Ethan Hawke gets emotional recalling daughter Maya's wedding - Geo News

Ethan Hawke may be used to delivering emotional performances on screen, but keeping his composure at his own daughter’s wedding was another story.

The Dead Poets Society star got candid about Maya Hawke’s marriage to musician Christian Lee Hutson during his recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

And he didn’t need a long speech to sum up the occasion.

He described the Valentine’s Day celebration as “the greatest day of my life.”

“How’s Maya’s wedding? It’s … It’s the greatest day of my life. How about that? Just go simple. You know what? It’s incredible,” Ethan said.

The 56-year-old, who shares Maya with ex-wife Uma Thurman, admitted the moment hit him harder than he expected.

“Words fail. There’s certain things you go through as a person that you don’t expect, that just run you over,” the dad of four added.

Fallon then asked whether he got emotional. Ethan had a rather fitting response: “I’m an actor! I tried to keep my cool.”

He also had nothing but praise for his new son-in-law, saying, “I’m lucky because this guy is an amazing young man. I really wish … I mean it when I wish him a happy birthday,” Ethan added about his son-in-law, Hutson.

“Maya is really happy, and that’s all that matters,” the Training Day star added.

This wasn’t the first time Ethan struggled to find the words for the big day. In April, he told Entertainment Tonight that walking Maya down the aisle left him feeling like he was “13, experiencing life for the first time.”

Maya and Hutson tied the knot in a surprise New York City wedding on February 14, 2026, with several of her Stranger Things costars in attendance.

Meanwhile, Maya later described married life as “absolutely fantastic,” adding, “I’m a very, very lucky person who’s very happy right now. And yeah, couldn’t be more grateful.”