Renn Hawkey

Renn McDonnell Hawkey (born March 29, 1974)[1] is an American musician, songwriter, film producer, and occasional actor. He played the synthesizer for the metal band Deadsy, performing on their self-titled debut album (1996) and subsequent releases Commencement (2002) and Phantasmagore (2006).

Renn Hawkey
Born
Renn McDonnell Hawkey

(1974-03-29) March 29, 1974
New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupation
  • Musician
  • songwriter
  • film producer
  • actor
Years active1995–present
Spouse(s)
​
(m. 2008)​
Children2
RelativesMolly Hawkey (sister)
Musical career
GenresIndustrial rock, industrial metal, electro rock, nu metal, darkwave
Instruments
  • Synthesizer
  • keyboards
  • guitar
  • piano
  • cello
Associated actsDeadsy

In 2011, Hawkey served as musical director and producer on his wife Vera Farmiga's directorial debut film Higher Ground, and in 2017, he executive produced the documentary film Unspoken. In 2015, he had a recurring role as Paul Koretsky in the A&E series The Returned.

Early life

Hawkey was born in New York City, and grew up in Ossining, New York.[2] He is the third of five children born to Penelope "Penny" (née Sharp), an advertising executive who wrote the famous Coca-Cola commercial "Hey Kid, Catch!",[3] and William Stevenson "Bill" Hawkey, who also worked in advertising. His parents now own and operate Sundial Farm, a plant nursery in Ossining.[4] Hawkey has four full siblings: Adam, a film compositor and colorist, Robin, a chiropractor, Timothy, a marketing managing director, and Molly, an actress and comedian.[5][6][7][8] He also has two paternal half-siblings from his father's first marriage: William, a headmaster of The Pennington School, and Elisabeth, a corporate chef.[9]

Hawkey attended the Hyde School in Maine, where he met future bandmate Elijah Blue Allman, and subsequently spent a semester studying at Sarah Lawrence College.[10][2] During his childhood, he played the piano and cello.

Career

Music

Hawkey was the third member to join Deadsy after frontman Elijah Blue Allman sent him a Juno-106 synth and a demo tape made by Allman and drummer Alec Puro.[11] Each member of the band represented a color and "entity", with Hawkey's being yellow and science and medicine, respectively. The members also had their own unique appearance; Hawkey would dress in medical scrubs. On August 1, 1996, Deadsy released their self-titled debut album on the music label Sire Records.[12] In 1999, Deadsy received attention from labels and notable musicians, with their first gig at The Viper Room attracting members of Limp Bizkit, Orgy, Sugar Ray, and Thirty Seconds to Mars.[13]

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 Jonathan Davis' Elementree Records, a division of DreamWorks Records.[14][15] In addition to playing the synthesizer on Commencement, Hawkey also programmed and played guitar on a number of the tracks. The band subsequently released their first music video, for the song "The Key to Gramercy Park", with Davis providing guest vocals on the track and Fred Durst directing.[16] That same year, Deadsy was invited by Korn to join the Family Values Tour, along with Puddle of Mudd, Stone Temple Pilots, and Linkin Park.[17]

In 2002, Hawkey also worked with Thirty Seconds to Mars on their self-titled debut album, playing the synthesizer on the song "Capricorn (A Brand New Name)".[18] Deadsy left DreamWorks in 2004, citing its sale to Interscope Records as one of the reasons.[19] In 2006, Deadsy was asked to again join Korn and co-headliners Deftones on the Family Values Tour 2006.[20] The band released their third studio album, Phantasmagore, on August 22, 2006, through Immortal Records.[20] This album would ultimately mark Hawkey's final appearance as part of Deadsy. The band went on hiatus in April 2007, after which Hawkey began a career in carpentry.[21] In 2011, Hawkey served as the music director to his wife's directorial debut Higher Ground.[22]

In November 2018, Deadsy reformed and played a show at the San Quentin State Prison alongside Queens of the Stone Age. They are expected to release their fourth studio album in 2019.[23]

Film

Prior to being a film producer, Hawkey had a cameo role as a musician in the musical comedy film The Singing Detective (2003). As a film producer, Hawkey has worked on the drama film Higher Ground (2011), directed by his wife Vera Farmiga, in which he was also an uncredited and unnamed extra.[24] In 2015, he appeared in the first, seventh, and eighth episodes of the Carlton Cuse-produced A&E supernatural drama series The Returned in the supporting role of Paul Koretsky, a father grieving the death of his son in a fatal bus crash.[25] He served as an executive producer on the documentary film Unspoken (2017).[26]

