Renn McDonnell Hawkey (born March 29, 1974) is an American musician, songwriter, film producer, and occasional actor.
Best known as the synthesizer player for the industrial rock band Deadsy, he later co-founded the alt-rock band The Yagas with his wife, actress Vera Farmiga.
Who is Renn Hawkey?
Renn Hawkey is an American musician, songwriter, film producer, and occasional actor.
He spent over a decade as the keyboard and synthesizer player for the Los Angeles-based industrial rock band Deadsy, recording three studio albums with the group.
His career expanded well beyond music. Hawkey served as musical director and producer on the 2011 drama film Higher Ground and appeared in several television productions.
By 2024, he had launched an entirely new chapter as a founding member and producer of The Yagas. The band released their debut album, Midnight Minuet, in April 2025 to strong critical reception.
Early Life of Renn Hawkey
Renn Hawkey was born in New York City and grew up in Ossining, New York, a town along the Hudson River. He is the third of five children born to Penelope “Penny” Sharp Hawkey and William Stevenson “Bill” Hawkey.
His mother wrote the iconic Coca-Cola commercial “Hey Kid, Catch!” as an advertising executive. His father also worked in the advertising industry, and the couple later operated a plant nursery called Sundial Farm in Ossining.
His four siblings each pursued distinct careers. His sister Molly became an actress and comedian, his brother Adam works as a colorist and film compositor, Robin is a chiropractor, and Timothy works as a marketing managing director. Renn also has two half-siblings.
Renn Hawkey Age
Renn Hawkey is 52 years old as of June 10, 2026, born on March 29, 1974. His zodiac sign is Aries.
In 2025, he produced The Yagas’ debut album Midnight Minuet, marking one of his most active creative periods in years.
Renn Hawkey Ethnicity and Nationality
Renn Hawkey is American by nationality. His family background is rooted in the United States, with both parents working in the American advertising industry.
His mother, Penelope Sharp Hawkey, is particularly notable for her work in major national brand campaigns.
Renn Hawkey Height and Weight
Renn Hawkey stands 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 meters) tall. His weight has not been publicly confirmed. His tall, lean build gives him a distinctive stage presence, which was especially notable during his years performing with Deadsy.
Renn Hawkey Education
Renn Hawkey attended Hyde School in Bath, Maine, a private boarding school known for character-based education. It was there that he first met his future Deadsy bandmate Elijah Blue Allman.
He later spent a semester at Sarah Lawrence College, a liberal arts institution in Bronxville, New York. During that period, he focused on developing his skills on the piano and cello.
Those early classical training experiences on cello and piano later shaped his approach to synthesizer work in Deadsy and beyond.
Renn Hawkey Career
Early Career
Renn Hawkey’s professional music career began in 1995 when he joined Deadsy as the band’s keyboardist and synthesizer player.
The Los Angeles-based group, led by Elijah Blue Allman, son of Cher and Gregg Allman, built a sound around theatrical goth and industrial rock.
Each Deadsy member adopted a stage identity representing a specific entity and color. Hawkey performed under the stage name Dr. Nner, representing science and medicine, identified by the color yellow and a preference for medical-style stage costumes.
The band’s self-titled debut album was recorded in 1996 and released as a promotional CD through Sire Records in 1997.
Breakthrough and Commencement
Deadsy gained major industry attention after a 1999 performance at The Viper Room in Los Angeles. That show drew members from Limp Bizkit, Orgy, Sugar Ray, and Thirty Seconds to Mars to the crowd.
The band signed to Jonathan Davis of Korn’s Elementree Records, a division of DreamWorks Records, and released their first major-label studio album, Commencement, on May 14, 2002.
Commencement peaked at number 100 on the US Billboard 200. On the album, Hawkey played synthesizer and also programmed and played guitar across several tracks.
The lead single “The Key to Gramercy Park” featured guest vocals from Jonathan Davis and a music video directed by Fred Durst. That same year, Deadsy joined Korn’s Family Values Tour alongside Puddle of Mudd, Stone Temple Pilots, and Linkin Park.
Also in 2002, Hawkey contributed synthesizer to the song “Capricorn (A Brand New Name)” on Thirty Seconds to Mars’ self-titled debut album.
Deadsy’s Third Album and Film Work
Deadsy released their third studio album, Phantasmagore, on August 22, 2006, through Immortal Records. The album debuted at number 176 on the US Billboard 200.
The band went on hiatus in 2007, after which Hawkey transitioned to carpentry as his main profession.
In 2011, Hawkey served as musical director and co-producer on Higher Ground, a drama film written and directed by his wife Vera Farmiga. The film premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and earned nominations including the Grand Jury Prize.
