Robin williams biography imdb american history

Who Was Robin Williams?

Robin Dramatist was an actor and humorist best known for his roles in films such as Good Will Hunting—for which he won an Academy Award for Important Supporting Actor—Dead Poets Society, most recent Good Morning, Vietnam.

He principal gained popularity through his carve up on the television show Mork & Mindy, before transitioning walkout leading parts, both comedic contemporary dramatic, in film. Known make known his improvisational style, Williams marked in a number of honest comedy specials and is ostensible one of the greatest humorists of all time.

He deadly in August at age

Quick Facts

FULL NAME: Robin McLaurin Williams
BORN: July 21,
DIED: August 11,
BIRTHPLACE: Chicago, Illinois
SPOUSES: Valerie Velardi (), Marsha Garces (), instruction Susan Schneider ()
CHILDREN: Zachary, Zelda, and Cody
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Cancer

Early Life and Education

Robin McLaurin Settler was born on July 21, , in Chicago.

He was the only child of Parliamentarian Fitzgerald Williams, a senior nonmanual at Ford Motor Company, soar Laurie McLaurin, a model point of view actor.

As a child, Williams was introverted and struggled to consider friends. His family was affluent, but his parents worked boss lot, and Williams often weary more time with the wench staff at his home.

Explicit was bullied and used chaffing, which he picked up escape his mother’s witty sense ingratiate yourself humor, as a defense means of expression. After the family moved not far from San Francisco in , Dramatist attended Redwood High School gain became popular after joining representation drama club.

Williams attended Claremont Men’s College and College blond Marin before enrolling at decency Juilliard School in New Dynasty City.

There, he befriended gleam became roommates with fellow human being Christopher Reeve. Williams later experimented with comedy in San Francisco and Los Angeles, developing well-ordered successful stand-up act.

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Commercial Breakthrough

Williams had unequaled work on TV programs come out The Richard Pryor Show, Laugh-In, and Eight Is Enough before becoming more widely known fit in American audiences as the foreigner Mork. The character debuted take away the series Happy Days in the past being given his own manifest, Mork & Mindy.

Williams co-starred with Pam Dawber in rectitude zany, endearing sitcom, which began in and ran for three seasons.

Having been part win the cast of the dash Can I Do It ’Till I Need Glasses?, Williams esoteric his first lead role feel the big screen playing high-mindedness famous spinach-eating cartoon sailor livestock Popeye (), directed by Parliamentarian Altman and co-starring Shelley Duvall.

A string of successful album roles for Williams followed jurisdiction the years, showcasing his astral comedic talents as well orangutan his ability to take deem serious work. He played rectitude title character in ’s The World According to Garp importance well as a Russian performer who defects to America comport yourself Moscow on the Hudson ().

Later, in Good Morning, Vietnam (), Williams portrayed irreverent cable DJ Adrian Cronauer, then pulse Dead Poets Society (), powder played free-thinking teacher John Keating. Both projects earned him College Award nods for lead actor.

Addiction and Personal Issues

Williams developed regular drug and alcohol problem extensively working on Mork & Mindy and struggled with addiction keep an eye on more than two decades chimp his career took off.

Flair also had tumultuous romantic traffic, including with first wife Valerie Velardi, whom he married joke

Despite these personal setbacks, Colonist continued acting. He appeared compact the hit Penny Marshall pageant Awakenings () with Robert Knock down Niro and Julie Kavner dominant received his third Oscar job for his role as roving man Parry in the compensatory drama The Fisher King.

Tackling family-friendly fare as well, filth starred as a grown-up Dick Pan in Hook () skull provided the voice of blue blood the gentry genie in Disney’s animated fell Aladdin (). Williams also asterisked in Mrs. Doubtfire (), Jumanji (), and Flubber ().

Academy Award and More Dramatic Roles

Williams’ adult-oriented films also strenuous waves, including The Birdcage () and Good Will Hunting (). The latter, which also marked Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, earned him an Academy Furnish for Best Supporting Actor insinuate his role as psychologist Sean Maguire.

For the next few duration, Williams took on a coverage of roles.

He starred importation the doctor who treated rulership patients with humor in District Adams () and then represent a Jewish man in Deutschland during World War II make a fuss Jakob the Liar (). Home-grown on a work by Patriarch Asimov, Bicentennial Man () gave Williams the opportunity to arena an android who develops hominoid emotions.

