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Robin Williams

Robin Williams150 posts

Robin Williams was an American actor and comedian born in 1951 in Chicago, Illinois. Williams originally became popular for his portrayal of the alien Mork in the TV comedy Mork & Mindy. He also became an established stand-up comedian an film actor as well. Some of his most highly acclaimed work came in movies such as Good Will Hunting, Dead Poets Society, The Fisher King, Awakenings, The Birdcage, and Good Morning, Vietnam. Some of the accolades he earned throughout his career include an Academy Award, two Emmy Awards, two Screen Actors Guilds Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, and five Grammy Awards. Williams was married to Valerie Velardi and had three children. In 2014, Williams died at the age of 63 after being found unconscious at his home in Tiburon, California.

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24 Sep, 2010

World’s Greatest Dad

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In this black comedy, directed by Bobcat Goldthwait, Williams plays Lance Clayton. Lance finds his son dead, the apparent victim of auto-erotic asphyxiation gone horribly awry. In order to give the boy some dignity in death, Lance pens a suicide note before summoning the authorities. By doing this he attracts an overwhelming amount of community and media attention. Co-starring Daryl Sabara and Morgan Murphy. Goldthwait:

But it’s human nature. We all know we’re making a movie. We all know he’s acting, but it’s human nature to come over and start trying to elevate a mood. All that shit in the bedroom – everybody f-cking hated it. We couldn’t wait to get out of the bedroom. It was all just nasty, you know, all the scenes in the bedroom are rotten to begin with.

World's Greatest Dad (2009) Official Trailer #1 - Robin Williams Movie HD

25 Nov, 2009

Old Dogs

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Williams stars as Dan Rayburn, with John Travolta co-starring as best friend Charlie Reed in the film Old Dogs directed by Walt Becker. The former is a divorced father who suddenly finds himself solely responsible for the care of his twin sons, and the latter is a bachelor. The two friends attempt to close a major business deal while parenting the boys.

I’ve had a lot of people tell me they watched Old Dogs with their kids and had a good time. It paid the bills. Sometimes you have to make a movie to make money. You know they’re going to make it goofy. And that’s OK.

Old Dogs Official Theatrical Trailer

23 Nov, 2009

Letterman Interview

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Williams interviews with Dave on the David Letterman show to promote William’s new movie Old Dogs but ended-up cracking jokes about Sarah Palin, the former Governor of Alaska.

It’s wonderful, I went looking for her book and I found it in the fantasy aisle. With Sarah you get the feeling she was voted least likely to write a book and most likely to burn one. You look at her and wonder ‘Where did they find her, Project Running Mate?’

20 May, 2009

Night at the Museum 2

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In this comedy, directed by Shawn Levy, Williams plays Teddy Roosevelt. Roosevelt is one of the pieces located in the museum which security guard Larry Daley infiltrates,  in order to rescue Jedediah and Octavius, who have been shipped to the museum by mistake. Co-starring Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson and Amy Adams.

This time, not only do creatures and animals come to life, but aircraft and rockets and art works and sculptures and paintings. So everything is on a much bigger and more dramatic scale.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQyrz5V7Vuw

2 Nov, 2007

Man of the Year

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Williams plays Tom Dobbs in this drama, directed by Barry Levinson. Dobbs, during his talk show, makes an offhand comment that he would be a better president than the leader who currently occupies the White House. Afterwards a grass-roots campaign conducted by his many fans finds him unexpectedly ushered into the Oval Office and forced to live up to his promise. Co-starring Laura Linney and Lewis Black.

It’s all about money. And so that’s really the main issue behind it all. As long as we want to play this game, that you’re going to go and raise $250 million to be the President and think this President is going to be free enough to go do what he thinks is correct without maximum amount of influence to all the people he’s beholden to, it’s just not realistic.

Man of the Year Trailer [HQ]

10 Aug, 2007

License to Wed

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In this comedy, directed by Ken Kwapis, Williams plays Reverend Frank. The Reverend won’t wed Sadie and Ben until they agree to attend his two-week prenuptial course. Now, as their wedding is near, they must attend every one of Reverend Frank’s exhausting classes and complete a series of rigorous homework assignments designed specifically to test their dedication to one another and ensure that their union will have a sound foundation. Co-starring Mandy Moore and John Krasinski.

Just going back to the old days when I was into going to church and remembering that there were–as a Protestant, which is Catholic light–once again the idea of somebody who could really advise and has something to offer. That’s why I think for that it was just remembering those guys that I kind of grew up with in the Episcopal church, which is “There is no purgatory, just spiritual escrow.”

15 Sep, 2006

The Night Listener

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In this thriller, directed by Patrick Stettner, Williams plays Gabriel Noone, a late night radio-host in a big city, specializing in spooky tales culled from his active imagination. Pete is a very ill boy who lives with his former social worker, Donna. Gabriel develops an unsettling long-distance telephone relationship with the boy and his guardian. Nothing is as it seems. Co-starring Tonie Collette and Rory Culkin.

Yeah but it’s only Armistead about 20 per cent, like it’s only Armistead in that there’s somewhat of a southern accent. Armistead is very elegant man, a very articulate man, in San Francisco he is like our second mayor. It’s like the idea of having him and that kind of persona of Armistead and then it’s this other guy. So I wasn’t doing an impression of Armistead. I was just taking a little bit of him for a base.

The Night Listener - Trailer

28 Apr, 2006

RV

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In this comedy directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, Williams plays businessman Bob Monroe, who disguises his business trip to Colorado as a family camping vacation in a huge RV. The family of four suffers both near disasters and humorous adventures as Monroe and his wife Jamie, played by Cherly Hines, make an effort to bond with their kids and get away from another RV family they believe are stalking them. On working with the director and cast:

We had a good time. It’s weird to make a movie that you had so much fun doing, even though it’s tough work. But we still had a good time with good people.

