Sean Hankinson is an American film and theater actor. He is best known for his role as Ethan Blaire in Days of Our Lives, Ken in Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse, and Ben in Adult Swim Yule Log.
Early life Hankinson was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona, living briefly in Albuquerque, New Mexico, before moving to Los Angeles, California. He attended Tucson High Magnet School, a performing arts public school. Hankinson said he had wanted to be an actor since age 6 and began working professionally at age 14.
During college, Hankinson portrayed Alan Strang in the Chapman University production of Equus, for which he won an OC Weekly Theater Award for Best College Performance. His performance was described as "brave" and "near-perfect" by OC Weekly, which further stated that his "sheer acting skill drew the viewer into the character beneath the skin." In a review, The Los Angeles Times described Hankinson's portrayal of Strang as "mercurial" and "both intricate and thorough."
Acting career After receiving his Bachelor of Fine Arts, Hankison moved to New York City, and began acting in a variety of films and television shows, including a starring role as the character Ben on the long-running web series Prom Queen produced by Michael Eisner for Vuguru and The CW. He also performed in the soap opera Days of Our Lives as Ethan Blaine in 2008.
Throughout the 2010s, he also worked as a voice actor, including voicing the character Ken in the official Mattel comedy web series Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse from 2012 to 2015. The series experienced renewed popularity on Netflix in 2023 following the release of Greta Gerwig's Barbie that year. Hankinson described the role as a "dream job" and one of his favorites.
During 2016, Hankinson apprenticed at an Off-Broadway theater, and later in 2017 starred in the Off-Broadway touring production of Matt Murphy's Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man, based on the cult classic best-selling book by Dan Anderson and Maggie Berman of the same name. The production received mixed reviews, though Hankinson received praise for his improvisational skills.
He later relocated to Atlanta in 2019, and landed guest roles in shows like Dynasty and Naomi, as well as a starring role in the 2022 surreal meta-horror comedy Adult Swim Yule Log. He portrayed blacklisted Hollywood screenwriter Dalton Trumbo in the 2024 biographical historical drama Reagan about U.S. president Ronald Reagan.
Personal life Hankinson is openly gay.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes20053 Girls and the Golden CocoonKyle2006The Road AheadJoe2007Cougar ClubCC Member2007Fun on EarthCafeteria heckler Short Film2007Curtain CallMike Short Film2009Drama KingsBrody Bondalillo2011Bad ActressForensics Coordinator2013RockBarnes: The Emperor in YouSimon Foster #1 Fan20154th Man OutDerek2016StuBartender Short Film2019Camp WeddingGore2019Enjoy the DayBrandon Short Film2020The GloriasTV Producer202121st & ColonialBenShort Film2022Gigi & NateDr. Patidar2022Stalked WithinSupervisor2022Adult Swim Yule LogBen2023The Slumber PartyDr. Patrick Brookman2024MegalopolisTV Newscaster2024 ReaganDalton Trumbo
Television Year Title Role Notes2006Team ExtremeStaggering KidTV movie2006Untold Stories of the E.R.Brett MaxwellEpisode: "Too Close to Home"2007–12Prom QueenBen Web Series; 51 episodes2008Days of Our LivesEthan Blaine3 episodes2008Mystery ERBrandonEpisode: "Rash Decision/Inflamed"2008Lost TapesEvan Metcalf-ChambersEpisode: "Megaconda"2011FoodiesPorter3 episodes201190210Polo Shirt GuyEpisode: "Let the Games Begin"2011Digimon Fusion BattlesKenny2012Dates from HellBorisEpisode: "A Kiss Before Dying"2012–15Barbie: Life in the DreamhouseKenWeb Series; 74 episodes (voice)2015This Is My RoommateNeedy GuyEpisode: "The Right One"2016The SeanTal ShowSeanMiniseries; 5 episodes2016Turn: Washington's SpiesCourier 2Episode: "Trial and Execution"2017BullJuror #1Episode: "The Devil, The Detail"2020Dwight in Shining ArmorHeraldEpisode: "Just Desserts"2021DynastyDarrylEpisode: "The British Are Coming"2021Games People PlayReporter 12 episodes2022NaomiSteve O'BrienEpisode: "Unidentified Flying Object"2022AtlantaMan in GlassesEpisode: "Three Slaps"2022WokeFrankEpisode: "Sole Train"2022The First LadyReporterEpisode: "Voices Carry"2022The Ms. Pat ShowJohnny JamesEpisode: "Trigger Warning"2022The WatcherTeacherEpisode: "Götterdämmerung"2022Step Up: High WaterReporter #2Episode: "Never Scared"2023SistasWestley2 Episodes2024Will TrentBrent SwannEpisode: "It's Easier to Handcuff a Human Being"2024Young DylanJacques LumiereEpisode: "The Wrap Battle"20241923Coach AttendantEpisode: "The Mountain Teeth of Monsters"2025Leverage: RedemptionRogerEpisode: "The Swipe Right Job"
Video games Year Title Role Notes2013Barbie Dreamhouse PartyKen Voice role
Stage Year Title Role Notes 1999 Equus Alan Strang Chapman University Moulton Hall Studio Theater 2017 Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man Dan Off-Broadway Touring Production
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result 2000OC Weekly Annual Theater AwardsBest College PerformanceEquus
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