Robin Williams biography, last movie, disease, age and cause of death, kids

Robin Williams's biography

While Robin Williams was widely known as a comedian, he proved himself to be one of cinema's greatest dramatic actors. The grown-up yet innocent Peter Pan, the robot who falls for his owner, the father who dresses as a woman to stay close to his kids, the lonely photo lab owner driven to madness by isolation and jealousy... These characters stand as timeless masterpieces of cinematic art.

Childhood

Robin Williams was born on July 21, 1951, in Chicago. His father Robert was 45, and this was a second marriage for both him and his wife Laurie. Robert worked as a senior executive at Ford, while Laurie had left her modeling career behind to focus on raising the children.

Robin was the youngest child, although there were two more kids in the family from their previous marriages. His older siblings showed little interest in Robin. Struggling with obesity, he grew up shy and withdrawn, leading to frequent visits with the school counselor. Though he lost the weight as a teenager, body image issues continued to plague him. He became a master at hiding his anxiety and shyness behind humor, quickly earning a reputation as the class comedian.

In 1963, the family moved to Detroit when his father was promoted to head the company's main office. They settled into a sprawling 30-room mansion, and at his new school, Robin found friendship and belonging. He excelled academically while his quick wit made him one of the school's most popular students.

In 1969, Robin enrolled in political science at Claremont College, scoring among the highest on his entrance exams. But after discovering student theater, he quickly lost interest in his studies. A year later, Robin dropped out and moved to New York. Though his parents were disappointed by his decision, they continued to support him.

Career Start

By day, Robin honed his acting skills at Juilliard, and by night – he performed stand-up at various New York clubs. His routines quickly gained popularity, and club owners paid him well, so he was quite content with his life at that point. Two years later, his teacher John Houseman advised Williams to abandon the life of a club comedian before it erased his acting talent, and move to Hollywood to pursue his craft.

Following his mentor's advice, Robin moved to Los Angeles, but he didn't abandon his comedy work. In 1977, producer George Schlatter saw his performance and invited him to make an appearance in his show Laugh-In, which needed an urgent revival. While his appearance didn't help revive the show, it did catch the attention of other producers. Throughout the year, Robin became a regular guest on popular shows and delivered standout performances at London clubs.

By late 1978, Williams landed a role on the hit sitcom Mork and Mindy, playing the bumbling alien Mork who falls in love with a human. The show ran for four years, and this role earned Robin his first Golden Globe.

Robin first made an appearance on the big screen in 1980, in the comedy musical Popeye, where he played the role of a tough sailor, co-starring with Shelley Duvall. The film failed to meet expectations and is mainly remembered as Robin Williams' big-screen debut.

From 1981 to 1987, Williams worked on multiple film projects. His standout performances from this period included the comedy The Survivors, where he played a down-on-his-luck guy trying to escape his psychotic stalker, the drama The World According to Garp based on John Irving's novel, where he starred alongside Glenn Close, and the romantic comedy Moscow on the Hudson, where he played a Russian musician who accidentally ends up in America searching for a better life.

Robin Williams and Glenn Close in The World According to Garp

In 1987, his role as a military DJ in the anti-war satire Good Morning, Vietnam earned him his second Golden Globe and first Academy Award nomination. He co-starred with Forest Whitaker and Bruno Kirby.

Best roles. 1988 - 2000

In 1988, the actor caught Terry Gilliam's attention while the director was shooting a film about Baron Munchausen's adventures. His role as the King of the Moon with a floating head was perfect for the film, alongside John Neville, Sarah Polley, as well as young Uma Thurman and Eric Idle.

Playing the literature teacher in Dead Poets Society made the actor completely rethink how he saw himself. While he'd always considered himself a comedian before this film, playing John Keating revealed his dramatic acting potential. The movie was hugely successful, though critics were divided, with some taking issue with the director's treatment of time's passage and mortality's inevitability. Young actors Ethan Hawke, Gale Hansen, and Josh Charles and Lara Flynn Boyle starred in the movie as well.

In the drama Awakenings, Robin played a doctor who discovers a miraculous treatment for patients with a rare disease. In this movie, based on real-life events as told by doctor Oliver Sacks, Robert De Niro played the role of one of the patients. On set, Robin accidentally hit Robert and broke his nose. The actors would often joke about the incident afterward, with De Niro quipping that Robin didn't break his nose – he just fixed it. Peter Stormare and Max von Sydow also made an appearance in the movie.

The actor considered his roles in two 1991 films – Steven Spielberg's Hook and Terry Gilliam's The Fisher King – among his favorites.

In Hook, the actor plays a grown-up, world-weary Peter Pan who must save his children after they're kidnapped by Captain Hook. Once he arrives in Neverland, Peter Pan discovers that his past was never really behind him – that deep down, he's still a child. It was something both the character and Williams shared, making the role a natural fit for him. Dustin Hoffman, Bob Hoskins, Julia Roberts and British star Maggie Smith have also made an appearance in the movie.

