Since earning a starring role in NBC’s Chicago P.D., LaRoyce Hawkins has grown as both a man as well as an actor. In addition to appearing in films such as Canal Street and The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain, the Harvey, Illinois native also became a father in 2017, an experience for him that was both beautiful, as well as educational.
“Fatherhood has really taught me a couple things – more than a couple of things, but one of the things that I’ve been really taking pride in recently is my patience, just being patient with the small things too,” Hawkins tells ESSENCE. Patience is something that many actors have had to deal with in recent months, but for Hawkins, it’s just another opportunity to sharpen his talents in other endeavors, as well as staying true to the craft of acting.
“I’m doing my best to really just flex other muscles and other skills,” the 35-year-old says. Being both a poet and a stand-up comic, Hawkins’ creativity knows no bounds. So, whatever the world throws at him, he’ll be able to adapt – and excel.
ESSENCE: All right, so for my first question, man, you’ve been a longstanding member of Chicago P.D. How does it feel to be coming back for this 11th season?
LaRoyce Hawkins: Man, it’s really nothing but gratitude man from my end of things. It’s something that you can’t really expect. You don’t expect your dreams to come true at this capacity and at this level. When you’re young, with the type of imagination that I grew up with, I kind of always saw myself in spaces like these, but you never really see it, or you never know how necessarily. You know what you want to do, but you don’t know how it’s going to get done. And so walking into 11 seasons, just period, it’s powerful. My family’s proud, my neighborhood is proud, so it feels great, and I’m grateful.
How do you think fatherhood has…
Read the full article here