13 Sep, 2002

One Hour Photo

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In this thriller, Williams plays Sy Parrish, a lonely photo store clerk who becomes obsessed with a family whose photos he develops. Directed by Mark Romanek, this is one of the few movies starring Williams that do not offer any comic relief. Co-starring Connie Nielsen, Michael Vartan, and Will Smith.

It might be the work is just so precise so as a whole piece, I think it is the best I have done in a long time.

One Hour Photo (trailer)

24 May, 2002

Insomnia

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In the crime thriller directed by Christopher Nolan, Williams plays the murderer of a teenage girl in Nightmute, AK, during summertime when there is 24 hours of daylight. Co-starring Al Pacino, Hilary Swank and Martin Donovan. Nolan:

We’d been looking for somebody to play opposite Al who is not only a tremendous actor, but who also has a similar kind of audience identification with his star persona.

24 Sep, 1999

Jakob the Liar

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In the drama directed by Peter Kassovitz, Williams plays the role of Jakob, the owner of a small cafe who begins inventing stories about the Russian army’s progress toward the Polish ghetto. Co-starring Liev Schrieber and Alan Arkin. Kassovitz:

Robin had moments of doubt about doing something funny.   He was a little bit anxious about the material … Like the other American actors, he had a guilt, not to have been a victim of the Nazis.

25 Dec, 1998

Patch Adams

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Williams stars in this comedy-drama biopic based on the life of Dr. Hunter “Patch” Adams. He plays the title role, a trained physician who employs unorthodox techniques – like laughter and empathy – to heal his patients. He co-stars with Monica Potter and Philip Seymour Hoffman. The real Patch Adams on the film:

The movie’s received high ratings because it’s inspiring, and it’s about inspiring giving. I think it’s going to be an example of “giving” having its day. In a lot of movies, “violence” or the “ridiculous” has its day.

Patch Adams Official Trailer #1 - Robin Williams Movie (1998) HD

2 Oct, 1998

What Dreams May Come

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This fantasy drama, based on a novel by the same name, is directed by Vincent Ward and stars Williams as American physician Chris Nielsen. Chris and his wife Annie – played by Annabella Sciorra – meet, marry, have children, and then lose their children in a car crash. When Chris is also killed in a crash, the story focuses on the afterlife and communication between the living and the dead.

That was one of the hardest movies I think I ever did in my whole career. Every day was literally hell, because of the nature of the subject matter, dealing with death and being in hell literally.

What Dreams May Come Official Trailer #1 - Robin Williams Movie (1998) HD

12 Dec, 1997

Deconstructing Harry

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In this comedy directed by Woody Allen, Williams plays a writer who friends and family realize that the characters and events in his books are actually things that have happened in real life, revealing this deepest secrets.  Costars Judy Davis and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

I played a small role, … because, at some point, I made him laugh. Can you imagine? To make Woody Allen laugh!

5 Dec, 1997

Good Will Hunting

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Williams stars in this critically-acclaimed film directed by Gus Van Sant. He plays Dr. Sean Maguire, a therapist who works with a gifted MIT janitor named Will Hunting—played by Matt Damon. As he counsels Hunting, he also learns to deal with his own personal demons. The film also stars Ben Affleck, Minnie Driver and Stellan Skarsgard.

What drew me to the role just was the idea of a guy trying to give back, who hadn’t been practicing in a while. Here he is, a vet with a history, with a life, an intelligent guy who admits he’s not as brilliant as the kid but who is saying, “You’re brilliant but you don’t know shit about certain things.” That appealed to me deeply.

Good Will Hunting - Trailer

21 Oct, 1997

Flubber

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Directed by Les Mayfield, this comedy film is a remake of the 1961 movie “The Absent Minded Professor.” Williams plays the role of Professor Philip Brainard, with Marcia Gay Harden co-starring as his fiancé and Sara Jean Reynolds as the college president. Brainard attempts to perfect his invention of “flubber” – a bouncy, elastic material – in order to raise money to save the sinking college, and in the process misses his own wedding three times in a row.
He performs the stunt scenes himself, which involv jumping to heights of 30 feet after applying flubber to his shoes:

We had six or seven guys hauling me up, groaning, ‘Oh, no! Don’t go again! We’re not hauling your ass up there again!’

Flubber - (1997) Trailer HD

9 May, 1997

Father’s Day

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Williams and Billy Crystal co-star in this comedy about two men—playing Dale Putley and Jack Lawrence—in search of a runaway teenager. Their girlfriend of 17 years past tells them both that they are the boy’s father, in hopes that at least one of them will find the boy. Director Ivan Reitman says about the two stars:

I always wished that Father’s Day turned out better. We didn’t quite get it right and I always sort of felt responsible and guilty about not doing a better job for the two of them because they’re so brilliant.

Father's Day - Official Trailer

25 Dec, 1996

Hamlet

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Williams plays Osric in this drama directed by Kenneth Branagh based on the William Shakespeare play. Hamlet returns home to find out his father is dead and his mother is marrying his uncle who is his father’s murderer. Co-starring Billie Crystal, Julie Christie, and Derek Jacobi. Branagh on Williams:

(He’s) an actor who would be funny, but could also be real in the way I felt was necessary.

8 Nov, 1996

The Secret Agent

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In the drama thriller directed by Christopher Hampton, based on the novel by Joseph Conrad, Williams plays an assassin who owns a porn shop London as a front. He really is an anarchist, who holds meetings in his apartment with plans to overthrow the government. Co-starring Bob Hoskins, Patricia Arquette, and Gerard Depardieu.

I don’t carry the characters around when I’m doing the movie, because it can be quite frightening for your family to come home as those people.