LaRoyce Hawkins, quiet force behind Officer Kevin Atwater, isn’t just a one-note character in a cop drama. He’s a multifaceted creator—spanning spoken-word poetry, rap, family life, and community activism in real Chicago.
Roots & Inspiration
Born in Chicago’s South Side, Hawkins turned to spoken-word in high school. Drama class led to rap battles. He says his family’s push for education gave him voice-confidence. His character Atwater is modeled partly on Hawkins’s uncle—strong, resilient, instinctively moral.
Behind-the-Scenes Juggle
Hawkins films across Chicago P.D., Chicago Med, and Chicago Fire—a logistics tangle that only deepens his city connection. On weekends, he volunteers at Jr High slam poetry workshops. He’s even teaching screenwriting at youth centers, advocating representation. He’s raising a son born in 2017, keeps his family private, but posts occasional pictures of father-and-son biking.
Artistry & Influence
When P.D.’s story calls for an emotional arc—say, racial profiling, police-community distrust—it’s Hawkins’s input that guides authenticity. He collaborated on one 2022 script around Chicago youth immigration, and co-wrote dialogues to sound real.
Why It Matters
In a cast of high-octane characters—like Voight, Halstead, Upton—Atwater is moral core. Hawkins’s real-life artistry gives him resonance: he isn’t performing; he’s living it. And this intentionality reflects in his powerful, grounded performance.
