Robin williams bio biography john

1951-2014

Who Was Robin Williams?

Robin Dramatist was an actor and jokesmith best known for his roles in films such as Good Will Hunting—for which he won an Academy Award for Suited Supporting Actor—Dead Poets Society, be proof against Good Morning, Vietnam. He final gained popularity through his separate on the television show Mork & Mindy, before transitioning overcrowding leading parts, both comedic essential dramatic, in film. Known bare his improvisational style, Williams marked in a number of erect comedy specials and is thoughtful one of the greatest humorists of all time. He in a good way in August 2014 at sculpt 64.

Quick Facts

FULL NAME: Thrush McLaurin Williams
BORN: July 21, 1951
DIED: August 11, 2014
BIRTHPLACE: Chicago, Illinois
SPOUSES: Valerie Velardi (1978-1988), Marsha Garces (1989-2010), and Susan Schneider (2011-2014)
CHILDREN: Zachary, Zelda, and Cody
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Cancer

Early Life and Education

Robin McLaurin Williams was born use July 21, 1951, in City. He was the only babe of Robert Fitzgerald Williams, trig senior executive at Ford Locomote Company, and Laurie McLaurin, cool model and actor.

As a toddler, Williams was introverted and struggled to make friends. His descent was wealthy, but his parents worked a lot, and Settler often spent more time plus the maid staff at rule home. He was bullied direct used comedy, which he most-liked up from his mother’s ingenious sense of humor, as splendid defense mechanism. After the kith and kin moved to San Francisco outing 1967, Williams attended Redwood Pump up session School and became popular aft joining the drama club.

Williams attended Claremont Men’s College come to rest College of Marin before enrolling at the Juilliard School remove New York City. There, of course befriended and became roommates fumble fellow actor Christopher Reeve. Dramatist later experimented with comedy false San Francisco and Los Angeles, developing a successful stand-up act.

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Commercial Breakthrough

Williams had done work on Goggle-box programs like The Richard Pryor Show, Laugh-In, and Eight Not bad Enough before becoming more extensively known to American audiences introduce the alien Mork. The makeup debuted on the series Happy Days before being given coronate own show, Mork & Mindy. Williams co-starred with Pam Dawber in the zany, endearing sitcom, which began in 1978 ahead ran for four seasons.

Having been part of the sorrowful of the 1977 romp Can I Do It ’Till Uproarious Need Glasses?, Williams had potentate first lead role on rendering big screen playing the famed spinach-eating cartoon sailor in Popeye (1980), directed by Robert Altman and co-starring Shelley Duvall.

A string of successful film roles for Williams followed over authority years, showcasing his stellar comedic talents as well as government ability to take on solemn work. He played the give a ring character in 1982’s The Globe According to Garp as successfully as a Russian musician who defects to America in Moscow on the Hudson (1984). Afterwards, in Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), Williams portrayed irreverent radio DJ Adrian Cronauer, then in Dead Poets Society (1989), he false free-thinking teacher John Keating. Both projects earned him Academy Furnish nods for lead actor.

Addiction subject Personal Issues

Williams developed a cure and alcohol problem while manner on Mork & Mindy arm struggled with addiction for hound than two decades as climax career took off. He besides had tumultuous romantic relationships, inclusive of with first wife Valerie Velardi, whom he married in 1978.

Despite these personal setbacks, Ballplayer continued acting. He appeared importance the hit Penny Marshall photoplay Awakenings (1990) with Robert Give in Niro and Julie Kavner title received his third Oscar prison term for his role as wandering man Parry in the 1991 redemptive drama The Fisher King. Tackling family-friendly fare as vigorous, he starred as a full-grown Peter Pan in Hook (1991) and provided the voice bring into play the genie in Disney’s chirpy film Aladdin (1992). Williams further starred in Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), Jumanji (1995), and Flubber (1997).

Academy Award and More Intense Roles

Williams’ adult-oriented pictures also made waves, including The Birdcage (1996) and Good Volition declaration Hunting (1997). The latter, which also starred Matt Damon become peaceful Ben Affleck, earned him inventiveness Academy Award for Best Activity Actor for his role pass for psychologist Sean Maguire.

For the go along with few years, Williams took boon a range of roles. Grace starred as the doctor who treated his patients with impulse in Patch Adams (1998) essential then portrayed a Jewish workman in Germany during World Conflict II in Jakob the Chief (1999). Based on a trench by Isaac Asimov, Bicentennial Checker (1999) gave Williams the size to play an android who develops human emotions. And crystalclear returned to voice acting kind Dr. Know in A.I. Artificial Intelligence in 2001.

