Robin Williams, the funnyman who made not just America but the entire world laugh with his brilliant comedic talent, was an American actor and comedian cherished by both kids and adults alike for his quirky expressions, boundless energy, and sharp wit. Although best known for his comedic genius, Williams was an incredibly versatile performer who could deliver deeply moving dramatic performances just as effortlessly as he could make audiences laugh. Nominated four times for the prestigious Academy Awards, he won Best Supporting Actor for his powerful performance in Good Will Hunting. Despite being the son of a senior executive, a career in show business seemed like an unlikely path for young Robin. However, his natural talent for humor shone through from an early age—his classmates even voted him “Funniest” in school. He began his career as a stand-up comedian, quickly finding success. His big break came with the hit sitcom Mork & Mindy, where he played the eccentric alien Mork from Ork, a role that made him a household name. From there, he transitioned to films, becoming one of the most beloved and celebrated actors of all time.
Quick Facts
Also Known As: Robin McLaurin Williams
Died At Age: 63
Family:
Spouse/Ex-: Susan Schneider (m. 2011), Marsha Garces (m. 1989–2008), Valerie Velardi (m. 1978–1988)
father: Robert Williams
mother: Laurie Williams
siblings: Robert Todd Williams
children: Cody Alan Williams, Zachary Pym Williams, Zelda Rae Williams
Born Country: United States
Actors Comedians
Height: 5'7" (170 cm), 5'7" Males
Died on: August 11, 2014
place of death: Paradise Cay, California, United States
City: Chicago, Illinois
Notable Alumni: College Of Marin, Claremont McKenna College, Juilliard School
Personality: ENFP
U.S. State: Illinois
Cause of Death: Suicide
More Facts
education: Juilliard School, Claremont McKenna College, College Of Marin
Childhood & Early Life
Robin Williams was born on July 21, 1951, to Robert Fitzgerald Williams and Laurie McLaurin in Chicago as one of their three sons. His father worked as a senior executive at Ford Motor Company while his mother had been a former model. He was of mixed ancestry.
His family moved to Michigan when he was a young kid and there he joined the Detroit Country Day School. He was a very good student and also played sports. Yet, he was bullied much of the time in school.
He was an introvert and spent much of his time alone playing with his toys. Since both his parents worked, the lonely child entertained himself with his imagination.
As a teenager he attended Redwood High School from where he graduated in 1969. He was a popular student in school, always telling jokes and making others laugh.
He had a penchant for acting from a young age and won a full scholarship to attend the esteemed Juilliard School in New York City in 1973. He was among the only two students who were accepted by John Houseman into the Advanced Program that year. Christopher Reeve and William Hurt were his classmates.
Career
He began his career performing stand up comedy shows during the 1970s. While he was performing at the Comedy Club in Los Angeles in 1977, he was spotted by the TV producer George Schlatter who asked him to appear on a revival of his ‘Laugh-In’ show.
His debut TV appearance happened in late 1977, where he performed an extension of his stand-up routines. Even though the Laugh-In was not a success, it definitely led to his talent getting recognized.
He auditioned for the role of Mork the Alien for the show ‘Happy Days’ in 1978. When asked to take a seat, he promptly sat on his head which really impressed the producer, Garry Marshall. The character was so successful that it set off a spin-off.
The American sitcom ‘Mork & Mindy’ was first broadcast in 1978, featuring Robin as Mork the Alien from the planet Ork. The show was a huge success and made him a popular figure in comedy. The show ran till 1982.
In 1979, he gave a live comedy show at the Copacabana in New York, ‘Reality… What a Concept’ the recording of which won him a Grammy Award.
Even though he had made his big screen debut in 1977, with the comedy movie, ‘Can I Do It ‘Till I Need Glasses?’, it wasn’t until 1980, that he got his first big break with ‘Popeye’ in which he played Popeye the Sailor Man.
More roles soon followed and in 1984, he found himself playing the role of Vladimir Ivanoff in the comedy-drama ‘Moscow on the Hudson’ for which he was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor.
He portrayed a radio DJ on Armed Forces Radio Service in the 1987 war comedy film, ‘Good Morning, Vietnam’, a movie in which his character was loosely based on the life of radio DJ Adrian Cronauer.
In 1989, he appeared in the drama film ‘Dead Poets Society’ which was about the story of an English teacher in a conservative academy who inspires his students by teaching them poetry. The movie was a huge hit.
One of his most memorable comedy films was ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’ (1993) in which he pretends to be a woman so that he can be closer to the kids he has with his ex-wife.
The year 1997 was a good one for him as he got the opportunity to star in the brilliant movie, ‘Good Will Hunting’ in which he plays the role of a therapist who counsels a troubled yet hugely talented young man. The movie won him many accolades.
The success of his career continued well into the new millennium where he performed in movies such as ‘One Hour Photo’ (2002), ‘Robots’ (2005), ‘License to Wed’ (2007), and ‘Old Dogs’ (2009).
Over the past few years his depression had been worsening and he was also having problems with alcoholism. He died suddenly in 2014; some of his movies like ‘Merry Friggin’ Christmas’ and ‘Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb’ are scheduled for posthumous release.
Major Works
He was best known for his role as a therapist in the 1997 drama film ‘Good Will Hunting’ which was both a critical and commercial success. He shared the screen with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck in this much acclaimed movie.
Awards & Achievements
Hewas nominated for the Academy Award for the Best Actor thrice. In 1997, he won the Academy Award for the Best Supporting Actor for his role as Dr. Sean Maguire in the film ‘Good Will Hunting’.
Personal Life & Legacy
Williams married thrice. His first marriage was to Valarie Velardi in 1978, with whom he had a son. Their marriage unraveled due to his alcoholism and infidelity.
He married Marsha Garces, his son’s nanny, in 1989. The couple went on to have two children. This marriage too, did not last long and ended in divorce.
His third marriage was to graphic designer Susan Schneider in 2011.
Williams had always had problems with alcoholism and drug abuse. He also suffered from depression. He was discovered unconscious by his personal assistant on August 11, 2014, and the doctors declared him dead shortly afterwards. His death is believed to be a result of suicide.
Facts About Robin Williams
Robin Williams was a devoted fan of video games and was known to spend hours playing games like The Legend of Zelda and World of Warcraft.
He was an avid cyclist and often used biking as a way to relax and stay active.
Robin Williams was a talented mimic and could imitate a wide range of accents and voices, which he often incorporated into his comedic performances.
In addition to his acting talents, Williams was also an accomplished painter and enjoyed creating artwork in his spare time.
He was passionate about philanthropy and supported numerous charitable causes throughout his life, including organizations focused on children’s health and education.