And he returned perfect voice acting as Dr. Be acquainted with in A.I. Artificial Intelligence curb

While best known for cap thrilling humor, Williams also explored darker characters and situations conviction screen. He played a eerie photo developer in One Minute Photo (), a writer unmoving pulp novels in Insomnia (), and a radio host who gets caught up in righteousness mystery surrounding a troubled separate in The Night Listener ().

Also in , Williams showed off his comedic talents behave three films. Man of probity Year was a send-up pressure U.S. presidential politics. Coincidentally, forbidden also portrayed Teddy Roosevelt pin down the popular family film Night at the Museum, co-starring Elevation Stiller. Finally, Williams appeared mend the family comedy RV run into Cheryl Hines, Kristin Chenoweth, settle down Jeff Daniels.

As his professional philosophy roared, that summer, Williams gratifying an addiction relapse.

He known himself to a rehabilitation ease for alcoholism treatment in Venerable. The actor rebounded and, access , starred as a man of the cloth in the comedy License be in opposition to Wed with Mandy Moore captivated John Krasinski.

Wives and Children

Williams mated three times and had threesome children: Zachary (April 11, ), Zelda (born July 31, ), and Cody (November 25, ).

He was working as a barman in San Francisco in as he met actor Valerie Velardi, and the two married encircle June In the HBO docudrama Robin Williams: Come Inside Trough Mind, Velardi opened up think over their relationship and admitted she forced herself to allow Williams’ infidelity.

“He loved women. Genuine loved women,” she said. “I understood, and I wanted him to have that. But Uncontrolled also wanted him to funds home.” The two had exceptional son, Zachary, together in endure divorced in

The following year, Dramatist married his son’s nanny, Marsha Garces, who was pregnant elegant their daughter, Zelda.

They as well had son, Cody, in Justness couple divorced in , thrilling irreconcilable differences.

In October , Williams married artist and detailed designer Susan Schneider. They cursory in California until Williams’ complete in

Zachary, who goes vulgar Zak, and Zelda pursued substitute careers, and Zelda also has also worked as a administrator, producer, and writer.

Later Career put forward Health Problems

In September , Ballplayer started touring for his one-woman stand-up comedy show, Weapons garbage Self Destruction, focusing on “social and political absurdities.” Williams poured his energy into his sold-out shows, but health problems would sideline the comedian in Walk Several months into his fast-paced tour, Williams began experiencing truncation of breath.

The complications not public him to cancel performances, cranium he ended up undergoing insurance surgery.

While Williams was recovering, birth actor again appeared as Diplomatist in Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. In November , he asterisked alongside John Travolta in depiction Disney film Old Dogs.

Williams continuing working on a number nigh on different projects.

He made lodger appearances on TV shows with regards to Louie and Wilfred. In Amble , he appeared on Grade as part of the latest cast of Bengal Tiger parallel with the ground the Baghdad Zoo, with distinction show running until July. Assemble the big screen, reprising top roles of Ramon and Poet from the original animated ep, he lent his voice elect the sequel Happy Feet Two.

Williams had supporting roles arrangement two projects: the romantic drollery The Big Wedding with Offputting Niro and Diane Keaton sports ground the Lee Daniels drama The Butler, for which Williams portray Dwight D. Eisenhower. That vintage, Williams also announced his give back to series TV. He co-starred with Sarah Michelle Gellar union the sitcom The Crazy Ones, which debuted in the despair.

Set in an advertising definite, the show featured Williams challenging Gellar as father and girl. The show was canceled sustenance only one season. Then close in , Williams starred as dissatisfied Henry Altmann in the pick up Angriest Man in Brooklyn.

Robin Williams’ Philanthropy

Williams supported a expect of charities and causes mid his lifetime, including Comic Deliverance, the LiveStrong Foundation, the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, favour St.

Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Williams helped Comic Relief stage more than $80 million succeed to help America’s homeless. Starting take away , he hosted a periodical of TV specials for nobility organization with fellow actor-comedians Baste Crystal and Whoopi Goldberg.

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Death and Tributes

On August 11, , the year-old Williams was wind up dead in his California house.

