Ethan Hawke reflects on Robin Williams’ improvisational brilliance in ‘Dead Poets Society’

Actor Ethan Hawke has opened up about one of the most defining moments of his early career — working alongside the late Robin Williams in the 1989 classic "Dead Poets Society". In a recent Vanity Fair career retrospective, Hawke shared how Williams' creative spontaneity and director Peter Weir's open-minded approach reshaped his understanding of collaboration in film.

"I watched Peter Weir direct Robin Williams — not an easy thing to do because Robin was a comic genius, though dramatic acting was still new to him at the time," Hawke recalled. "I was standing just a few feet away as they discussed performance, and that's something you never forget."

Hawke explained that Williams' improvisational freedom was a revelation for him. "Robin didn't always stick to the script — and I didn't know you could do that," he said. "If he had an idea, he just went for it. He didn't ask permission. That opened a new door in my mind — that acting could be play. And Peter embraced it, as long as the heart of the scene remained intact."

He also admired the mutual respect between Williams and Weir despite their contrasting creative styles. "They didn't try to control each other or clash — they worked together," Hawke said. "That's when real artistic collaboration happens. A movie becomes more than one person's vision — it becomes a fusion of perspectives."

Released in 1989, "Dead Poets Society" follows the unconventional teacher John Keating (played by Williams), who inspires his students at a conservative boys' school to think freely through poetry. The film went on to win the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, while Williams earned a Best Actor nomination and Weir received a Best Director nod.