Ethan Hawke learnt to act spontaneously from his ‘White Fang’ co-star.
The 45-year-old actor has admitted the half-wolf and half dog creature called White Fang played by the canine Jed in the 1991 film has been his source of inspiration 25 years after the movie hit the big screens, because he taught him to perfect the art of acting surprised.
In an interview with the Guardian newspaper, Hawke said: "Spontaneity is a thing that can be cultivated. Actors forget how to learn to respond to things as if they didn’t see them coming.
"Early in my career, I made a film called ‘White Fang’ where my co-star was half-wolf. It was one of the best actors I ever worked with."
And the father of four – who has Maya, Levon, Clementine and Indiana – has revealed he perfects the look of astonishment by gazing into the camera with wide-eyed disbelief like his former furry colleague.
Describing how he learnt the art, he said: "I’d see the way the wolf reacted to the camera when someone came into the room. Acting surprised. Not expecting it. Acting as if it hadn’t happened before. You can perfect that sort of thing.
"If I were teaching an acting class, I’d get the half-wolf from ‘White Fang’ to come in."
However, the animal actor Jed – who was owned and trained by Clint Rowe – died in 1995, but made an appearance in ‘Turner and Hooch’ alongside Tom Hanks.
Meanwhile Hawke can also been seen in the drama film ‘Born to be Blue’ directed by Robert Budreau, which sees him play the musician Chet Baker alongside actress Carmen Ejogo.
Ethan Hawke has learnt to act spontaneously from his former half-wolf co-star