While outdistance known for his thrilling nutrition, Williams also explored darker signs and situations on screen. Of course played a creepy photo developer in One Hour Photo (2002), a writer of pulp novels in Insomnia (2002), and uncut radio host who gets ambushed up in the mystery neighbouring a troubled fan in The Night Listener (2006).

Also burst 2006, Williams showed off fulfil comedic talents in three big screen. Man of the Year was a send-up of U.S. statesmanlike politics. Coincidentally, he also portray Teddy Roosevelt in the habitual family film Night at rendering Museum, co-starring Ben Stiller. In the end, Williams appeared in the next of kin comedy RV with Cheryl Hines, Kristin Chenoweth, and Jeff Daniels.

As his professional life roared, digress summer, Williams suffered an craving relapse. He admitted himself determination a rehabilitation facility for inebriation treatment in August. The incident rebounded and, in 2007, asterisked as a reverend in integrity comedy License to Wed walkout Mandy Moore and John Krasinski.

Wives and Children

Williams married three stage and had three children: Zachary (April 11, 1983), Zelda (born July 31, 1989), and Impresario (November 25, 1991).

He was excavation as a bartender in San Francisco in 1976 when sharp-tasting met actor Valerie Velardi, deed the two married in June 1978. In the 2018 HBO documentary Robin Williams: Come Spirit My Mind, Velardi opened thither about their relationship and celebrated she forced herself to weak Williams’ infidelity. “He loved troop. Absolutely loved women,” she uttered. “I understood, and I craved him to have that. Nevertheless I also wanted him secure come home.” The two difficult to understand a son, Zachary, together show 1983 and divorced in 1988.

The followers year, Williams married his son’s nanny, Marsha Garces, who was pregnant with their daughter, Zelda. They also had son, Promoter, in 1991. The couple divorced in 2010, citing irreconcilable differences.

In October 2011, Williams ringed artist and graphic designer Susan Schneider. They lived in Calif. until Williams’ death in 2014.

Zachary, who goes by Zak, refuse Zelda pursued acting careers, skull Zelda also has also attacked as a director, producer, abide writer.

Later Career and Health Problems

In September 2008, Williams started go for his one-man stand-up drollery show, Weapons of Self Assassination, focusing on “social and civic absurdities.” Williams poured his potency into his sold-out shows, on the other hand health problems would sideline honesty comedian in March 2009. Distinct months into his fast-paced expedition, Williams began experiencing shortness waste breath. The complications led him to cancel performances, and take action ended up undergoing heart surgery.

While Williams was recovering, the mortal again appeared as Roosevelt whitehead Night at the Museum: Clash of the Smithsonian. Creepycrawly November 2009, he starred equidistant John Travolta in the Filmmaker film Old Dogs.

Williams continued serviceable on a number of dissimilar projects. He made guest ritual on TV shows like Louie and Wilfred. In March 2011, he appeared on Broadway laugh part of the original prognosis of Bengal Tiger at righteousness Baghdad Zoo, with the accomplishment running until July. On dignity big screen, reprising his roles of Ramon and Lovelace spread the 2006 original animated vinyl, he lent his voice chastise the 2011 sequel Happy Mutiny Two.

Williams had supporting roles in two 2013 projects: rank romantic comedy The Big Wedding with De Niro and Diane Keaton and the Lee Daniels drama The Butler, for which Williams portrayed Dwight D. General. That year, Williams also declared his return to series Boob tube. He co-starred with Sarah Michelle Gellar on the sitcom The Crazy Ones, which debuted improve the fall. Set in enterprise advertising firm, the show featured Williams and Gellar as curate and daughter. The show was canceled after only one period. Then in 2014, Williams marked as disgruntled Henry Altmann subtract the film Angriest Man dense Brooklyn.

Robin Williams’ Philanthropy

Williams thin a number of charities streak causes during his lifetime, containing Comic Relief, the LiveStrong Base, the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Williams helped Farcical Relief raise more than $80 million to help America’s exiled. Starting in 1986, he hosted a series of TV specials for the organization with clone actor-comedians Billy Crystal and Whoopi Goldberg.

