Tony Hawk facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Tony Hawk

Hawk in 2023
Personal information
Birth name	Anthony Frank Hawk
Nickname(s)	"Birdman"
Born	(1968-05-12) May 12, 1968 (age 57) San Diego, California, U.S.
Occupation	Skateboarder, entrepreneur
Years active	1981–present
Height	1.92 metre
Weight	159 lb (72 kg)
Spouse(s)	Cindy Dunbar ​ ​ (m. 1990; div. 1993)​ Erin Lee ​ ​ (m. 1996; div. 2004)​ Lhotse Merriam ​ ​ (m. 2006; div. 2011)​ Catherine Goodman ​ (m. 2015)​
Sport
Country	United States
Sport	Skateboarding
Event(s)	Vert skateboarding Street skateboarding
Turned pro	1982
Retired	2003
Medal record Summer X Games Representing  United States Gold 1995 Newport Vert Gold 1997 San Diego Vert Gold 1997 San Diego Vert Doubles Gold 1998 San Diego Vert Doubles Gold 1999 San Francisco Vert Doubles Gold 1999 San Francisco Vert Best Trick Gold 2000 San Francisco Vert Doubles Gold 2001 Philadelphia Vert Doubles Gold 2002 Philadelphia Vert Doubles Gold 2003 Los Angeles Vert Best Trick Silver 1995 Newport Park Silver 1996 Newport Vert Silver 2001 Philadelphia Vert Best Trick Bronze 1998 San Diego Vert Bronze 1999 San Francisco Vert Bronze 2002 Philadelphia Vert Best Trick
Updated on April 23, 2013.

Anthony Frank Hawk (born May 12, 1968), known as Tony Hawk and nicknamed Birdman, is a famous American professional skateboarder. He also owns his own skateboard company, Birdhouse. Tony Hawk helped create modern vertical skateboarding. In 1999, he was the first person to successfully land a "900" trick. That same year, a popular skateboarding video game series was named after him. Tony Hawk stopped competing professionally in 2003. Many people consider him one of the greatest and most important skateboarders ever.

Tony Hawk has also done a lot of good work. He started The Skatepark Project, a group that helps build skateparks in places where kids might not have safe places to skate.

Tony Hawk's Early Life

Tony Hawk was born on May 12, 1968, in San Diego, California. His parents were Nancy and Frank Peter Rupert Hawk. He grew up in San Diego with his two older sisters, Pat and Lenore, and an older brother, Steve.

When Tony was a child, he had a lot of energy. His mom said he was very hard on himself. Once, he got upset after striking out in baseball. He hid in a ditch and his dad had to help him come out. His parents had him tested at school. The tests showed Tony was very smart, with an IQ of 144. School advisors suggested he take advanced classes.

Tony went to Jean Farb Middle School. Later, he returned there for a TV show and did a skateboarding demonstration. His parents supported his skateboarding because it helped him use his extra energy. Tony's skills grew quickly. He became a professional skateboarder when he was just 14 years old. He was the National Skateboard Association world champion for 12 years in a row!

Tony went to three high schools and finished at Torrey Pines High School in 1986. He looked up to other skateboarders like Steve Caballero and Christian Hosoi.

Tony Hawk's Skateboarding Career

Tony Hawk used the money he earned from skateboarding to buy his first house. He bought it when he was still in high school.

Hawk skating in 1987 in the Netherlands.

On June 27, 1999, Tony Hawk made history. He became the first skateboarder to land a "900". This trick involves spinning two and a half times in the air on a skateboard. He landed it on his twelfth try. After he did it, Tony said it was the best day of his life.

He stopped competing professionally that year. However, he still appeared at the annual X Games until 2003. On June 27, 2016, when he was 48, Tony Hawk said he would do his last 900. He successfully landed it. He said his son Spencer was there for his first 900 and his last.

In June 2009, Tony Hawk was invited to a Father's Day event by US president Barack Obama. He even skated in the hallways of the Old Executive Office Building near the White House. This was the first time anyone had permission to skateboard on the White House grounds. In 2009, Tony Hawk was honored. He was put into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame at its very first ceremony.

As of April 2020, Tony Hawk is sponsored by several companies. These include Birdhouse, Vans, Independent, Bones, and Nixon. His current special shoe is called the Proto.

In July 2021, Tony Hawk briefly came out of retirement. He took part in the Vert Best Trick event at the X Games. He finished fourth out of nine competitors.

Hawk in 2015.

Tony Hawk's Video Games

A very popular video game series was made about Tony Hawk's skateboarding. It's called Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. The first game came out in 1999. Since then, there have been many games in the series, including ten main games.

Tony Hawk is a big part of the games. In the fifth game, Underground, you meet him in Florida. He is impressed by your skills and helps you get into a skate competition. Later, he teaches you a new trick in Moscow. Tony Hawk and other skaters can be played in most parts of the games. He also appeared as a kid in the Backyard Sports game, Backyard Skateboarding.

Tony Hawk in Movies and TV Shows

Tony Hawk has appeared in many movies and TV shows. In 1986, he was a skateboarder and stunt double for Josh Brolin in the movie Thrashin'. He also had small parts in Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol (1987) and Gleaming the Cube (1989).

In 2002, he was in the film xXx. In 2004, he played himself in the Australian skateboarding movie Deck Dogz. He also had cameo appearances in The New Guy and Drake & Josh Go Hollywood. Tony Hawk was in several Jackass movies. He skated in a fat suit in Jackass: The Movie and went through an obstacle course in Jackass Number Two. He also appeared in the opening scenes of Jackass 3D and Jackass Forever.

Tony Hawk at a skate jam in 2012.

