-season-1-episode-7-spoilers-ricky-goes-bananas |access-date=6 May 2025 |publisher=Christian Today |date=July 29, 2015}} and TBS' Tyler Perry's House of Payne. In 2018, Hawkins appeared in Canal Street and Hope Springs Eternal. In 2019, Hawkins was cast as Kenneth Chamberlain Jr. in The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain. Hawkins also had a recurring role as Michael "Shaw" Owens on the television show South Side from 2019-2022.
Personal life
His son, Roman John was born April 13, 2017.{{cite web |last=Mercuri |first=Monica |title=Atwater Fan? Chicago P.D.'s LaRoyce Hawkins Reveals What His Six-Year-Old Son Really Thinks of the Show |url=https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/678190/laroyce-hawkins-kids/ |date=July 5, 2023 |website=Soaps.com |publisher=SHE Media |access-date=August 28, 2023}}{{cite web |last=Macke |first=Johnni|title=Chicago P.D.'s LaRoyce Hawkins Says His Son Roman 'Definitely' Has the Acting Bug: 'He Does His Own Stunts' |url=https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-moms/news/chicago-p-d-s-laroyce-hawkins-son-definitely-has-the-acting-bug/ |date=July 4, 2023 |magazine=Us Weekly |publisher=A360media |access-date=August 28, 2023}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable"| Notes |
|---|
| 2008
| The Express: The Ernie Davis Story | Art Baker |
| rowspan="2" | 2018
| Amari Crawford |
| Hope Springs Eternal
| Mr. Baser | |
| 2019
| The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain | Kenneth Chamberlain Jr. |
| 2021
| Hands Up | Ty Lord | |
| 2022
| North of The 10 | Kyle Shaw |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable"| Notes |
|---|
| 2008 |
| 2011
| Dorcey Gamble | Episode: "Ice Man/Malibu"{{cite web|title=LaRoyce Hawkins of Chicago P.D.|url=http://www.redeyechicago.com/entertainment/tv/redeye-chicagos-tv-connection-our-small-screen-128,0,7122779.photo|work=RedEye|access-date=April 11, 2014}} |
| 2012
| {{TableTBA|N\A}} |
| 2013–present
| Kevin Atwater | Recurring role, 12 episodes |
| 2014–present
| Main role |
| 2015
| Ballers | Rodney |
| 2019-2022
|Michael 'Shaw' Owens |
| 2019–present
| Kevin Atwater | 3 episodes |
| 2025
|Gary Williams | |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|3146765}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hawkins, LaRoyce}}
Category:Illinois State University alumni
Category:Male actors from Chicago
Category:21st-century American male actors
Category:American male comedians
Category:African-American male comedians