Congratulations to ……. for the correct answer that John Keating played by Robin Williams said “Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary." in Dead Poets Society 1989. The film was directed by the Australian Peter Weir and he and Williams were both nominated for Ocars. The part of John Keating was once intended for Dustin Hoffman. The thing that attracted Robin Williams to the role of John Keating more than anything else was that John Keating was the type of teacher wished he had had in his schooldays.