At the young age of 18, Ethan Hawke was filming the Oscar-winning movie Dead Poets Society. Even then, he sensed Robin Williams’ struggles with mental health during their time on set.

In a conversation with Tracy Smith on CBS Sunday Morning, Hawke addressed whether Williams’ passing in 2014, by suicide at the age of 63, affects his view of the 1989 film directed by Peter Weir.

“Watching the movie hasn’t changed for me because, even as a teenager, I recognized the depth of his emotional world,” Hawke shared. “My family has faced a lot of depression, and I could tell that his immense charisma and power had a price. He was an incredibly sensitive person, finely tuned to the energy around him.”

Reflecting on his time with Williams, Hawke, who has recently worked on FX’s The Lowdown and Richard Linklater’s Blue Moon, recounted how Williams would improvise lines, earning admiration. Yet, he also remembered seeing Williams secluded in a corner, shrouded in darkness, which later helped him understand Williams better.

“I thought to myself, ‘Ah, I see now,'” Hawke recalled. “It was overwhelming. There are many tales of performers who bring joy but face their own inner battles, and it often comes at a steep personal cost.”

Hawke continued, “I say all that to say the end of his life does not define his life for me. When I watch the movie, I think of the spirit of the man that I knew on those days and how powerful it was, and how much he weathered that storm of his own psyche for us and for other people. I admire him tremendously. There aren’t two of him.”

Hawke highlighted this as a reminder that “there aren’t two of any of us.”

“So figuring out who that person is, that’s the life’s work,” he added.

Dead Poets Society is streaming on Hulu.

If you or someone you know are experiencing suicidal thoughts, call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 988.