Born on November 13, 1941 in Los Angeles, California,[2] Hawkins was the middle child of three born to Elizabeth K., née Unholz, and Thomas J. Hawkins,[3] and the grandson of German-born prizefighter and onetime Keystone Cop, Rudy Unholz.[2][4] Each of Hawkins' siblings—Thomas Jr., the eldest, and Susan, the youngest—was also a child actor of film and/or television, the former billed as either Tim, Timmy, or Timmie,[2][5] and the latter as either Susan or Susie.[6][7] Hawkins attended Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California, participating in sports activities, and he was a leader of the Junior Achievement group in Burbank.[8]
In addition to Hawkins's acting, he made personal appearances that featured his roping and trick riding.[9]
Personal life
Hawkins is the author of five books about the film It's a Wonderful Life, served on The Jimmy Stewart Museum Advisory Board, and for 20 years served on the board of directors of the Donna Reed Foundation for the Performing Arts.[10]
In celebration of the Frank Capra film, Hawkins and other cast members appear annually at the "It's A Wonderful Life Festival" in Seneca Falls, New York, the town thought to be the inspiration for the movie's setting of Bedford Falls.[11]
1 2 3 Goldrup, Tom; Goldrup, Jim (2002). Growing Up on the Set: Interviews with 39 Former Child Actors of Classic Film and Television. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p.113. ISBN0-7864-1254-2. "Jimmy Hawkins was born on November 13, 1941 in Los Angeles, California. He states, 'My grandfather, Rudy Unholtz [sic], was one of the original Keystone Cops. My mom was raised around studios and always wanted her kids in the picture business. So I just naturally followed in my brother Tim's footsteps. We would always go on interviews together. If they said, 'We need somebody a little older,' she would bring my brother in, and if they needed somebody younger, they's bring me in."
↑ Angus, Howard (June 15, 1916). "UNHOLZ TAKES FINAL COUNT; Famous Little Lightweight Loses His Last; Checkered Career Ended by Long Sickness; Game Fighter has Lengthy String of Victories". The Los Angeles Times. p.. Retrieved May 7, 2025. "Rudy Unholz died at 8:30 o'clock last night at his residence, No. 1664 Glendale Avenue. [...] He was 34 years of age. [...] He was born at Mannhelm-on-the-Rhine, Germany, October 5, 1881. [...] He boxed all of the best lightweights until his fatal match with Stanley Yoakum in Boise, Idaho, in October of 1912. Yoakum hit Unholz in the throat and the Boer took the count. After that his throat hurt him and a cough began. [...] It was his bout with Ad Wolgast in 1914 that first told Rudy the truth. Wolgast knocked him out in the second round, or rather Rudy dropped from sheer weakness. He came West and tried farming and later joined the Keystone Moving Picture Company."
↑ Terrace, Vincent (2024). Experimental Television, Test Films, Pilots and Trial Series, 1925 through 1995; Seven Decades of Small Screen Almosts. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p.85. ISBN978-0-7864-4096-2. "370. Carolyn Pilot, (Comedy), 30 min., NBC, 8/7/56. Carolyn Daniels is an actress who becomes the guardian to three children after the death of her best friend. Her efforts to raise the children (Elizabeth, Candy and Buster) was to be the focal point of the series. Cast: Celeste Holm (Carolyn Daniels), Patricia Morrow (Elizabeth), Susan Hawkins (Candy), Jimmy Hawkins (Buster), Parley Baer (Smattering, the butler)."
↑ "TV Castings". TV Castings. November 8, 1956. p.8. ProQuest2338225379. Sam Buffington, Charles Tannen and Joseph Crehan for 'Iron Trail' segment of 'Cheyenne' at Warners. Susie Hawkins and Lei Lani for the Christmas episode of 'West Point Story. Edward Everett Horton to guest on the George Gobel Show Nov. 17. See also:
"TV Castings". TV Castings. December 11, 1958. p.8. ProQuest2610419778. Anne Dore was cast yesterday in a segment for the 'Bat Masterson' TV series; Reba Waters, 'Peck's Bad Girl'; Bobbie Crawford and Susie Hawkins, 'Donna Reed Show'; John Vivyan, '77 Sunset Strip.'
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
