Robin Williams

(1951 – 2014)

Biographical Sketch

Robin McLaurin Williams (Chicago, Il, USA, July 21, 1951 – Paradise City, CA, USA, August 11, 2014) was an American stand-up comedian, actor, director, producer, writer, singer and voice artist. Starting as a stand-up comedian in San Francisco and Los Angeles in the mid-1970s, he is credited with leading San Francisco’s comedy renaissance. After rising to fame as Mork in Mork & Mindy (1978–82), Williams went on to establish a career in both stand-up comedy and feature film acting. He was known for his improvisational skills.

Williams began his career doing stand-up comedy shows in the San Francisco Bay Area in the mid-1970s.  He then moved to Los Angeles and continued doing stand-up shows at various clubs, including the Comedy Club, in 1977, where TV producer George Schlatter saw him. Schlatter, realizing that Williams would become an important force in show business, asked him to appear on a revival of his Laugh-In show, which, though the Laugh-In revival failed, it led Williams into a career in television. He did continue, however, doing stand-up at comedy clubs, such as the Roxy, to help him keep his improvisational skills sharp.

After his film debut in Popeye (1980), he starred or co-starred in widely acclaimed films, including The World According to Garp (1982), Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), Dead Poets Society (1989), Awakenings (1990), The Fisher King (1991), Aladdin (1992), Good Will Hunting (1997), and One Hour Photo (2002), as well as financial successes, such as Hook (1991), Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), Jumanji (1995), The Birdcage (1996), Night at the Museum (2006), and World’s Greatest Dad (2009).

Williams won the 1997 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Sean Maguire in Good Will Hunting. He also received two Emmy Awards, six Golden Globe Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and five Grammy Awards throughout his career.

On August 11, 2014, Williams committed suicide at his home in Paradise Cay, California.

Read more about Robin Williams on Wikipedia.

Major Awards and Honors

Academy Awards (USA)

• 1997: Best Supporting Actor – “Good Will Hunting”

Hollywood Walk of Fame

• 1990: Star plaque

Golden Globe Awards
(Hollywood Foreign Press Association)

• 1979: Best Actor in a Television Series, Comedy or Musical – “Mork & Mindy”
• 1988: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical – “Good Morning, Vietnam”
• 1992: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical – “The Fisher King”
• 1993: Special Award for Vocal Work – “Aladdin”
• 1994: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical – “Mrs. Doubtfire”
• 2005: Cecil B. DeMille Award

Screen Actors Guild Awards (USA)

• 1997: Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture – “The Birdcage”
• 1998: Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role – “Good Will Hunting”

National Board of Review Awards (USA)

• 1990: Best Actor – “Awakenings”
  – Tied with Robert de Niro
• 1992: Special Award

National Society of Film Critics Awards (USA)

• 1985: 2nd Place, Best Actor – “Moscow on the Hudson”

Critics’ Choice Movie Awards (USA & Canada)

• 2003: 2nd Place, Best Actor – “One Hour Photo”

Emmy Awards (USA)

• 1987: Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program – “Carol, Carl, Whoopi and Robin”
• 1988: Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program – “ABC Presents A Royal Gala”

Grammy Awards (USA)

• 1980: Best Comedy Album – “Reality … What a Concept”
• 1988: Best Comedy Album – “A Night at the Met”
• 1989: Best Comedy Album – “Good Morning, Vietnam”
• 2003: Best Comedy Album – “Robin Williams Live: 2002”

MTV Movie Awards (USA)

• 1993: Best Comedic Performance – “Aladdin”
• 1994: Best Comedic Performance – “Mrs. Doubtfire”

American Comedy Awards

• 1987: Funniest Male Performer of the Year
• 1987: Funniest Male Stand-Up Comic
• 1987: Funniest Television Star in a Special, Male or Female – “Robin Williams: Live at the Met”
• 1988: Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) – “Good Morning, Vietnam”
• 1988: Funniest Male Performer of the Year
• 1988: Funniest Male Stand-Up Comic
• 1988: Funniest Male Performer in a TV Special (Leading or Supporting) Network, Cable or Syndication – “Comic Relief ’87”
• 1990: Funniest Male Performer in a TV Special (Leading or Supporting) Network, Cable or Syndication – “Comic Relief  III”
• 1994: Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) – “Mrs. Doubtfire”

People’s Choice Awards (USA)

• 1979: Favorite Male Performer in a New TV Program – “Mork & Mindy“
• 1994: Favorite Comedy Motion Picture Actor – “Mrs. Doubtfire”
• 2007: Favorite Funny Male Star
• 2008: Favorite Funny Male Star
• 2009: Favorite Scene Stealing Guest Star – “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”

Blockbuster Entertainment Awards (USA)

• 1998: Favorite Actor/Actress, Family – “Flubber”

Hollywood Film Awards

• 2006: Lifetime Achievement Award

U.S. Comedy Arts Festival

• 2000: AFI Star Award

Saturn Awards (USA)

