Ethan Hawke talks about his co-star Robin Williams’ depression while filming Dead Poets Society and recalls special moments.
Actor Ethan Hawke says he knew about his co-star Robin Williams’ mental health struggles while filming Dead Poets Society. In a new interview, he was also asked if he viewed the 1989 film differently since Robin Williams’ suicide in 2014.
“I knew how complex his emotional life was”
“It didn’t fundamentally change the way I saw the film. Even at 18, I knew how complex his emotional life was,” Ethan Hawke told CBS Sunday Morning. He went on to explain that he had experienced a lot of depression in his own family and was therefore aware that all that charisma and energy must have come at a price. Williams was a very sensitive person whose mood was always dependent on the energy of those around him.
Memories of special moments during filming
The 55-year-old recalled a particular situation during the filming of the film that underscored the stark differences between Williams’ public demeanor and his inner life. Ethan Hawke explained: “I remember one time he was joking around and everyone was laughing and adoring him. Afterwards I went to get a glass of water or a bagel and saw him hiding in a dark corner, just him by himself.”
The actor continued: “It made a lot more sense to me. There are a lot of stories about clowns and the happiness they give and the price for it.”
“The end of one’s life does not define one’s life.”
Despite the sad passing of Williams and the reasons for it, Ethan Hawke comes to a positive conclusion: “For me, the end of his life does not define his life. When I watch the film, I think of this man’s presence and how powerful it was. I admire him, there are no two of him.”
Released in 1989, the Oscar-winning coming-of-age drama follows teacher John Keating, played by Robin Williams, who arrives at a boarding school in 1959 where boys are taught in a harsh and conservative way. By teaching poetry, he encourages his students to explore themselves and break out of norms. Robin Williams was nominated for an Oscar for his performance.