Overview
- Hawke told CBS Sunday Morning he sensed the complexity of Williams’ emotional life while filming Dead Poets Society at age 18.
- He recounted seeing Williams alone and “hiding in the dark” after entertaining the set, illustrating a gap between public exuberance and private strain.
- Hawke said Williams’ death in 2014 does not change how he watches the film, stressing that the actor’s life is not defined by its end.
- He described Williams as highly sensitive and attuned to a room’s energy, noting that such charisma carried a personal cost.
- Hawke credited Williams’ improvisational approach—often departing from the script—with opening his eyes to new possibilities in performance.