Allan Hawco is a Canadian writer, actor, and producer from Bell Island, Newfoundland. He is best known for his roles in the series Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan, Republic of Doyle, Saint-Pierre, The Book of Negroes, and Caught.
Early life and education Allan Hawco was born on Bell Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, as the youngest of four children, and moved to Goulds at a young age. His father Michael worked on the Bell Island Ferry, and his mother Mary was an elementary school teacher and former nun."Allan Hawco says goodbye to Jake Doyle". Q, December 10, 2014.
He studied business at Memorial University of Newfoundland, but dropped out to attend the National Theatre School of Canada.
After appearing in a Shakespeare by the Sea production of Macbeth directed by Aiden Flynn, director Danielle Irvine encouraged the young actor to audition for the National Theatre School of Canada, where he was one of 13 selected from thousands of applicants that year. He graduated from the National Theatre School of Canada in 2000.
Career Hawco worked in many of the major theatres in Canada. In 2005, motivated by the want for greater creative control, he started his own production company the Company Theatre with Philip Riccio.Ouzounian, Richard. "The Bay (and lake) boy: Newfoundland television starAllan Hawco returns to the stage in Toronto after five years away". Toronto Star, 10 April 2010. The company's inaugural production, A Whistle in the Dark, brought Hawco critical acclaim. Their 2009 production of Festen won him three Dora Awards, including Outstanding Production of a Play.
Some of Hawco's earlier movie roles include Canadian productions such as Making Love in Saint Pierre, Above and Beyond, and Love and Savagery, the latest of which won him an ACTRA nomination for Outstanding Male Performance. His career took off with the launch of his own TV series Republic of Doyle, which premiered in 2010. Hawco is co-creator with Perry Chafe and Malcolm MacRury, executive producer, lead actor, head writer as well as the show's showrunner. The show has been sold to over 90 countries, and maintained over a million viewers a week on CBC television in Canada.
In 2010, Hawco was nominated for the ACTRA Toronto award for Outstanding Performance – Male for his performance in Love and Savagery. He was also nominated that year for two Gemini Awards, Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role and Best Dramatic Series for his work as actor, co-creator, writer and executive producer of Republic of Doyle.
In 2011, Hawco was the recipient of the National Theatre School's prestigious Gascon-Thomas Award.
Also in 2011, Hawco was presented with the Canadian Film and Television Hall of Fame's Outstanding Achievement Award.
In 2016, Hawco's production company in Newfoundland produced the Netflix original series: Frontier, starring Jason Momoa. Hawco also stars in the series as well as functioning as an executive producer on the show."Allan Hawco's new Frontier". Toronto Star, Tony Wong, Nov. 7, 2016
In 2018, Hawco served as executive producer, writer/showrunner and starred in the CBC adaptation of Lisa Moore's novel Caught. The series received a number of CSA nominations including best series and a best actor nod for Hawco."Here's your first look at the CBC adaptation of Lisa Moore's Caught". CBC Books, January 16, 2018. Caught other screen writers include Hawco's writing partner Perry Chafe, John Krizanc, Julia Cohan, and Adriana Maggs. Caught is distributed by eOne entertainment, and eOne exec Tecca Crosby was the inspiration behind the making of the limited series according to interviews with Hawco on the topic.
In 2019, Hawco starred as "Coyote" in the Amazon Prime TV series Jack Ryan alongside John Krasinski and Wendell Pierce. Jack Ryan was written by Lost creator Carlton Cuse. Filming took place in Colombia. Also in 2019, Hawco featured as Captain Donovan in the British-Canadian suspense drama Departure.
Personal life One of Hawco's brothers, Greg, is a composer, and has composed for Republic of Doyle, while his father has also worked on the show and his mother has appeared as a background performer.
Hawco married CBC anchor Carolyn Stokes in 2012 in the midst of working on Republic of Doyle.
