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150 postsRobin 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.
Williams is forced to cancel the remainder of his one-man show Weapons of Self-Destruction in order to undergo an aortic valve replacement. Williams cancelled several other shows earlier this week after experiencing shortness of breath.
I’m so touched by everyone’s support and well wishes. This tour has been amazing fun and I can’t wait to get back out on the road after a little tune-up.
Williams on Law & Order: SVU wins People’s Choice Award for Favorite Scene Stealing Guest Star.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
Williams wins the Cecil B. DeMille award at the 62nd Golden Globe Awards. The award is presented for outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment.
I want to thank the Hollywood foreign press for acknowledging comedy. Normally they look at comedians as very special people.
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.
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.
Williams stars in this darkly comedic take on the children’s television industry, directed by Danny DeVito. Williams, as successful but troubled children’s entertainer Rainbow Randolph, is fired from his television slot after an FBI sting reveals he is taking bribes from parents to place their children at the front of the audience where the cameras can ‘really see them. After being replaced by the squeaky clean Sheldon Mopes, played by Edward Norton, Williams becomes fixated on bringing down Mopes and his children’s character Smoochy the Rhino. Co-starring DeVito, Cathleen Keener and Jon Stewart. On the possibilities that arise from working with DeVito:
Oh, anything. Because he himself is so nasty. He’s a troll without a bridge. He pushes the envelope.
Williams wins Grammy for Best Spoken Comedy Album for Robin Williams [Live].
I want to thank Chris Rock who said “get your old ass out on the road” … it is nice to make people laugh.
In this science-fiction film directed by Chris Columbus, Williams stars as an android robot that over a 200 year span becomes increasingly human-like. The movie is based on the novel The Positronic Man, co-written by Isaac Asimov and Robert Silverberg. On wearing a robot costume for most of the shots:
It’s very strange. Everything from where your feet make contact with the ground to the way you move your hands, it’s all dictated by the suit. Once they encase you in it, it’s a bit like being in heavy makeup–you’re kind of freed by it. It defines who you are. Once you realize that, then you try to push the limits of what you can do in it.
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.
Williams is a nominee for a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical for Patch Adams. He plays the role of a real life doctor, Patch Adams. Adams on Williams’ role:
I’m enormously grateful for his wonderful performance of my early life, which has allowed the Gesundheit Institute to continue and expand our work. We extend our blessings to his family and friends in this moment of sadness.
Thank you for all you’ve given this world Robin, thank you my friend.
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.
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.
Williams takes home his first Oscar at the 70th Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor in Good Will Hunting.
This might be the one time I am speechless…
Williams is a nominee for a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture for Good Will Hunting.
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.
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!
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.