• 1993: Best Supporting Actor – “Aladdin”
• 2003: Best Actor – “One Hour Photo”

CableACE Awards (USA)

• 1987: Performance in a Comedy Special – “Comic Relief”
• 1988: Writing a Comedy Special – “Robin Williams: Live at the Met”
• 1988: Performance in a Comedy Special – “Robin Williams: Live at the Met”
• 1989: Performance in a Comedy Special – “Comic Relief ’87”
• 1993: Entertainment Host – “Comic Relief V”
  – Shared with Billy Crystal & Whoopi Goldberg
• 1994: Entertainment Host – “Shakespeare: The Animated Tales”

Online Film & Television Association (USA)

• 2008: Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series – “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”
• 2016: OFTA  Film Hall of Fame – Acting

Kids’ Choice Awards (USa)

• 1992: Favorite Movie Actor – “Hook”
• 1994: Favorite Movie Actor – “Mrs. Doubtfire”

Filmography

Movies

• Can I Do It … ‘Till I Need Glasses? (1977)
  – Roles: Lawyer /  Man with Tooth Ache
• Popeye (1980)
  – Role: Popeye
• The World According to Garp (1982)
  – Role: T.S. Garp
• The Survivors (1983)
  – Role: Donald Quinelle
• Moscow on the Hudson (1984)
  – Role: Vladimir Ivanov
• The Best of Times (1986)
  – Role: Jack Dundee
• Club Paradise (1986)
  – Role: Jack Moniker
• Seize the Day (1986)
  – Role: Tommy Wilhelm
• Good Morning, Vietnam (1987)
  – Role: Adrian Cronauer
• The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988)
  – Role: King of the Moon; credited as Ray D. Tutto.
• Dead Poets Society (1989)
  – Role: John Keating
• Cadillac Man (1990)
  – Role: Joey O’Brien
• Awakenings (1990)
  – Role: Dr. Malcolm Sayer
• Shakes the Clown (1991)
  – Role: Mime Class Instructor
• Dead Again (1991)
  – Role: Doctor Cozy Carlisle
• The Fisher King (1991)
  – Role: Henry “Parry” Sagan
• Hook (1991)
  – Roles: Peter Banning / Peter Pan
• FernGully: The Last Rainforest (1992)
  – Role: Batty Koda (voice)
• The Timekeeper (1992)
  – Role: The Timekeeper (voice)
  – Circle-Vision 360° film.
• Aladdin (1992)
  – Roles: Genie / Peddler (voices)
• Toys (1992)
  – Role: Leslie Zevo
• Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
  – Role: Daniel Hillard / Euphegenia Doubtfire
  – Also producer.
• Being Human (1994)
  – Role: Hector
• In Search of Dr. Seuss (1994)
  – Role: The Father
• Nine Months (1995)
  – Role: Dr. Kosevich
• To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995)
  – Role: John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt; uncredited.
• Jumanji (1995)
  – Role: Alan Parrish
• Aladdin and the King of Thieves (1996)
  – Role: Genie (voice)
  – Direct-to-video.
• Jack (1996)
  – Role: Jack Powell
• The Secret Agent (1996)
  – Role: Assassin; uncredited.
• Hamlet (1996)
  – Role: Osric
• The Birdcage (1996)
  – Role: Armand Goldman
• Fathers’ Day (1997)
  – Role: Dale Putley
• Deconstructing Harry (1997)
  – Role: Mel
• Flubber (1997)
  – Role: Professor Philip Brainard
• Good Will Hunting (1997)
  – Role: Sean Maguire
• What Dreams May Come (1998)
  – Role: Chris Nielsen
• Patch Adams (1998)
  – Role: Hunter “Patch” Adams (based on a real person)
• Jakob the Liar (1999)
  – Role: Jakob Heym / Narrator
  – Also executive producer.
• Bicentennial Man (1999)
  – Role: Andrew Martin
• Get Bruce (1999)
  – Role: Himself; documentary.
• A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
  – Role: Dr. Know (voice)
• The Rutles 2: Can’t Buy Me Lunch (2002)
  – Role: Hans Hänkie
• One Hour Photo (2002)
  – Role: Seymour “Sy” Parrish
• Death to Smoochy (2002)
  – Role: “Rainbow” Randolph Smiley
• Insomnia (2002)
  – Role: Walter Finch
• The Final Cut (2004)
  – Role: Alan W. Hakman
• House of D (2004)
  – Role: Pappass
• Noel (2004)
  – Roles: Charlie Boyd / The Priest; uncredited.
• Robots (2005)
  – Role: Fender (voice)
• The Big White (2005)
  – Role: Paul Barnell
• The Aristocrats (2005)
  – Role: Himself; documentary.
• The Night Listener (2006)
  – Role: Gabriel Noone
• RV (2006)
  – Role: Bob Munro
• Everyone’s Hero (2006)
  – Role: Napoleon Cross (voice); uncredited.
• Man of the Year (2006)
  – Role: Tom Dobbs
• Happy Feet (2006)
  – Roles: Ramon / Lovelace (voices)
• Night at the Museum (2006)
  – Role: Theodore Roosevelt
• License to Wed (2007)
  – Role: Reverend Frank
• August Rush (2007)
  – Role: Maxwell “Wizard” Wallace
• Shrink (2009)
  – Role: Jack Holden
• World’s Greatest Dad (2009)
  – Role: Lance Clayton
• Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009)
  – Role: Theodore Roosevelt
• Old Dogs (2009)
  – Role: Dan Rayburn
• Happy Feet Two (2011)
  – Roles: Ramon / Lovelace (voices)
• The Big Wedding (2013)
  – Role: Father Monighan
• The Butler (2013)
  – Role: Dwight D. Eisenhower (based on a real person)
• The Face of Love (2013)
  – Role: Roger
• Boulevard (2014)
  – Role: Nolan Mack
• The Angriest Man in Brooklyn (2014)
  – Role: Henry Altmann
• A Merry Friggin’ Christmas (2014)
  – Role: Mitch
  – Released three months after Williams’s death.
• Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014)
  – Roles: Theodore Roosevelt / Garuda Artifact
  – Final on-screen role; released four months after Williams’s death.
• Absolutely Anything (2015)
  – Role: Dennis the Dog (voice)
  – Final role; Williams’s last performance in a film.