Higher Ground earned $841,733 at the worldwide box office. Prior to that, Hawkey had a minor on-screen cameo as a musician in the 2003 musical comedy film The Singing Detective, directed by Keith Gordon.
In 2015, he appeared in a recurring role as Paul Koretsky in the A&E supernatural drama series The Returned, produced by Carlton Cuse. The show was cancelled after one season. In 2017, he served as executive producer on the documentary film Unspoken.
Recent Work with The Yagas
In 2023, Hawkey and his wife Vera Farmiga met drummer Jason Bowman, guitarist Mark Visconti, and bassist Mike Davis at the Rock Academy, a Woodstock-based music school, during an adult workshop.
The five musicians discovered an immediate creative chemistry and formed The Yagas.
The band released their debut single “The Crying Room” in October 2024. Hawkey produced the full debut album, Midnight Minuet, which arrived independently on April 25, 2025.
Cryptic Rock awarded Midnight Minuet 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Renn Hawkey Discography
With Deadsy:
- Deadsy (1996, Sire Records — promotional release)
- Commencement (2002, DreamWorks Records / Elementree Records)
- Phantasmagore (2006, Immortal Records)
With The Yagas:
- Midnight Minuet (2025, independent)
Guest contributions:
- Thirty Seconds to Mars — Thirty Seconds to Mars (2002), synthesizer on “Capricorn (A Brand New Name)”
Renn Hawkey Wife
Renn Hawkey has been married to actress Vera Farmiga since 2008. The two first met through mutual friend and director Allen Hughes on the set of the television series Touching Evil in 2004, and began dating that same year.
Farmiga is an Academy Award-nominated actress best known for her roles in Up in the Air (2009), the Conjuring franchise, and the series Bates Motel. She is also the frontwoman of The Yagas.
The couple lives with their family in Hudson Valley, New York.
Renn Hawkey Children
Renn Hawkey and Vera Farmiga have two children together. Their son, Fynn McDonnell Hawkey, was born in 2009.
Their daughter, Gytta Lubov Hawkey, was born in 2010. Both children have grown up in the Hudson Valley area of New York.
Renn Hawkey Net Worth
Renn Hawkey’s estimated net worth is $5 million, accumulated across his career as a musician, songwriter, film producer, and actor.
His work spans three studio albums with Deadsy, multiple film and television productions, and the independently released Midnight Minuet with The Yagas.
His producing work on Higher Ground (2011), which premiered at Sundance, added a meaningful film credit to his résumé. His transition into carpentry following Deadsy’s 2007 hiatus also contributed to his income during that period.
Hawkey has consistently avoided publicizing the specifics of his finances.
Renn Hawkey Social Media
Renn Hawkey maintains a relatively low public social media profile as an individual. However, The Yagas — the band he co-founded with Vera Farmiga — are active online, where fans can follow their latest music and tour news.
The Yagas are present on Instagram and other platforms. Fans interested in Hawkey’s current projects are best served by following the band’s official channels directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Renn Hawkey’s net worth?
Renn Hawkey’s estimated net worth is $5 million, built through his career as a musician, film producer, and songwriter.
How old is Renn Hawkey?
Renn Hawkey is 52 years old as of June 10, 2026, born on March 29, 1974.
Who is Renn Hawkey married to?
Renn Hawkey is married to actress Vera Farmiga. The couple wed in 2008 and have two children together.
What is Renn Hawkey’s biggest musical project?
Hawkey is best known for his decade-long role as synthesizer player in Deadsy, whose album Commencement (2002) peaked at number 100 on the Billboard 200. His most recent project is Midnight Minuet (2025) with The Yagas.
Where was Renn Hawkey born?
Renn Hawkey was born in New York City and grew up in Ossining, New York.
What is Renn Hawkey famous for?
Renn Hawkey is famous for playing synthesizer in Deadsy, for producing Higher Ground (2011) alongside his wife Vera Farmiga, and for co-founding and producing The Yagas.
The Bottom Line
Renn Hawkey spent over a decade as synthesizer player for Deadsy, recording three studio albums including Commencement (2002), which reached number 100 on the US Billboard 200.
His producing work on Higher Ground (2011) at the Sundance Film Festival further widened his creative reach.
He grew up in Ossining, New York, the son of two advertising professionals, and trained early on cello and piano before gravitating toward synthesizers. That classical foundation shapes his layered approach to electronic music production.
In 2025, Hawkey produced Midnight Minuet, the debut album by The Yagas — a band he co-founded with his wife Vera Farmiga. We hope you enjoyed reading about Renn Hawkey. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!