In The Fisher King, Gilliam cast Robin as homeless man Parry, saying he couldn't imagine any other actor in the role. He was right – Robin delivered a performance that took audiences on an emotional rollercoaster. The touching fantasy about two broken men's friendship earned multiple awards and also featured Jeff Bridges, Amanda Plummer, and Mercedes Ruehl.

Robin's role as Daniel Hillard in Mrs. Doubtfire – a man who loses his job and family, then disguises himself as a female nanny to work in his own home – proved once again his unique acting talent. The 1993 hit became one of Hollywood's top 100 highest-grossing films.

During this period, Williams also starred in fantasy thriller Jumanji, drama Being Human, and Good Will Hunting. By the late '90s, Robin appeared in drama What Dreams May Come as a man whose soul crosses to the afterlife to find his deceased family. The story made audiences reflect on life's true meaning while exploring themes of faith and spirituality. Actors Cuba Gooding Jr., Annabella Sciorra, and Max von Sydow also starred in the movie.

Robin's portrayal of robot Andy – who's more human than most people – in fantasy drama Bicentennial Man once again amazed audiences with his depth. His character explores questions of self-identity in the modern world, ultimately giving up immortality to die as a human. Oliver Platt, Embeth Davidtz, and Sam Neill starred in the movie based on Isaac Asimov's novel as well.

2000s. The peak of fame

Robin Williams delivered a performance that shocked everyone, including himself – playing the unhinged writer in Insomnia. The role of the police detective investigating the murder of a schoolgirl was played by Al Pacino, co-starring with Martin Donovan, Hilary Swank, and Jonathan Jackson.

Insomnia – Trailer

Playing the elderly owner of a photo lab in the psychological thriller One Hour Photo proved to be quite a challenge for Robin Williams. The film's heavy psychological themes explored deep loneliness, and playing Sy – a character gradually descending into psychopathy – pushed the actor to emotional exhaustion, contributing to his struggles with alcoholism.

In 2004, the actor starred in the sci-fi thriller The Final Cut. Set in the future, Robin played a memory editor who censors his clients' experiences. When he accidentally discovers a deleted memory, it triggers irreversible consequences. The actor co-starred with Mira Sorvino and Jim Caviezel.

The topic of loneliness, abuse, and guilt continued to arise in the 2006 movie The Night Listener, where he co-starred with Toni Collette and Rory Culkin.

The trailer to The Night Listener

In 2006, the actor played a small but memorable role in the fantasy adventure Night at the Museum. As the wax figure of President Roosevelt, he helped Ben Stiller's character deal with the museum's come-to-life exhibits; he also made an appearance in the 2009 sequel.

His final roles included The Big Wedding, co-starring with Robert De Niro and Susan Sarandon, in the social drama The Butler and in the drama The Face of Love, where he played the role of a widower trying to find the will to live again. He shared the set with Annette Bening and Ed Harris.

Robin Williams's personal life

During his time at Juilliard, the actor met model Valerie Velardi, to whom he got married in 1978. Ten years later, they divorced at Valerie's initiative – she could no longer tolerate her husband's alcoholism and drug abuse. They had a son named Zachary.

His second wife was Marsha Garces, Zachary's former nanny, whom he married almost immediately after divorcing Valerie. They had two children – son Cody and daughter Zelda. Their marriage lasted until 2007. Following the divorce, Robin spent extended time in rehab, battling depression and alcoholism that he could no longer manage alone.

In 2011, the actor got married for the third time. This time to designer Susan Schneider, who did everything she could to help him maintain his sobriety.

Death

On August 11, 2014, the world was stunned by the devastating news of Robin Williams' death. His body was found with a belt around his neck, and his autopsy confirmed that he had committed suicide. The suicide of one of the world's greatest actors stemmed from chronic depression, triggered by relentless stress, substance abuse, financial struggles, and the early onset of Parkinson's disease.

Drug tests conducted on November 7 showed no trace of alcohol or drugs in the actor's system. However, the combination of Parkinson's medications he was taking could have triggered suicidal thoughts, which combined with his chronic depression, led to his tragic death.

In an interview in 2015, the actor's widow admitted that Robin was painfully aware that the disease would eventually destroy his mind. He was diagnosed with a rare form of Parkinson's with Lewy body dementia. Realizing he was losing his grip on reality, Robin couldn't bear the thought of gradually fading into a helpless shell of himself.

During the last months of his life, the actor often repeated this quote from Dead Poets Society: Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary.

Tammy Davis

What a pity to learn about the death of your favorite actors ... Insidious depression and alcohol brought Robin.

2021-04-25 09:23:03
Kelly Clark

Dead Poets Society remains one of my favorite films. How good Williams is!

2021-04-21 15:46:28
Jeremy Marsh

Interesting.. «Moscow on the Hudson» with Robin Williams? I have not heard of such a film. Thanks for the tip on what to watch for the evening.

2021-04-04 11:07:13
Earl Torres

That is, since childhood, Williams had a good sense of humor. That`s where it all started :)

2021-04-04 09:34:34
Ella Long

I often confuse Robin Williams and Robbie Williams. Both are famous

2021-02-18 16:56:15

Photos: Robin Williams