Renn Hawkey

Renn Hawkey
Born Renn McDonnell Hawkey
March 29, 1974
New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupation
  • Musician
  • film producer
  • carpenter
  • actor
Years active 1996–present
Spouse(s) Vera Farmiga (m. 2008)
Children 2
Relatives

Renn McDonnell Hawkey (born March 29, 1974), also known by the stage name Dr. Nner, is an American musician, film producer, carpenter and actor. From 1996, he was the synthesizer player for the band Deadsy, and performed on the albums Deadsy, Commencement, and Phantasmagore, before leaving the band in 2008. He has been married to Academy Award-nominated actress Vera Farmiga since 2008. In 2011, Hawkey produced the critically acclaimed drama film Higher Ground, which Farmiga directed. In 2015, he had a recurring role as Paul Koretsky on the American television remake of The Returned.

Early life

Renn McDonnell Hawkey was born in New York City, New York on March 29, 1974,[1][2] to parents Penelope J. "Penny" and William Stevenson "Bill" Hawkey Sr.[3][4] He has six siblings: William Jr., Elisabeth, Adam, Robin, Timothy, and Molly, who is an actress and photographer.[5] He was raised in Westchester County, New York. Hawkey attended Hyde School, a preparatory school in Maine, where he met future bandmate Elijah Blue Allman.[6]

Career

Music

See also: Deadsy

Hawkey was the third member to join Deadsy after frontman Elijah Allman sent him a Juno-106 synth and a demo tape made by Allman and drummer Alec Puro.[7] About joining, Hawkey said: "I never planned on it until Elijah sent me a Juno-106 in 1996 and asked me to join a band with two songs." On August 1, 1996, the band released their self-titled debut album on the music label Sire Records. The band's second studio album, Commencement, was released on May 14, 2002, and was their debut record released on a major music label after signing to DreamWorks Records. As well as playing the synthesizer, Hawkey additionally played guitar and programmed on the album.

Hawkey has also worked with Thirty Seconds to Mars on their self-titled debut album, playing the synthesizer on the track "Capricorn (A Brand New Name)".[8] Deadsy released their third studio album, Phantasmagore, on August 22, 2006, through Immortal Records. This album would ultimately mark Hawkey's final appearance as part of Deadsy. On September 11, 2008, Hawkey left Deadsy in order to concentrate on carpentry and family life. He said of his departure: "It was too rough-and-tumble a lifestyle."[9] He then subsequently reverted to using his birth name.

Film

As a film producer, Hawkey has worked on his wife Vera Farmiga's directorial debut drama film Higher Ground (2011), in which he was also an uncredited and unnamed extra. He will executive produce the upcoming comedy film Prima, in which Farmiga is attached to star.[10] In 2015, Hawkey appeared in the first, seventh and eighth episodes of the Carlton Cuse-produced A&E supernatural drama The Returned, in the supporting role of Paul Koretsky. He previously had a cameo role as a musician in the 2003 musical comedy film The Singing Detective.

Personal life

Hawkey married actress Vera Farmiga in a private ceremony on September 13, 2008, after four years of dating. Their first child, a boy named Fynn McDonnell Hawkey, was born on January 15, 2009 in Rhinebeck, New York.[11][12] It was announced in April 2010 that Hawkey and Farmiga were expecting their second child, due in October. Farmiga gave birth to a daughter, Gytta Lubov Hawkey, on November 4, 2010.[13][14] The family lived on a farm in Ulster County, New York,[15] but now reside in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, where Farmiga films her television series Bates Motel.[16] Through his marriage to Farmiga, Hawkey's sister-in-law is actress Taissa Farmiga.

Discography

Main article: Deadsy § Discography

Filmography

As producer

Year Title Notes
2011 Higher Ground Producer and music director
2015 Prima Executive producer; pre-production
2015 D.M.V. Producer; pre-production

As actor

Year Title Role Notes
2003 The Singing Detective Dark's Bass Player Cameo appearance
2011 Higher Ground Extra Uncredited appearance
2015 The Returned Paul Koretsky Recurring role; 3 episodes

References

  1. ↑ "Renn Hawkey Profile". Famous Fix.
  2. ↑ "Renn Hawkey and Vera Farmiga Marriage Profile". About.com.
  3. ↑ "The Feministing Five: Vera Farmiga". Feministing. August 20, 2011.
  4. ↑ Hawkey, Penny (January 23, 2002). "Greetings from the New York branch". Genealogy. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Vera Farmiga: So Uniquely Vera". NUVO. August 26, 2011. Her fondest memories are of summers spent in upstate New York in a 10-person tent, sitting around a campfire with her family (both she and Hawkey have six siblings)...
  6. ↑ "Renn Hawkey - IMDb". IMDb.
  7. ↑ "Renn Hawkey - Zimbio". Zimbio.com.
  8. ↑ 30 Seconds to Mars (Booklet). Thirty Seconds to Mars. Europe: Immortal Records. 2002. 7243 8 12424 0 7.
  9. ↑ "Vera Farmiga: rare breed". Telegraph. August 30, 2008. Hawkey used to play keyboards for a goth band named Deadsy, but has recently given that up – 'it was too rough-and-tumble a lifestyle, I think' – to become a carpenter.
  10. ↑ Trumbore, Dave (February 6, 2014). "Vera Farmiga Stars in PRIMA; Clea Duvall Joins YOUR RIGHT MIND; Jeremy Sumpter in Talks for TAKE DOWN". Collider.
  11. ↑ "Vera Farmiga Felt the Pressure to Bounce Back After Baby". People. July 7, 2009.
  12. ↑ "Vera Farmiga & Son Fynn Cover Cookie". Celebrity Baby Scoop. July 9, 2009.
  13. ↑ "Vera Farmiga Welcomes Daughter". People. November 11, 2010. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
  14. ↑ Jordan, Julie (November 11, 2010). "It's a Girl for Vera Farmiga". People. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  15. ↑ "Celebrities Raising Families Outside Hollywood". Parents.com. January 31, 2013.
  16. ↑ Sandberg, Bryn Elise (May 23, 2014). "Drama Actress Roundtable: Watch the Full, Uncensored Conversation With Claire Danes, Julianna Margulies (Video)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 26, 2014.

External links