Corey Hawkins

Corey Hawkins is an American actor who has built an impressive career spanning film, television, and theater. Born on October 22, 1988, in Washington, D.C., Hawkins grew up in the nation’s capital and discovered his love for performing arts at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. He went on to earn his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the prestigious Juilliard School in New York City, graduating in 2011.

Hawkins burst onto the scene with his portrayal of Dr. Dre in the N.W.A. biopic Straight Outta Compton (2015), a film that became both a critical and commercial hit, grossing over $200 million worldwide. His convincing performance as the legendary hip-hop producer earned him widespread recognition and opened doors to major Hollywood projects. He followed this with a starring role in the sixth season of AMC’s The Walking Dead and appeared in the action thriller 24: Legacy as the lead character.

His career continued to flourish with a Tony-nominated performance in the 2017 Broadway revival of Six Degrees of Separation, proving his versatility as a stage actor. He then starred in the Netflix film The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021) directed by Joel Coen, alongside Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand, and appeared as Benny in Jon M. Chu’s In the Heights (2021), the film adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical.

As of 2026, Corey Hawkins has an estimated net worth of $4 million. His Juilliard training, combined with his ability to move seamlessly between blockbusters, prestige dramas, and Broadway, has made him one of the most respected actors of his generation. He continues to take on challenging roles that showcase his remarkable range.