Sean Hankinson Explained

Sean Hankinson
Birth Place:Tucson, Arizona, US[1]
Alma Mater:Chapman University (BFA)[2]
Years Active:2005–present

Sean Hankinson is an American film and theater actor. He is best known for his role as Ethan Blaire in Days of Our Lives, Ken in , and Ben in Adult Swim Yule Log.[3]

Early life

Hankinson was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona,[1] living briefly in Albuquerque, New Mexico, before moving to Los Angeles, California. He attended Tucson High Magnet School, a performing arts public school. Hankinson said he had wanted to be an actor since age 6 and began working professionally at age 14.[4]

During college, Hankinson portrayed Alan Strang in the Chapman University production of Equus, for which he won an OC Weekly Theater Award for Best College Performance.[5] His performance was described as "brave" and "near-perfect" by OC Weekly, which further stated that his "sheer acting skill drew the viewer into the character beneath the skin."[5] In a review, The Los Angeles Times described Hankinson's portrayal of Strang as "mercurial" and "both intricate and thorough."[6]

Acting career

After receiving his Bachelor of Fine Arts, Hankison moved to New York City, and began acting in a variety of films and television shows, including a starring role as the character Ben on the long-running web series Prom Queen produced by Michael Eisner for Vuguru and The CW. He also performed in the soap opera Days of Our Lives as Ethan Blaine in 2008.[1] [3]

Throughout the 2010s, he also worked as a voice actor, including voicing the character Ken in the official Mattel comedy web series from 2012 to 2015.[3] [7] The series experienced renewed popularity on Netflix in 2023 following the release of Greta Gerwig's Barbie that year.[8] Hankinson described the role as a "dream job" and one of his favorites.[4]

During 2016, Hankinson apprenticed at an Off-Broadway theater, and later in 2017 starred in the Off-Broadway touring production of Matt Murphy's Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man, based on the cult classic best-selling book by Dan Anderson and Maggie Berman of the same name.[1] [9] The production received mixed reviews,[10] [11] though Hankinson received praise for his improvisational skills.[12]

He later relocated to Atlanta in 2019,[1] and landed guest roles in shows like Dynasty and Naomi, as well as a starring role in the 2022 surreal meta-horror comedy Adult Swim Yule Log. He portrays blacklisted Hollywood screenwriter Dalton Trumbo in the upcoming biographical historical drama Reagan about U.S. president Ronald Reagan.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
20053 Girls and the Golden CocoonKyle
2006The Road AheadJoe
2007Cougar ClubCC Member
2007Fun on EarthCafeteria hecklerShort Film
2007Curtain CallMikeShort Film
2009Drama KingsBrody Bondalillo
2011Bad ActressForensics Coordinator
2013RockBarnes: The Emperor in YouSimon Foster #1 Fan
20154th Man OutDerek
2016StuBartenderShort Film
2019Camp WeddingGore
2019Enjoy the DayBrandonShort Film
2020The GloriasTV Producer
202121st & ColonialBenShort Film
2022Gigi & NateDr. Patidar
2022Stalked WithinSupervisor
2022Adult Swim Yule LogBen
2023The Slumber PartyDr. Patrick Brookman
2024MegalopolisTV Newscaster
2024ReaganDalton Trumboin post-production

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2006Team ExtremeStaggering KidTV movie
2006Untold Stories of the E.R.Brett MaxwellEpisode: "Too Close to Home"
2007–12Prom QueenBenWeb Series; 51 episodes
2008Days of Our LivesEthan Blaine3 episodes
2008Mystery ERBrandonEpisode: "Rash Decision/Inflamed"
2008Lost TapesEvan Metcalf-ChambersEpisode: "Megaconda"
2011FoodiesPorter3 episodes
201190210Polo Shirt GuyEpisode: "Let the Games Begin"
2011Digimon Fusion BattlesKenny
2012Dates from HellBorisEpisode: "A Kiss Before Dying"
2012–15KenWeb Series; 74 episodes (voice)
2015This Is My RoommateNeedy GuyEpisode: "The Right One"
2016The SeanTal ShowSeanMiniseries; 5 episodes
2016Courier 2Episode: "Trial and Execution"
2017BullJuror #1Episode: "The Devil, The Detail"
2020Dwight in Shining ArmorHeraldEpisode: "Just Desserts"
2021DynastyDarrylEpisode: "The British Are Coming"
2021Games People PlayReporter 12 episodes
2022NaomiSteve O'BrienEpisode: "Unidentified Flying Object"
2022AtlantaMan in GlassesEpisode: "Three Slaps"
2022WokeFrankEpisode: "Sole Train"
2022The First LadyReporterEpisode: "Voices Carry"
2022The Ms. Pat ShowJohnny JamesEpisode: "Trigger Warning"
2022The WatcherTeacherEpisode: "Götterdämmerung"
2022Step Up: High WaterReporter #2Episode: "Never Scared"
2023SistasWestley2 Episodes
2024Will TrentBrent SwannEpisode: "It's Easier to Handcuff a Human Being"

Video games

Stage

YearTitleRoleNotes
1999EquusAlan StrangChapman University Moulton Hall Studio Theater
2017Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay ManDanOff-Broadway Touring Production

Notes and References

  1. News: For Struggling Actors, No More Waiting Tables. The New Side Gig: Brand Ambassador . . 21 December 2023 . Eveline . Chao . 10 July 2019.
  2. Web site: Alumnus eats up role on new food-obsessed web comedy. March 14, 2011. Chapman News. December 21, 2023.
  3. News: 3 Sex Tips For A Straight Woman From A Gay Man (adult content) . . 21 December 2023 . 12 April 2017.
  4. News: Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man. HotSpots! Magazine . 21 December 2023 . Scott . Holland . 29 March 2017.
  5. News: The 1999 Okies. . 21 December 2023 . 10 February 2000.
  6. News: An Extraordinary 'Equus'. . 29 March 2009 . T.H. . McCulloh . 25 October 1999.
  7. News: Before Barbie got meta, there was 'Life In The Dreamhouse' . . 21 December 2023 . Cindy . White . 19 July 2023.
  8. News: Netflix Top 10: ‘Barbie Life in the Dreamhouse’ Charts at No. 6 as ‘The Witcher’ Returns to No. 1 . . 21 December 2023 . BreAnna . Bell . 19 July 2023.
  9. News: SEX TIPS FOR STRAIGHT WOMEN FROM A GAY MAN Brings Off-Broadway's Longest Running Romantic Comedy to the Kravis Center . . 21 December 2023 . A.A. . Cristi . 28 March 2017.
  10. News: Straight women, a gay man and sex tips galore in Shea's Smith Theatre . . 21 December 2023 . Colin . Dabkowski . 1 February 2018.
  11. News: ‘Sex Tips’ a trip to Chuck-E-Cheese for women . Encore Michigan . 21 December 2023 . David . Kiley . 8 March 2018.
  12. News: ‘Sex Tips’ is a Naughty Romp at The Broward Center . . 21 December 2023 . J.W. . Arnold . 29 March 2017.