The actor Ethan Hawke was always jealous of: “I was envious, of course I was”
Acting is one of the most competitive jobs out there, with millions of people across the world dreaming of stardom but only a small handful actually earning truly iconic status. Some people spend their whole lives trying to make something of themselves in Hollywood, but if films like Inland Empire or Sunset Boulevard are anything to go by, it’s a harsh industry that can chew you up and spit you out.
In some instances, actors who have befriended each other have ended up competing for the same roles, from Robert De Niro and Al Pacino to Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Stone. That’s just the nature of Hollywood, and it takes a mature actor to realise that missing out on a part can sometimes be a blessing in disguise and ultimately the right outcome, even if it hurts.
For Ethan Hawke, who would become a successful star of everything from moving dramas to horror movies following his entry into the film industry, he had to grapple with competition from one of his good friends, whom he couldn’t help but feel a little jealous of.
The actor had first emerged on screens in the mid-1980s with a role in Joe Dante’s Explorers alongside River Phoenix, who also made his debut with the movie. It wasn’t a hit, but it marked the pair’s entry into the world of cinema, and soon Phoenix landed a role that would launch him to widespread acclaim. He was lucky enough to nab he part of Chris Chambers in Stand By Me directed by Rob Reiner.
The coming-of-age film was adapted from Stephen King’s story of the same name, and alongside movies like The Goonies, it remains a quintessential ‘80s film about children learning the horrors of the real world with both heartfelt and comedic effect. However, Hawke was also hoping to land the role, which would’ve catapulted him to fame. He unfortunately found out he hadn’t got the part from Phoenix himself.
He explained to The Independent, “It was really hard. The worst part of it was, River called me to tell me how sorry he was that I didn’t get the part. He didn’t know that I didn’t know yet, so I found out from him!” It wasn’t easy for the young Hawke to see his friend succeed in something he was also desperate to prosper in, but he soon realised that this kind of jealousy was ultimately futile.
“I was envious. Of course, I was envious. River was gracious and kind, which made it worse. I wanted it to go to his head, for him to be awful or something,” he explained, adding, “There is no one pie. Somebody else getting a piece doesn’t mean you’re not getting a piece. Him being great made the art form better, and that made me better. You realise what a waste of time the green-headed monster is.”
In the end, Hawke would find success with Dead Poets Society in 1989 before going on to movies like Reality Bites, Before Sunrise, and Training Day in the coming years. Hawke had nothing to worry about, and he looks back on his friendship with Phoenix, who tragically died in 1993, as a great learning experience.
