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Robin Williams
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.
Quits drugs
0 CommentsWilliams discusses his drug use with People magazine, including his decision to quit cocaine and alcohol six months before the birth of his first son, Zachary. The decision is also prompted by John Belushi’s death from an overdose a few hours after Williams snorted cocaine with him at the Chateau Marmont:
The Belushi tragedy was frightening. He was the strongest. A bull with incredible energy. His death scared a whole group of show business people. It caused a big exodus from drugs. And for me there was the baby coming. I knew I couldn’t be a father and live that sort of life.
He says he realizes he doesn’t have to be ‘on’ all the time:
I take more down time. Catatonic time when I’m absorbing information. People say I’m absorbent—makes me think I’m a giant Tampax
A friend:
No visit to the Betty Ford Center, no therapeutic support. He just quit, and he hasn’t touched drugs or drink since.
Wins Grammy
0 0 Jamie Jamie2014-09-22 14:03:352014-09-22 14:03:35Wins GrammyWins Emmy
Williams wins a Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program for ABC Presents: A Royal Gala.
Wins Grammy
Robin Williams wins a Grammy for Best Comedy Recording for Good Morning, Vietnam. The movie is based off Adrian Cronauer, who is a the Armed Forces Radio Service disc jockey. Cronauer:
Barry Levinson, the director, wouldn’t let me anywhere near (Williams) or even the set because he was worried if (Williams) and I met, he would start to do, subconsciously, an imitation of me, which, of course, would change the characterization.
Wins Grammy
0 0 Jamie Jamie2014-09-22 14:02:582018-08-07 07:23:37Wins GrammyThe Adventures of Baron Munchausen
In this fantasy based on the novel written by Rudolph Erich Raspe and directed by Terry Gilliam, Williams plays the The Man on the Moon. The film is about a Baron who needs to end a war he started himself by flying into outerspace on a cannonball, being swallowed by a whale, ballooning to the moon, and exploring a volcano. Costars John Neville, Uma Thurman, and Sarah Polley. Gilliam:
Williams helped save this film. Budgets were cut, actors pulled out and were sick from exhaustion, Williams kept spirits high and the film rolling.
Dead Poets Society
0 CommentsWilliams stars as english teacher John Keating at an all boys school in the film Dead Poets Society. Keating spends his time fostering a love for literature and poetry within his students as well as a “seize the day” outlook on life. The film was directed by Peter Weir.
Oh my God! One of the greatest experiences. It was incredible. It was the true learning experience, because Peter’s more than a director, he’s a teacher. I don’t know anybody who’s worked with him that comes away going, “Well, that was nice.” You come away a different person. He infuses you. Like when we were doing that movie, he gave us poetry, he gave us music – he played music during takes. It would just get you into this incredible spirit and very inspiring. I remember when the boys stood on their desk, I was going, “This is very powerful.” And I looked over and I saw a Teamster crying and I went, “OK, this is really working.” (Adopting Teamster accent) “You kinda rattled us crazy. I don’t know why. The boys on the desk is gettin’ me crazy.”
Zelda Rae Williams born
Williams’s daughter Zelda Rae Williams is born in New York. She is William’s first daughter and first child with his second wife, Marsha Garces. She is named after the title character of the Nintendo game series Legend of Zelda. Her half-brother, Zachary Pym, is six years older than her. At a rented home in San Francisco, one of several residences where they live during her childhood, the family keeps rabbits and iguanas and Zelda has a personal miniature couch. On deciding to name his daughter Zelda:
It seemed only natural. When my wife was pregnant, my son Zachary mentioned that Zelda would be the perfect name for his new little sister … Zelda … What a great name … it’s magical, like she is!
Golden Globe nomination
0 CommentsWilliams is a nominee for a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture—Drama for Dead Poet Society.
One of the greatest experiences. It was incredible. It was the true learning experience
Cadillac Man
In this comedy directed by Roger Donaldson, Williams plays a car salesman that must sell 12 cars before he loses his job. Co-starring Tim Robbins, Pamela Reed, and Fran Drescher.
It’s hard being a car salesman, people have a misconception of you being a bad person, like an invisible man to mug you with options you didn’t want. It was something I really had to work at.
Awakenings
In this drama directed by Penny Marshall, Williams plays Dr. Malcolm Sayer, based on the 1973 nonfiction book by Oliver Sacks. Williams portrays a physician who cares for victims of the 1920s encephalitis lethargica epidemic. The patients are revived after he experiments with a new medication determined to bring these people back to a normal state. Co-starring Robert DeNiro and Julie Kavner.
I loved the chance for pushing the envelope to change people’s perceptions of this.
Golden Globe nomination
0 CommentsWilliams is a nominee for a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama for The Awakening. The story is based on the book by Oliver Sikes.
He’s wonderful, Oliver Sikes. He wrote these wonderful books about different aspects of the brain.
The Fisher King
Williams stars alongside Jeff Bridges in this drama directed by Terry Gilliam. Bridges’s character, shock jock Jack Lucas, inadvertently pushes a psychotic radio caller over the edge and suffers a breakdown himself after finding out the caller has committed a massacre. Several years later, while working as a clerk at a video store and heavily depressed, he is rescued from an attack by homeless man Parry, played by Williams. He becomes involved with Parry and finds he is connected to the tragedy that caused his own downfall. Jack must rescue him in an urban re-imagining of the legend of the Holy Grail and the Fisher King.
Parry is a man with a previous life that was so damaged that he had to create another personality … Some people respond to traumatic or tragic events by withdrawal; some even create other personalities. Parry is a creation – somewhat Don Quixote, somewhat Groucho Marx – but he’s a creation designed to avoid a past event.
Cody Alan Williams born
Williams’s third child and second son, Cody Alan, is born. The second child of Williams and second wife Marsha Garces, his sister, Zelda Williams, is two years older and a half-brother, Zachary Williams, is eight years his senior. On raising him and his siblings:
My children give me a great sense of wonder. Just to see them develop into these extraordinary human beings. And a favorite book as a child? Growing up, it was The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe— I would read the whole C.S. Lewis series out loud to my kids.
Hook
Williams plays Peter Banning all grown up in the film, Hook. In the movie, Peter Banning has forgotten his roots as Peter Pan in Neverland, but must find them and return when his children are kidnapped by Hook—played by Dustin Hoffman.
The hardest part was to get the innocence of it. Like when I see my daughter, who’s 2, who sees a Christmas tree, to get that face. To lose the fact that you’re 40 and get to a point that’s 10 or 11.
Wins Golden Globe
0 CommentsWilliams wins a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture—Comedy Or Musical for The Fisher King.
I want to thank all the people who make me Jewish by commission.
Shakes the Clown
In this comedy directed by Bobcat Goldthwait, Williams plays a mime class instructor. A drunk clown is accused of killing his boss, so he poses as a mime to gather information to clear his name. Costars Julie Brown, Bruce Baum, and Steve Bean.
It allowed me to put some lessons to work. Many people wouldn’t think I studied the art of mime.
Aladdin
Williams stars as the voice of Genie in the film Aladdin. In the film Genie helps Aladdin grant his wishes to win the love of Princess Jasmine.
The one thing I said was I will do the voice. I’m doing it basically because I want to be part of this animation tradition. I want something for my children. One deal is, I just don’t want to sell anything–as in Burger King, as in toys, as in stuff.
Toys
In this comedy directed by Barry Levinson, Williams plays a military general who inherits a toy factory. He starts making war toys and his employees have to band together to stop him from ruining the name of the toy store. Costarring Michael Gambon and John Cusack.
It was magnificently fun to do because I would just go in knowing I was going to this magical place.
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