Filmography Films Year Title Role Notes 1998 When Ponds Freeze Over Young Paddy Short film 2002 Apartment Story Ramone TV movie 2004 Making Love in St. Pierre Sebastian 2004 Wilby Wonderful Radio Announcer Voice only 2005 Snapshots for Henry Pent Short film 2006 The Secret Miracle Ryan Kilpatrick Short film 2007 The Third Eye Ryan 2007 Closing the Ring Peter Etty 2009 Love and Savagery Michael 2009 Quiet at Dawn Manning Short film 2015 Hyena Road MCpl. Travis Davidson 2016 Weirdos Dave 2017 The Child Remains Liam 2022 The Breach John Hawkins 2023Quicksand Josh 2024 Soul's Road Gordie Robinson 2025 In Cold Light Bob Whyte
Television Year Title Role Notes 2002 Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye Mitch Episode: "The Heist" 2003 Mutant X Scientist Episode: "Under the Cloak of War" 2003 The Eleventh Hour Linus Episode: "Hall of Mirrors" 2004 Bliss Andrew Episode: "Steph's Life" 2004 H2O Christie Berger Mini-series 2005 Heritage Minutes Evers Episode: "Home from the Wars" 2006 Slings and Arrows Mr. Waugh Episode: The Promised End? 2006 Above and Beyond Nathan Burgess Mini-series 2008 The Trojan Horse Christie Berger Mini-series 2009 ZOS: Zone of Separation Captain Mick Graham Mini-series 2010-2014 Republic of Doyle Jake Doyle Series lead; also co-creator, writer, director and producer 2010 This Hour has 22 Minutes Jake Doyle 1 episode skit 2013 Murdoch Mysteries Jacob Doyle Episode: "Republic of Murdoch" 2015 The Book of Negroes Solomon Lindo Mini-series 2016-2018 Frontier Douglas Brown Main cast 2018 Caught David Slaney Also writer and producer 2019 Street Legal Cole Haney 2 episodes 2019 Departure Captain Donovan 6 episodes 2019 Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan Coyote 6 episodes 2020 The Detectives Detective Garry Belliveau 1 episode 2021 Hudson and Rex Danny Episode: Manhunt 2021 Another Life Gabriel Episode: Will to Power 2021-2023 Moonshine Gale Favreau 11 episodes 2023 Sullivan's Crossing Andrew Mathews 3 episodes 2025- Saint-Pierre Donny "Fitz" Fitzpatrick Series co-lead; also co-creator, writer and producer
Theatre Year Title Role Notes2014BellevilleZachThe Company Theatre, director: Jason Byrne2008FestenMichaelThe Company Theatre, director: Jason Byrne 2005 A Whistle in the DarkHarryThe Company Theatre, director: Jason Byrne2004Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?NickManitoba Theatre Centre, director: Michael Shamata2003Richard IIIRichard IIILSPU Hall-Resource Centre for the Arts, director: Aiden Flynn2002Shape of ThingsAdamCanadian Stage, director: James Guedo2002MacbethMalduffFestival of Classics, director: Michael Shamata2002 The Cripple of InishmaanBartleyCentaur Theatre, director: Ben Barnes2001Salt-Water MoonJacobSaidye Bronfman Centre, director: Chris Abraham2001You Are HerePaul/JustinTheatre Passe-Muraille, director: Daniel MacIvor2001La RondeYoung GentlemanSoulpepper Theatre Company, director: Herbert Olschok2001Present LaughterFredSoulpepper Theatre Company, director: Joseph Ziegler2001Triumph of LoveAgisPleiades Theatre, director: John Van Burek2001MacbethMalcolmThe Grand Theatre Company, director: Susan Ferley2000Twelfth NightSebastianResurgence Theatre Company, director: Chris Abraham1999 The Return of the Curse of the Mummy's Revenge!The Mummy/MilhouseLSPU Hall-Resource Centre for the Arts, director: Danielle Irvine1998Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet)RomeoLSPU Hall-Resource Centre for the Arts, director: Danielle Irvine1998 A Midsummer Night's DreamDemetriusShakespeare by the Sea-First Light Productions, director: Jillian Keiley1997Place of First Light: The Bell Island ExperienceBilly Swain/Nish JackmanFirst Light Productions, director: Danielle Irvine1996MacbethShakespeare by the Sea-First Light Productions, First Light Productions, director: Danielle Irvine
Awards
Year Award Category Film/play Result2005Birdland Young Actor AwardA Whistle in the Dark2010ACTRA AwardsOutstanding Male PerformanceLove & Savagery2010Gemini AwardsBest Dramatic SeriesRepublic of Doyle2010Gemini AwardsBest Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic RoleRepublic of Doyle2011Gascon Thomas Award-National Theatre SchoolAchievement given by National Theatre School for “exceptional contribution to the growth of theatre,”2011Outstanding Achievement AwardPlayback’s Canadian Film and Television Hall of Fame2018Canadian Screen AwardsLimited Series or ProgramCaught2018Canadian Screen AwardsLead actor, drama program or limited seriesCaught
References
External links
Article at thecanadianencyclopedia.ca