“I wanted these interviews to feel like they were lost and rediscovered, like we were eavesdropping on friends. Paul and Joanne’s story doesn’t exist in a vacuum; it’s our generation looking back on the one before it. You can’t tell their story without telling the story of the people around us.”
-Ethan Hawke, episode 284 of Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso
This Father’s Day, we’re revisiting our special talk with actor Ethan Hawke.
After a phone call with Dad Fragoso (2:00), we dive into the episode. At the top, Hawke unpacks his docuseries The Last Movie Stars (9:24), describing his introduction to Paul Newman through Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (12:13). Then, he reflects on his personal history: growing up with his mother on the east coast (16:43), his on-screen debut at fifteen in Explorers with River Phoenix (20:04), the enduring legacy of Robin Williams (25:57), and how Richard Linklater’s Before trilogy transformed his career (33:01).
On the back-half, we revisit a memorable scene from Before Midnight (42:28), how capturing Chet Baker in Born to Be Blue helped Hawke process loss (52:31), what he learned about longevity from director Paul Schrader (55:29) and how that definition evolved in making The Last Movie Stars (58:32). To close– we discuss the importance of family (1:02:12), Hawke’s hopes for his third act (1:04:24), and why he continues to honor The Actor’s Vow by Elia Kazan (1:07:38).
For questions, comments, or to join our mailing list, reach me at sf@talkeasypod.com.
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Show-notes:
- Stream The Last Movie Stars on Max.
- See his latest film Wildcat, starring Maya Hawke.
- Watch Ethan in Dead Poets Society and the Before trilogy.
- Follow him on Instagram.
- For more conversations, hear our talks with Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, Maya Hawke, Matthew McConaughey, and Pedro Pascal.
- Order your Talk Easy mug in cream and navy or our vinyl record with Fran Lebowitz.
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Original illustration by Krishna Shenoi. Reference photograph by François Berthier.
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