The ‘Dead Poets Society’ star discussed Maya’s wedding on Thursday, Nov. 5, episode of ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’

NEED TO KNOW

• Ethan Hawke went on The Tonight Show on Thursday, Nov. 5, and spoke to Jimmy Fallon about his daughter Maya Hawke’s wedding
• He described it as “the greatest day of my life,” and said his new son-in-law, Christian Lee Hutson, was an “amazing young man”
• Maya married musician Hutson in a surprise Valentine’s Day ceremony in New York City

Ethan Hawke is getting emotional about his daughter’s wedding day.

The Dead Poets Society actor, 56, went on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Thursday, Nov. 5, and spoke to host Jimmy Fallon about his daughter Maya Hawke’s wedding to Christian Lee Hutson on Valentine’s Day.

He described watching his eldest daughter, whom he shares with his ex-wife Uma Thurman, tie the knot 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. 

“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.

When asked by Fallon if he felt emotional, Ethan replied, “I’m an actor! I tried to keep my cool.”

“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. 

Ethan previously described Maya’s wedding day as “pretty fun” and spoke candidly about the emotions he felt while walking her down the aisle. 

“Walking your daughter down the aisle … I’ve had a lot of feelings in my life, and that was one I have no words for what that feels like,” Ethan told Entertainment Tonight in April. “I have no vocabulary for that. I felt like I was 13, experiencing life for the first time.”

Maya and Hutson had a surprise wedding on Feb. 14, 2026, and were photographed walking the streets of New York City in their custom Prada ensembles. 

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Among the attendees were Maya’s parents, Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman, and younger brother, Levon Roan Thurman-Hawke. The Stranger Things actress also had some of her costars there, including Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Sadie Sink, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton and Joe Keery.

Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE in March, Maya said married life so far has been “absolutely fantastic.” She added, “I’m a very, very lucky person who’s very happy right now. And yeah, couldn’t be more grateful.”

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