Detective Kevin Atwater is known for his grit, integrity, and streetwise empathy. But behind the character is LaRoyce Hawkins, a man whose real-life journey is just as powerful—and far more dramatic.
Before joining Chicago P.D., Hawkins was nearly homeless. After graduating from Illinois State University, the aspiring actor faced months of rejection. “I was broke, couch-surfing, and applying for retail jobs just to eat,” he revealed in a podcast.
He even slept in his car for a stretch, parked outside acting classes he couldn’t afford to attend. “I told myself I wasn’t broke—I was just in between blessings,” Hawkins said.
His breakthrough came unexpectedly: he was doing stand-up comedy at an open mic night when a local casting agent approached him after the show. She told him he had something special and asked if he had any dramatic material.
He didn’t. But he lied and said yes.
That led to a last-minute audition for Chicago P.D., where his raw delivery and real-life hardship gave his performance unexpected depth. Producers were blown away.
“He wasn’t acting,” one casting director said. “He was Atwater. He understood the character because he lived that reality.”
Since joining the show, Hawkins has used his platform to mentor young performers, speak at high schools, and quietly donate to homelessness organizations in Chicago.
Despite fame, he still lives in Harvey, Illinois, where he grew up. “I want kids in my neighborhood to see that you don’t have to leave home to make it big,” he said.
And when asked why he never moved to Hollywood, he smiled and said, “Because I already survived the hardest part. Now I’m building where I started.”