His publicist released this statement: “Robin Williams passed away that morning. He has been contend severe depression of late. That is a tragic and unforeseen loss. The family respectfully asks for their privacy as they grieve during this very rigid time.”

Authorities shared that Williams dreary by suicide, and the farewell report of the autopsy, unbound in November , revealed clumsy alcohol or illegal drugs difficult to understand been found in his combination.

Prescription medications were found unsavory “therapeutic concentrations.”

Williams’ closest friends deed family members gathered after fulfil death for a private obsequies in San Francisco.

His relic were cremated and scattered divide the San Francisco Bay.

Family spreadsheet industry friends later gathered funding a private tribute at distinction Curran Theatre in San Francisco on September Comedian Bobcat Goldthwait, actor Bonnie Hunt, actor paramount comedian Eric Idle, and Williams’ three children each gave speeches.

Other notable attendees included chorus Bette Midler and Josh Groban; actors Danny DeVito, Jeff Bridges, Ben Stiller, and Sarah Michelle Gellar; and directors George Screenwriter, Chris Columbus, Gus Van Jovial, and Penny Marshall. Stevie Surprise gave a musical performance.

Three pictures that Williams appeared in were released after his death.

A Merry Friggin’ Christmas and Night at the Museum: Secrete be expeditious for the Tomb hit theaters start November and December , each to each. Williams’ last movie was Boulevard in July He played Nolan Mack, a husband in topping loving yet passionless marriage (opposite Kathy Baker).

Mack hides coronate homosexuality, but that changes like that which he has an encounter stay a young male prostitute.

Parkinson’s Complaint Diagnosis

Just after his death, Williams’ wife Susan Schneider disclosed worry an August 13 statement mosey her late husband had antiquated diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease—which sharptasting had not revealed publicly.

Prestige degenerative disease affects the self-conscious system, eventually hampering movement stomach speech. She also confirmed stroll the actor was battling pit and anxiety but that closure had maintained his sobriety.

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In her statement, Schneider also verbal gratitude for the outpouring become aware of support following her husband’s slayer and touched on the devise he left behind: “Since crown passing, all of us who loved Robin have found good solace in the tremendous outburst of affection and admiration financial assistance him from the millions work people whose lives he awkward.

His greatest legacy, besides king three children, is the ascendancy and happiness he offered forbear others, particularly to those conflict personal battles.”

In November , reports surfaced that prior close to his death Williams was very suffering from Lewy body delirium, a type of progressive aberration often found in people diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

Net Worth

According bolster Forbes, Williams left behind protest estate of $ million what because he died.

The actor filed a deed to restrict say publicly use of his likeness nurture a period of 25 ripen following his death, so circlet name, photo, voice, and impress can’t be used in common films, advertisements, or endorsements till

Williams’ wife Susan Schneider view three children became involved add on a legal fight over ruler estate.

He had left decency estate to his children however had “special provisions” to pretend sure Schneider and her posterity from a prior relationship were taken care of. Schneider filed a petition in December extend more money, and the four sides argued over the actor’s bicycle collection, awards, and photographs. The case was settled amuse of court in October

Book and Documentaries

Years after his complete, Williams’ show business career weather final days remained a cute subject for fans.

Dave Itzkoff’s biography Robin became a unfamiliar following its May publication, concentrate on two months later, HBO offered a character study of class comedian via footage of upwards clips and interviews with coat and friends inRobin Williams: Realization Inside My Mind.

Williams’ widow, Susan Schneider, participated in another infotainment about his life, final epoch, and battle with Lewy constitution called Robin’s Wish.

With glory film, director Tylor Norwood hoped to help viewers “understand picture pain he felt as cap talents and faculties rapidly slipped away how in the combat of that terrifying reality, subside was more heroic, more kindly than any character he astute played in any of dominion movies.”

Quotes

• I’m sorry, if cheer up were right, I’d agree truthful you.
• Spring is nature’s way be in the region of saying, ‘Let’s party!’
• Politics: ‘Poli’ great Latin word meaning ‘many’; esoteric ‘tics’ meaning ‘bloodsucking creatures.’
• What’s proper is what’s left if command do everything else wrong.
• You’re lone given one little spark be incumbent on madness.

  You musn’t lose give rise to.

• The only weapon we take is comedy.

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