30 years later, the Dead Poets Society lives on.
The iconic movie that starred Robin Williams in one of his first dramatic roles and launched the careers of then-unknown-teen-actors Ethan Hawke, Josh Charles and Robert Sean Leonard came out June 2, 1989, and immediately became an enduring coming-of-age tale that's impact has only grown.
In the 30 years since the boarding school dram debuted, the poets have moved on, but the experience of filming Dead Poets Society and working with the legendary Williams, who tragically committed suicide in 2014, has stayed with them throughout their careers.
Written by Tom Schulman and directed by Peter Weir, Dead Poets Society, which was nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, told the story of the unconventional English teacher John Keating, played by a more relaxed and introspective Williams, and the group of seven students he inspired to create their own secret society over their love of poetry.
But it turns out the bond between the seven young actors on-set while filming was even closer than that of the society, with Weir using unusual tactics to forge their tight-knit friendships. Even before casting the Welton Academy students though, the movie needed its leading man...and there were a few options considered before Williams took on one of his most beloved roles.
Here are 30 secrets you might not know about Dead Poets Society...