When LaRoyce Hawkins first started playing Office Kevin Atwater on the NBC police procedural Chicago P.D. in 2014, he had a moniker among the cast and crew that was far from the title he’s earned this year as part of PEOPLE’s 2025 Sexiest Man Alive portfolio.
“They used to call me ‘Fatwater’ because I was a lot thicker, a little more round back then,” Hawkins, 37, laughs, explaining to PEOPLE that “there were some things I had to improve on over time.”
Eric Ogden
During that time, the actor made changes to his lifestyle — from eating better to taking care of his mental and spiritual health — while embracing “the responsibility of this job,” which has seen his character grow from a patrol officer in the Windy City’s 21st District to an office with the CPD’s Intelligence Unit.
“I like to think that it’s definitely done a great thing for me and just my health overall… I feel so much better than I did when I started the show. I didn’t even know — not that I felt bad — I just didn’t know how much better I could feel,” he explains.
And now, “13 seasons later, you could just see the difference,” he says. He’s proud of both his physical and mental transformation, noting, “I’m very grateful for everything that I’ve learned and the new habits that I’ve been able to pick up.”
For Hawkins, that means taking on one of his biggest — and sexiest — episodes yet with season 13’s “Miami,” which not only gives longtime fans more insight to Atwater’s past but also shows off his sensual side as the character strips down on-screen. “You can tell we’re getting busy,” is how he describes the moment Atwater gets into bed with a woman from his past.
He also tells PEOPLE that it was a major moment for him as an actor, as he’s in almost every scene — and was looking forward to some downtime to recover. “The best thing to do is just find a bed and go to sleep,” he says.
Luckily, among those healthier habits Hawkins has developed after a decade is a way to unwind and take care of himself in between filming, “especially with the stunts” he has to do on the physically taxing series.
“I do my best to try to find time to reflect on the work in a way that we can make sure the work is better next time we activate,” he says, revealing that he turns to “massages and saunas and steam rooms” to “help the body recalibrate.”
Eric Ogden
Additionally, the actor’s self-care routine includes taking advantage of “all the best products” he has access to through the hair and makeup department. “They do such a great job of taking care of us, too,” he says. “They show us all the best processes to make sure that we’re taking care of ourselves.” He’s also a fan of facials: “I do my best to get a lot more than I used to.”
Though he does say that being a guy means that he doesn’t “think about all that type of stuff often,” he’s aware that putting in the work with his grooming also pays dividends in the same way his workouts and massages do: “My recovery time and just how I look in the morning, I look a lot better than I could, you know what I’m saying?”
And fans certainly aren’t complaining about him taking care of his skin, especially because his sexiest attribute (he’s been told) is “my bottom lip,” Hawkins says. “It’s hard not to look at.”
That, combined with his on-screen charisma, is perhaps why some fans don’t hold back when it comes to telling the actor just how much they adore him. “Wives pull up on me with their husbands sometimes and they claim I’m their hall pass,” he says, turning red. “Most husbands, they do a good job of being good sports about it.”
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Of course, that’s not to say Hawkins has never taken advantage of the perks of playing a cop. While in full costume on location in Chicago, he’s been taken for a real officer. “All the time,” he says. “I was even able to get the 10% discount at McDonald’s! I got free coffees. They throw doughnuts at you. It’s a good time.”
And yes, he’s even used the prop handcuffs as an icebreaker. “I’ve shown them off, like, ‘Hey, I’m on this show and I’ve gotta use these cuffs,’ ” he says. “Sometimes it’s a decent conversation starter.”
Eric Ogden
His explanation for all the adoration that’s come with playing Atwater on Chicago P.D. as well as roles on shows including Ironheart and South Side? “I think part of my charm — and I say this humbly — is that I’m modest about it. I try not to play it up too much,” Hawkins says.
So even if he’s too humble to react, how would his character take the news that he’s been photographed as one of the sexiest cops on TV? “I think Kevin is similar to myself. He would find it hard to believe, you know what I mean?” Hawkins says. “He doesn’t really believe the hype — but it is extremely flattering. Extremely flattering.”
As for his costars — the very ones who used to jokingly call him “Fatwater” — Hawkins says, “They’re definitely going to tease me. But they’re also going to be proud. Like I said, it’s a term of endearment. We’re now seeing Fatwater in PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive issue!”