Personal life

In 2004, Hawkey began dating actress Vera Farmiga after being introduced by mutual friend Allen Hughes on the set of Touching Evil.[27] The couple married in a private ceremony on September 13, 2008, when Farmiga was five months pregnant with their first child.[28][29] Their son, Fynn McDonnell Hawkey, was born on January 13, 2009 in Rhinebeck, New York.[30] It was announced in April 2010 that Hawkey and Farmiga were expecting their second child.[31] Farmiga gave birth to a daughter, Gytta Lubov Hawkey, on November 4, 2010.[32][33] The family splits their time between homes in New York City and Vancouver.[34][35]

Discography
Main article: Deadsy § Discography

Filmography
Year Title Functioned as Role Type Notes
Producer Actor
2003 The Singing Detective Yes Dark's Bass Player Film
2011 Higher Ground Yes N/A Film Also music director
2015 The Returned Yes Paul Koretsky TV series 3 episodes
2017 Unspoken Executive N/A Documentary

References
  1. "Person Details for Renn M Hawkey, "United States Public Records, 1970–2009"". FamilySearch. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  2. Garbarino, Steve (September 23, 2001). "Parking Strictly Prohibited". The New York Times.
  3. Getschow, George (February 1, 2013). "What the Iliad, the Odyssey and 'Mean Joe' Have in Common". The Coca-Cola Company.
  4. Pearson, Fenella (August 22, 2011). "Sundial Farm Takes Gardening to New Heights". Armonk Daily Voice.
  5. "Image Systems Names Colorist Adam Hawkey as Strategic Consultant". Below the Line. September 28, 2011.
  6. Berrent, Sloane (December 6, 2007). "LAist Interview: Dr. Robin Hawkey on Chiropractics". LAist. Archived from the original on November 6, 2017.
  7. "Area23: Managing Director, Executive Creative Director Tim Hawkey" (PDF). Hemophilia.org. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
  8. "EJ Podcast #107 with Molly Hawkey". EJScott.com. December 26, 2016.
  9. Plump, Wendy (October 5, 2013). "William Hawkey prepares to take over as headmaster of The Pennington School". NJ.com.
  10. Marburger, Lex (June 1, 1997). "Deadsy - Interview". Lollipop Magazine. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
  11. "Deadsy's Biography". Last.fm. February 1, 2009.
  12. Quelland, Sarah (May 2, 2002). "Dawn of the Deadsy". Metroactive Music.
  13. Johnson, Tina (December 6, 1999). "Korn, Limp Bizkit, Orgy, Sugar Ray Come Out For Deadsy". MTV.
  14. Dansby, Andrew (October 31, 2001). "Korn's Davis Exhumes Deadsy". Rolling Stone.
  15. Nichols, Natalie (August 29, 2002). "Blue Man's Group". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 29, 2015.
  16. Moss, Corey (April 3, 2002). "Deadsy Hold Their Breath For Durst-Directed Video". MTV.
  17. "Korn Taps Puddle Of Mudd, Deadsy For Tour". Billboard. April 18, 2002.
  18. 30 Seconds to Mars (Booklet). Thirty Seconds to Mars. Europe: Immortal Records. 2002. 7243 8 12424 0 7.CS1 maint: others (link)
  19. "DEADSY Confirm Split With DREAMWORKS RECORDS". Blabbermouth.net. April 29, 2004.
  20. "KORN Frontman: 'I Love Giving Artists A Chance To Get Their Stuff Out There'". Blabbermouth.net. August 24, 2006. Retrieved September 6, 2011.
  21. "Vera Farmiga: rare breed". The Daily 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.
  22. Dodes, Rachel (August 19, 2011). "Saving It By Directing It". The Wall Street Journal.
  23. "Deadsy to Perform at San Quentin State Prison With Queens of the Stone Age". Broadway World. November 14, 2018.
  24. Drake, Rossiter (September 9, 2011). "'Higher Ground' is Vera Farmiga's unexpected chance at the helm". The San Francisco Examiner.
  25. "Renn Hawkey: Guest Star - The Returned". TV.com. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  26. "Team – Unspoken Film". UnspokenDoc.com. + Disruptor Productions. Opendox. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  27. Morrison, Mark (February 12, 2014). "Motel Confidential: Vera Farmiga". Emmys.com.
  28. "Vera Farmiga Expecting First Child". People. September 3, 2008.
  29. "Vera Farmiga Expecting a Baby Boy, Shares Due Date". People. November 6, 2008.
  30. "Vera Farmiga Felt the Pressure to Bounce Back After Baby". People. July 7, 2009.
  31. Everett, Cristina (April 20, 2010). "Vera Farmiga and former Deadsy rocker Renn Hawkey expecting second child". New York Daily News.
  32. Michaud, Sarah (November 11, 2010). "Vera Farmiga Welcomes Daughter". People. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
  33. Jordan, Julie (November 11, 2010). "It's a Girl for Vera Farmiga". People. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  34. "Celebrities Raising Families Outside Hollywood". Parents.com. January 31, 2013. Archived from the original on September 9, 2014.
  35. 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.
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