Ira Hawkins is a New York-based singer and actor who provided the bass vocals for the Sesame Street songs "Fixin' My Hair" and "Take Care of That Smile" and received credit on the album Splish Splash: Bath Time Fun. Hawkins also guest starred on the Jim Henson Company-produced CityKids, playing John's father Thomas Themba in the episode "Reputation."
On-camera, Hawkins appeared on the CTW series Ghostwriter and on several soap operas including Santa Barbara, All My Children, One Life to Live, and Another World (recurring as Lt. Samuels), as well as the Law & Order franchise. Films include Ghost Town (with Ricky Gervais), Freedomland (with Julianne Moore), and The Perfect Holiday (with Queen Latifah). He appeared in multiple Broadway musicals, including The Tap Dance Kid (taking over as father William opposite Savion Glover). As a session singer, he backed Ringo Starr on the album Goodnight Vienna and Keith Moon on "In My Life."