Biography Of Corey Hawkins

Corey Antonio Hawkins is an American actor whose career spans film, television and Broadway. He gained wider recognition as Dr. Dre in Straight Outta Compton and later played Heath in The Walking Dead. A Juilliard-trained performer, Hawkins has also earned acclaim for major stage productions, including Six Degrees of Separation and Topdog/Underdog.

Age, Height, Birthday and Education

Fact	Detail
Full Name	Corey Antonio Hawkins
Date of Birth	October 22, 1988
Age	37 years old as of July 2026
Birthplace	Washington, D.C., United States
Height	Approximately 6 feet 1 inch (185 cm)
High School	Duke Ellington School of the Arts
College	The Juilliard School
Qualification	Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drama
Graduation Year	2011
Student Award	John Houseman Prize for classical theatre

Parents, Siblings and Dr. Dre Rumours

Corey Hawkins was raised in Washington, D.C., by his mother, who worked as a police officer. Reliable sources reveal little about his father or siblings. Hawkins is not known to be related to Dr. Dre; the rumour comes from his convincing portrayal of the rapper in Straight Outta Compton.

Corey Hawkins’ Movies and TV Shows

Corey Hawkins has built a varied screen career across biographical drama, horror, action, musicals and television. His best-known credits include Straight Outta Compton, The Walking Dead, 24: Legacy, In the Heights and The Color Purple. The table below highlights major roles and official U.S. viewing pages.

Year	Movie or TV Show	Corey Hawkins’ Role	Format	Official Viewing Link
2015	Straight Outta Compton	Dr. Dre	Movie	View on Apple TV
2015–2016	The Walking Dead	Heath	TV series	Watch on Netflix
2017	24: Legacy	Eric Carter	TV series	Watch on Hulu
2017	Kong: Skull Island	Houston Brooks	Movie	View on Apple TV
2018	BlacKkKlansman	Kwame Ture	Movie	View on Apple TV
2019	6 Underground	Seven	Movie	Watch on Netflix
2021	In the Heights	Benny	Movie musical	View on Apple TV
2021	The Tragedy of Macbeth	Macduff	Movie	Watch on Apple TV+
2023	The Last Voyage of the Demeter	Clemens	Movie	View on Apple TV
2023	The Color Purple	Harpo	Movie musical	View on Apple TV

Streaming availability varies by country and licensing period. Apple TV pages may offer rental, purchase or access through a linked streaming provider, depending on the viewer’s location.

Straight Outta Compton and His Role as Dr. Dre

Corey Hawkins delivered a breakthrough performance as Dr. Dre in Straight Outta Compton, the 2015 biographical drama about N.W.A.’s rise from Compton to global influence. Hawkins captured Dre’s ambition, restraint and creative drive, helping establish him as a major screen actor and introducing his work to a wider international audience.

Movie Detail	Information
Movie	Straight Outta Compton
Release Year	2015
Genre	Biographical drama, music
Director	F. Gary Gray
Corey Hawkins’ Role	Andre “Dr. Dre” Young
Official Viewing Page	View on Apple TV
Official Trailer	Watch the Universal Pictures trailer

Corey Hawkins as Heath in The Walking Dead

Corey Hawkins played Heath, an Alexandria supply runner, in six episodes of The Walking Dead between 2015 and 2016. Introduced in Season 6, Heath joined Glenn and other survivors on dangerous missions before disappearing during a supply run with Tara in the Season 7 episode “Swear.” His practical outlook and comic-book origins made him a memorable supporting character.

Corey Hawkins in In the Heights

Corey Hawkins played Benny, a dispatcher at Rosario’s Car and Limousine, in the 2021 film adaptation of In the Heights. His character is ambitious, loyal and romantically connected to Nina Rosario. Hawkins brought warmth, humour and musical confidence to the role, making Benny one of the movie’s most grounded and likeable figures.

Singing and Musical Performances

Yes, Corey Hawkins performed his own vocals in In the Heights. His singing background included church performances, and the film featured him in numbers such as “Benny’s Dispatch,” “When You’re Home” and the ensemble song “96,000.”

Wife, Dating and Personal Life

Corey Hawkins keeps his personal life largely outside the public spotlight. As of July 2026, no reliable, on-record source confirms that he is married, has a wife, is publicly dating a partner or has children. Recent profiles and established biographies focus on his acting career rather than a confirmed relationship, so names attached to him by gossip sites should be treated as speculation.

Relationship and Sexuality Questions

Hawkins has not publicly confirmed his sexual orientation or identified a current partner. Therefore, claims that he is gay, straight or secretly married should not be presented as fact without a direct statement from him.

Latest Projects and News

Project	Corey Hawkins’ Role	Release Date	Current Status
Crime 101	Detective Tillman	February 13, 2026	Released in U.S. cinemas
The Odyssey	Supporting role not officially identified	July 17, 2026	Released in cinemas
Later Projects	No confirmed role announced	—	No newer project was confirmed in reliable sources checked as of July 20, 2026

Release details may change by country. Future casting updates should be checked through official studio announcements or established entertainment publications.

Latest Projects and News

Project	Corey Hawkins’ Role	Release Date	Current Status
Crime 101	Detective Tillman	February 13, 2026	Released in U.S. cinemas
The Odyssey	Supporting role not officially identified	July 17, 2026	Released in cinemas
Later Projects	No confirmed role announced	—	No newer project was confirmed in reliable sources checked as of July 20, 2026

Release details may change by country. Future casting updates should be checked through official studio announcements or established entertainment publications.

Frequently Asked Questions About Corey Hawkins