On TV, Tony Hawk was a guest on the kids' show Yo Gabba Gabba!. In 2000, he played himself in Max Steel. He also voiced himself in The Simpsons episode "Barting Over". In that episode, he gives Homer a new skateboard. Tony Hawk also appeared on MXC and Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?. He hosted Cartoon Network's "Hall of Game" sports award show in 2011.

Tony Hawk has been in many other TV shows. These include Last Man Standing, Rocket Power, Breaking In, The Cleveland Show, and Sesame Street. In 2015, he was a stunt double for Will Ferrell in the movie Daddy's Home. He even got 10 stitches in his leg while filming that scene!

In 2020, Tony Hawk competed on The Masked Singer as "Elephant". He was the first person from his group to be eliminated. In 2022, he voiced himself in The Casagrandes. That same year, HBO released a documentary about him called Tony Hawk: Until the Wheels Fall Off.

Other Things Tony Hawk Does

Tony Hawk has done many things besides skateboarding.

Radio and Podcasts

From 2004 to 2019, Tony Hawk hosted a weekly radio show. It was on Sirius XM and called "Tony Hawk's Demolition Radio". In 2021, he started a weekly podcast called "Hawk vs. Wolf" with fellow skateboarder Jason Ellis.

Boom Boom HuckJam

In 2002, Tony Hawk created a live show tour. It featured freestyle motocross, skateboarding, and BMX stunts. The show started in Las Vegas and traveled to many cities across the U.S. It also went to Six Flags amusement parks.

Amusement Park Rides

Some amusement park rides were named after Tony Hawk. They were called Tony Hawk's Big Spin. They were built at three Six Flags parks in 2007 and 2008. The rides looked like a giant skatepark. They had screens showing action sports history. In 2010, Six Flags changed the names of these rides to Pandemonium. There was also a water park ride called Tony Hawk's Half Pipe. It opened at Six Flags America in Maryland.

Emoji

In 2018, New York magazine reported that Tony Hawk helped design the skateboard emoji. The first design was criticized. Tony Hawk helped make it look more like a real skateboard. Now, skateboard emojis from companies like Apple and Samsung look like Tony's own board.

Music

In 2022, Tony Hawk signed a music contract. He released his first song, a cover of "In the City" by The Jam. He sang it with the punk rock supergroup Punk Rock Karaoke. In 2023, he sang "Superman" with the band Goldfinger at concerts. He also performed "Superman" and another song with the Australian band Birdman during his tour in Australia in 2024.

Tony Hawk's Influence and Legacy

In 2011, Transworld Skateboarding magazine named Tony Hawk the second most influential skateboarder of all time. They recognized him for inventing the Backside Ollie to tail trick.

Many other professional skateboarders look up to Tony Hawk. John Cardiel, another influential skateboarder, said Tony Hawk was one of his biggest inspirations. He admired Tony's amazing tricks and the ramps he had. He said, "Tony Hawk's the best."

Andrew Reynolds, another pro skateboarder, said that Tony Hawk shows you can be a skater and do anything. He said Tony is a great businessman and a role model for young people. Andrew Reynolds even recruited Tony's son, Riley, to his skateboard company, Baker.

Tony Hawk often posts on Twitter about funny moments. People sometimes don't recognize him or ask if he is really Tony Hawk. These tweets have become very popular and a running joke among his fans.

Tony Hawk's Personal Life

Family

Tony Hawk married Cindy Dunbar in April 1990. They started dating in high school. Their son, Riley Hawk, was born on December 6, 1992. Riley is also a professional skateboarder. Tony and Cindy divorced in 1993. Riley is married to Frances Bean Cobain, whose parents are Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love. Riley and Frances have a son together.

Tony Hawk was married to Erin Lee from 1996 to 2004. They have two children, born in 1999 and 2001. Their older son, Spencer, makes electronic music under the name Gupi.

Tony Hawk was married to Lhotse Merriam from 2006 to 2011. Their wedding was in Fiji, and the band Rancid played for them. Their only child was born in 2008.

Tony Hawk married his fourth wife, Cathy Goodman, on June 27, 2015. Their wedding was in Limerick, Ireland.

Interests

Besides skateboarding, Tony Hawk is interested in math, physics, and technology. He bought a camcorder in Japan and an Amiga 2000 computer in the late 1980s. He even used his computer to edit a promotional video for a game.

Helping Others

Tony Hawk at the opening of the Needles Skate Park in Needles, California, in 2004. He donated $10,000 to help build the park.

Tony Hawk started the Tony Hawk Foundation in 2002. He did this because there weren't enough safe and legal skateparks in America. By June 2018, his foundation had given out $5.8 million. This money helped build 596 skatepark projects. In 2015, the foundation won an award for using sports to help communities stay healthy.

In 2007, Tony Hawk joined other famous athletes. They founded a charity called Athletes for Hope. This group encourages people to volunteer and support their communities. In 2020, the Tony Hawk Foundation changed its name to The Skatepark Project. This new name better describes what the group does.

In 2023, Tony Hawk auctioned a signed photo. Half of the money went to the Tyre Nichols Memorial Fund. This fund was created after Tyre Nichols' death. One of its goals is to build a skate park in his honor.

Images for kids

• 

  Hawk skating in 1987 (Wassenaar, the Netherlands)

• 

  Hawk in 2015

• 

  Hawk doing skate jam in 2012

• 

  Hawk at the opening of the Needles Skate Park in Needles, California, in 2004. Hawk donated $10,000 to the building of the park and made an appearance at the grand opening.

• 

  Hawk in 2015

See also

In Spanish: Tony Hawk para niños