Anthony Frank Hawk (born May 12, 1968) is an American professional skateboarder, entrepreneur and occasional actor who helped bring skateboarding into the mainstream. Raised in Carlsbad, California, Hawk began skating as a child and turned professional while still a teenager. Over several decades he became best known for his skill on vertical ramps, his contributions to skateboard design and culture, and for serving as a public face of the sport to broad audiences. For an overview of his life and career see biographical sources.

Career and signature achievements

Hawk rose to international prominence when he became the first skater widely credited with landing the 900: a 900-degree aerial spin completed on a vert ramp and first publicly achieved at the 1999 X Games. That moment is often cited as a milestone for extreme sports because it demonstrated new physical and technical possibilities for skateboarding and amplified mainstream interest. Hawk built a competitive resume in vert events, won multiple contests across the 1980s and 1990s, and remained an influential figure even after stepping back from full-time competition. He briefly returned to contest skating in July 2021 to compete in the X Games Vert Best Trick event, finishing fourth.

Business, media and product efforts

Beyond competitions, Hawk expanded into business and media. He co-founded a skateboard company, built a reputation as a skate industry entrepreneur, and lent his name to a widely known series of video games that introduced generations to skateboarding culture and tricks. The Tony Hawk game series, beginning in the late 1990s, helped codify trick names and course designs for players and made the sport accessible to casual audiences; more on the games and their impact is available at media and game summaries.

Philanthropy and community work

Hawk has supported community skateboarding through a nonprofit focused on public skateparks and youth access. The foundation he started has funded and advised the construction of many local outdoor skateparks, promoting safe public spaces for skating and community development. Information about these initiatives and how they support grassroots skateboarding can be found via charitable project resources.

  • Specialty: vert skateboarding and aerial maneuvers on half-pipes and ramps.
  • Signature moment: landing the 900 at the 1999 X Games.
  • Legacy: helped popularize skateboarding in the 1990s and 2000s through competition, business and media.

Today Hawk is recognized both for his technical achievements on a skateboard and for his broader role in cultivating skateboarding’s place in popular culture. He remains active in business ventures, media projects and skateboard advocacy while serving as a reference point for newer generations of skaters and fans worldwide.