Christian Slater’s father, Michael Hawkins, was a writer and actor, and his mother, Mary Jo Slater, is a casting director and producer.
Key Takeaways
- Mary Jo Slater and Michael Hawkins were happily married for 10 years.
- Michael Hawkins was a famous actor and writer known for Midnight Run, Ryan’s Hope, The Amityville Horror, and many more.
Mary Jo Slater, born in New Jersey, on April 19, 1946, was raised by her parents, Leonard Joseph Lawton and Anna Mary Sweeney.
She also has a brother named William Green Lawton. Her family background includes Irish, English, and a smaller mix of Dutch, Scottish, and German ancestry.
In an interview, Mary Jo shared a story about her early days working as a receptionist for a gynecologist in New York City, who happened to be the gynecologist for the wife of a well-known Broadway producer, Emanuel Azenberg.
During this time, she was able to offer casting suggestions for a Broadway production, which eventually led her to become involved in casting for Neil Simon’s play. From that moment on, casting became her passion.
Mary Jo Slater is now a renowned casting director and producer known for her work on films such as “Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991), “The Last Castle” (2001), and “The Arrival” (1996).
She has over 100 movie credits to her name and has been involved in TV dramas like “One Life to Live,” “In the Heat of the Night,” “Walker, Texas Ranger,” “Babylon 5,” and “Stargate SG-1.” She is also known for her work in theater.
In her journey of making movies, producing, and directing, she met her husband Michael.
In 1969, she had a first son, Christian Slater, with her ex-husband, Michael Hawkins, whom she married in 1966.
Michael Hawkins, whose real name was Thomas Knight Slater and whose nickname was Michael D. Gainsborough, was born on December 26, 1938, in New York, USA.
His parents were Thomas Gaskill Slater and Helen Margaret Knight. He had three siblings: William, Stuart Franklin, and Stephen.
He spent his early childhood in Texas and Tennessee before moving to New York with his family during his teenage years. His uncle, Bill Slater, was a well-known radio personality.
Michael Hawkins was a respected actor and writer, recognized for his roles in movies such as “Midnight Run” and “The Amityville Horror” and his work on the soap opera “Ryan’s Hope,” where he played Frank Ryan from 1975 to 1976.
Despite his success in the entertainment industry, he struggled to work with directors and collaborate with others. He was diagnosed with manic-depressive schizophrenia, which led him to withdraw from the entertainment industry in 1988.
His personal life also faced challenges. In 1976, after ten years of marriage, he divorced his wife, Mary Jo Slater. Additionally, his relationship with his wife and son grew distant over time.
Tragically, Michael passed away in November 2022 after battling cancer.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Mary Jo Slater has two sons, Christian Slater and Ryan Slater; both of her sons are actors.
- Mary Jo received Emmy nominations for outstanding casting in the TV miniseries Traffic (2004) and Elvis (2005).
- Michael Hawkins is the grandfather of Jaden Christopher Haddon-Slater and Eliana Sophia Haddon-Slater.