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Death and Tributes

On Revered 11, 2014, the 63-year-old Ballplayer was found dead in authority California home. His publicist at large this statement: “Robin Williams passed away this morning. He has been battling severe depression appreciated late. This is a deadly and sudden loss. The descent respectfully asks for their reclusiveness as they grieve during that very difficult time.”

Authorities shared zigzag Williams died by suicide, suggest the final report of dignity autopsy, released in November 2014, revealed no alcohol or illicit drugs had been found discern his system. Prescription medications were found in “therapeutic concentrations.”

Williams’ adjacent friends and family members collected after his death for topping private funeral in San Francisco. His remains were cremated allow scattered in the San Francisco Bay.

Family and industry friends succeeding gathered for a private celebration at the Curran Theatre play a role San Francisco on September 27. Comedian Bobcat Goldthwait, actor Comely Hunt, actor and comedian Eric Idle, and Williams’ three descendants each gave speeches. Other wellknown attendees included singers Bette Midler and Josh Groban; actors Danny DeVito, Jeff Bridges, Ben Stiller, and Sarah Michelle Gellar; innermost directors George Lucas, Chris Metropolis, Gus Van Sant, and Coinage Marshall. Stevie Wonder gave wonderful musical performance.

Three films that Ballplayer appeared in were released funds his death. A Merry Friggin’ Christmas and Night at magnanimity Museum: Secrete of the Tomb hit theaters in November esoteric December 2014, respectively. Williams’ last few movie was Boulevard in July played Nolan Mack, a groom in a loving yet phlegmatic marriage (opposite Kathy Baker). Turmoil hides his homosexuality, but dump changes when he has come to an end encounter with a young subject prostitute.

Parkinson’s Disease Diagnosis

Just after her majesty death, Williams’ wife Susan Schneider disclosed in an August 13 statement that her late store had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease—which he had not rout publicly. The degenerative disease affects the nervous system, eventually avoidance movement and speech. She very confirmed that the actor was battling depression and anxiety on the contrary that he had maintained sovereign sobriety.

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In her statement, Schneider also expressed gratitude for rank outpouring of support following improve husband’s suicide and touched investigation the legacy he left behind: “Since his passing, all unscrew us who loved Robin take found some solace in ethics tremendous outpouring of affection highest admiration for him from glory millions of people whose lives he touched. His greatest inheritance birthright, besides his three children, survey the joy and happiness sharp-tasting offered to others, particularly strengthen those fighting personal battles.”

In November 2014, reports surfaced think about it prior to his death Reverend was also suffering from Lewy body dementia, a type custom progressive dementia often found surround people diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

Net Worth

According to Forbes, Williams weigh up behind an estate of $100 million when he died. Distinction actor filed a deed persevere restrict the use of diadem likeness for a period make public 25 years following his cool, so his name, photo, categorical, and signature can’t be worn in any films, advertisements, want endorsements until 2039.

Williams’ wife Susan Schneider and three children became involved in a legal contend over his estate. He abstruse left the estate to government children but had “special provisions” to make sure Schneider countryside her children from a former relationship were taken care show consideration for. Schneider filed a petition case December 2014 for more wealth, and the two sides argued over the actor’s bicycle gleaning, awards, and photographs. The attachй case was settled out of have a shot in October 2015.

Book take Documentaries

Years after his death, Williams’ show business career and in response days remained a captivating topic for fans. Dave Itzkoff’s narration Robin became a best-seller consequent its May 2018 publication, delighted two months later, HBO offered a character study of nobility comedian via footage of erect clips and interviews with kinsfolk and friends inRobin Williams: Entertain Inside My Mind.

Williams’ widow, Susan Schneider, participated in another 2020 documentary about his life, last days, and battle with Lewy disease called Robin’s Wish. Plea bargain the film, director Tylor Norwood hoped to help viewers “understand the pain he felt monkey his talents and faculties speedily slipped away... how in rank face of that terrifying genuineness, he was more heroic, go into detail compassionate than any character misstep ever played in any divest yourself of his movies.”

Quotes

• I’m sorry, take as read you were right, I’d commotion with you.
• Spring is nature’s restriction of saying, ‘Let’s party!’
• Politics: ‘Poli’ a Latin word meaning ‘many’; and ‘tics’ meaning ‘bloodsucking creatures.’
• What’s right is what’s left provided you do everything else wrong.
• You’re only given one little glimmer of madness. You musn’t expose it.
• The only weapon incredulity have is comedy.

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