Ethan Hawke Opens Up About Early Rivalry With Billy Crudup — and How It Turned Into Respect

Ethan Hawke is taking a thoughtful — and funny — look back at his early career and his once-tense relationship with fellow actor Billy Crudup.

While appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon this week, Hawke noticed Crudup’s portrait hanging behind him. The set had been transformed to resemble the famous New York theater hangout Sardi’s, and the image immediately sparked a memory.

Hawke told host Jimmy Fallon that although Crudup is now a close friend, things weren’t always so easy between them. Early in their careers, the two actors were constantly auditioning for the same roles.

“When you’re young, you feel like you’re competing with everyone,” Hawke said. “You don’t realize yet that there’s space for everyone to find their own path.”

That feeling was especially strong because Crudup was — in Hawke’s words — really good. Hawke joked that he often had to wait outside audition rooms and listen to Crudup perform scenes before his own turn.

“And he was so good,” Hawke said, laughing. “It was incredibly irritating.”

Hawke also shared a moment that still sticks with him. He once turned down a stage role because he was committed to a movie. The play ended up going to Crudup — and it changed everything.

The play was written by Tom Stoppard, and Crudup’s performance in Arcadia on Broadway in 1995 became a major breakout moment. Hawke jokingly said he sometimes wishes he could go back in time and take the role — just to stop Crudup’s career from taking off.

Fallon played along, shouting, “We must stop Billy Crudup! He’s too talented!”

Despite the jokes, Hawke made it clear that his feelings today are full of admiration. Crudup has since become a four-time Tony nominee and even returned to Arcadia in a 2011 Broadway revival, playing a different role.

Fallon added that he recently surprised Crudup with his official Sardi’s portrait on the show — a huge honor in the theater world. The moment was emotional, with Crudup nearly in tears as he tried to process that it was real.

Hawke said the story perfectly shows how much Sardi’s and Broadway recognition mean to actors. He praised Crudup as “the real thing” and said moments like that remind people why they fell in love with acting in the first place.

What started as rivalry, Hawke’s story shows, eventually turned into respect — and a lasting friendship built on talent, hard work, and time.