Television

• Sorority ’62 (1977)
  – TV Pilot.
• The Richard Pryor Show (1977)
  – Roles: Various characters; 2 episodes.
• Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In (1977)
• Eight Is Enough (1977)
  – Episode: The Return of Auntie V
• America 2-Night (1978)
  – Role: Jason Shine; 2 episodes.
• Happy Days Mork (1978)
  – Episode: My Favorite Orkan
• Mork & Mindy (1978–1982)
  – 92 episodes.
• Happy Days (1979)
  – Episode: Mork Returns
• Out of the Blue (1979)
  – Episode: Random’s Arrival
• Saturday Night Live (1981–2010)
  – Role: Himself; 5 episodes (4 as host, 1 as guest).
• E.T. and Friends: Magical Movie Visitors (1982)
  – Roles: Host / various characters; TV special.
• Faerie Tale Theatre (1982)
  – Role: Frog / Prince Robin; episode Tale of the Frog Prince
• SCTV Network (1982)
  – Roles: Various; episode Jane Eyrehead
• Pryor’s Place (1984)
  – Role: Gaby; episode Sax Education
• Carol, Carl, Whoopi and Robin (1987)
  – Roles: Various characters; TV special (comedy).
• Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam (1987)
  – Role: Baby-san (voice); documentary.
• The Earth Day Special (1990)
  – Role: Everyman
• Sesame Street (1990–2012)
  – Role: Himself; 6 episodes.
• Big Bird’s Birthday Celebration (1991)
  – Sesame Street special
• A Wish for Wings That Work (1991)
  – Role: The Kiwi (voice); credited as Sudy Nim.
• The Larry Sanders Show (1992–1994)
  – Role: Himself; 2 episodes.
• Homicide: Life on the Street (1994)
  – Role: Robert Ellison; episode Bop Gun
• Friends (1997)
  – Role: Tomas (uncredited); episode The One with the Ultimate Fighting Champion
• One Saturday Morning (1998)
  – Role: Genie; 2 episodes.
• L.A. Doctors (1999)
  – Role: Hugo Kinsley; episode Just Duet
• Whose Line Is It Anyway? (2000)
  – Role: Himself; season 3, episode 9 (guest star)
• Freedom: A History of Us (2003)
  – Roles: Josiah Quincy / Ulysses S. Grant / Missouri farmer / Wilbur Wright / Orville Wright; 4 episodes.
• Life with Bonnie (2003)
  – Role: Kevin Powalski; episode Psychic
• Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (2006)
  – Role: Himself; episode The DeAeth Family
• Mind of Mencia (2006)
  – Episode: That’s F**king Historical
• Blue’s Clues (2006)
  – Episode: Behind the Clues: 10 Years of Blue
• Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2008)
  – Role: Merritt Rook; episode Authority
• SpongeBob SquarePants (2009)
  – Role: Himself; episode SpongeBob’s Truth or Square
• Wilfred (2012)
  – Role: Dr. Eddy / Himself; episode Progress
• Louie (2012)
  – Role: Himself; episode Barney/ Never
• The Crazy Ones (2013–2014)
  – Role: Simon Roberts; 22 episodes.

Links

• The Robin Williams Fansite (unofficial website)
• Robin Williams at Biography.com
• Robin Williams at the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)
• Robin Williams at the Internet Broadway Database
• Robin Williams at Britannica.com
• Robin Williams’s profile on the Famous Birthdays site
• Henry David Thoreau’s author page on this blog, Lioness at Large
• Walt Whitman’s author page on this blog, Lioness at Large
• Project: On Page and Screen
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• Reviews and blog posts related to Robin Williams on this blog, Lioness at Large