Anthony Frank "Tony" Hawk (born May 12, 1968), nicknamed "The Birdman" is an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 retired professional skateboarder

Skateboarding

Skateboarding is an action sport which involves riding and performing tricks using a skateboard.Skateboarding can be a recreational activity, an art form, a job, or a method of transportation. Skateboarding has been shaped and influenced by many skateboarders throughout the years. A 2002 report...

 and actor

Actor

An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...

. Hawk gained significant fame for completing the first 900

900 (skateboarding trick)

The 900 is a 2.5-revolution aerial spin performed on a skateboard ramp. It is considered one of skateboarding's most technically demanding tricks....

 as well as his licensed video game titles distributed by Activision

Activision

Activision is an American publisher, majority owned by French conglomerate Vivendi SA. Its current CEO is Robert Kotick. It was founded on October 1, 1979 and was the world's first independent developer and distributor of video games for gaming consoles...

. He is widely considered one of the most successful and influential pioneers of modern vertical skateboarding

Vert skateboarding

Vert skateboarding is a term used to refer to riding a skateboard on a vertical ramp that is a larger version of a halfpipe. Many people use vert ramps in trick skateboarding as well as vert skateboarding...

.

Raised in San Diego, CA, Hawk was described as being "hyperactive" as a child.