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Many film enthusiasts considerDead Poets Societyas one of the most cherished movies of the late actor Robin Williams. In the film, Williams’ character English teacher John Keating is a true outlier in the strict setting of the elite boarding school. Playing one of the students in the film is a young Ethan Hawke in his breakthrough performance. However, Hawke and Williams did not get along greatly.
Hawke shared that he wanted to be a serious actor in the industry. However, theJumanjiactor had the habit of making jokes on set which Hawke found incredibly irritating. Though their initial relationship didn’t go smoothly, it was Williams who helped him get his first agent.
Ethan Hawke Opened Up About His Experience Working With Robin Williams InDead Poets Society
Ethan HawkethoughtRobin Williamshated him on the set ofDead Poets Society. Hawke shared his experience working on the film with the Oscar-winning actor when he appeared onThe Graham Norton Show. The host asked him why his relationship with Williams was“fractious”on the set of the film.
“It was a tough job for me”: Robin Williams’ Last Interview Before He Committed Suicide is Just Heartbreaking to Watch
Hawke shared that Williams used to crack jokes on set and was very relaxed and inventive. The legendary actor would just improv constantly all day long. However, theMoon Knightactor was not at all vibing with this atmosphere on the set. Hawke wanted to be a serious actor and shared that he had read Konstantin Stanislavski to be in the film.
Hawke really tried to be in character and did not laugh at any of the jokes. He recalled that Williams got more“insane”with his jokes when he found that Hawke wasn’t laughing at his jokes. At one point, Williams started leaning into theBefore Midnightactor’s character Todd in the film which made Hawke believe that theMrs. Doubtfireactor hated him. Hawke shared:
He was incredibly funny and he was very relaxed, very inventive. He was playing this teacher and he would just improv constantly all day long. The more the crew laughed the more he was [encouraged]. I really wanted to be a serious actor. I’d read Stanislavski and I really wanted to be in character and I really didn’t want to laugh. So the more I didn’t laugh the more insane he got. So I thought he hated me because he just constantly would lay into Todd.
Fans would almost understand where Hawke was coming from since he had portrayed mostly serious roles in his career that carried some depth. He was nominated twice for Best Supporting Actor Oscar forTraining DayandBoyhood. He also earned Oscar nominations for co-writing the screenplays ofBefore SunsetandBefore Midnight.
Ethan Hawke Only Truly Understood Robin Williams After The Film
Ethan Hawke further went on to share that he understoodthe method behind the madnessonly when he got a call after the film. He went back to school after the film and got a call from one of the top agents in Hollywood who managed Williams. He told him that theBoulevardactor had spoken highly of him and that he wanted to take him on.
“He was in his prime… It was like divine inspiration”: Robin Williams Fans Mourning on His 10 Year Death Anniversary Need to Know about One Film Harry Potter Director Chris Columbus Called His Greatest Ever Performance
Hawke shared that it was how he got his first agent, who continued to manage him. Hawke’s heartwarming tale was received with a big round of applause. Hawke shared:
When the movie was over, I had to go back to school and I got this call and it was from a big Hollywood agent. This guy says, ‘I’m Robin Williams’ agent and he says that you’re gonna be somebody and that I should sign you.’ I was like, ‘Really?!’. And so he got me my first agent.
Dead Poets Societyearned Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for Williams. The film grossed $235 million at the box office (via Box Office Mojo).
Dead Poets Societyis currently available to rent on AppleTV+.
Hashim Asraff
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3019
Hashim Asraff is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, with over 2,800 articles published on celebrity culture, comic book movies, and major TV franchises. With a background in Sociology and a keen interest in pop culture, Hashim brings a unique lens to breaking news stories, character deep-dives, film rankings, and fan-driven perspectives.His coverage often includes the MCU, DCU, hit network shows, and celebrity profiles, giving readers a rich blend of entertainment and analysis. A longtime fan of crime and investigative series, Hashim has watched thousands of episodes of NCIS, Criminal Minds, Law & Order: SVU, Bones, Blue Bloods, and The RookieA passionate storyteller and wordsmith, Hashim has also worked as a ghostwriter and managed multiple social media handles. He brought his writing expertise to FandomWire to also pursue his lifelong love for cinema and television.
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Dead Poets SocietyEthan HawkeRobin Williams
