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Robin Williams

Actor

Robin Williams

Born July 21, 1951 in Chicago, Illinois, USADied August 11, 201482 films

Robin McLaurin Williams (July 21, 1951 – August 11, 2014) was an American actor and comedian. Known for his improvisational skills and the wide variety of characters he created on the spur of the moment and portrayed on film, in dramas and comedies alike, he is regarded as one of the greatest comedians of all time. He received numerous accolades including an Academy Award, two Primetime Emmy Awards, six Golden Globe Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and five Grammy Awards.

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Williams began performing stand-up comedy in San Francisco and Los Angeles during the mid-1970s, and released several comedy albums including Reality ... What a Concept in 1980. He rose to fame playing the alien Mork in the ABC sitcom Mork & Mindy (1978–1982). He received his first leading film role in Popeye (1980). Williams went on to win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Good Will Hunting (1997). His other Oscar-nominated roles were for Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), Dead Poets Society (1989), and The Fisher King (1991).

Williams starred in the critically acclaimed dramas The World According to Garp (1982), Moscow on the Hudson (1984), Dead Poets Society (1989), Awakenings (1990), Patch Adams (1998), Insomnia (2002), One Hour Photo (2002), and World's Greatest Dad (2009). He also starred in family films such as Hook (1991), Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), Jumanji (1995), Jack (1996), Flubber (1997), RV (2006), and the Night at the Museum trilogy (2006–2014). He lent his voice to the animated films Aladdin (1992), Robots (2005), Happy Feet (2006), and its 2011 sequel.

Williams was found dead at his home in Paradise Cay, California, in August 2014, at the age of 63. At the time of his suicide, he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. According to his widow, Williams had experienced depression, anxiety, and increasing paranoia. His autopsy found "diffuse Lewy body disease" and Lewy body dementia professionals said his symptoms were consistent with dementia with Lewy bodies.

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The best way into Robin Williams's work
Dead Poets Society posterFirst watchDead Poets Society19898.3as John KeatingAt an elite, old-fashioned boarding school in New England, a passionate English teacher inspires his students to rebel against convention and seize the potential of every day, courting the…View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach

Filmography

82 films as actor
  1. 2023Once Upon a StudioGenie (voice) (archive sound)
  2. 2015Absolutely AnythingDennis the Dog (voice)
  3. 2014Night at the Museum: Secret of the TombTheodore Roosevelt
  4. 2014A Merry Friggin' ChristmasVirgil Mitchler
  5. 2014The Angriest Man in BrooklynHenry Altmann
  6. 2014BoulevardNolan
  7. 2013The Face of LoveRoger Stillman
  8. 2013The ButlerDwight H. Eisenhower
  9. 2013The Big WeddingFather Monaghan
  10. 2011Happy Feet TwoRamon / Lovelace (voice)
  11. 2009Monkey MischiefTheodore Roosevelt
  12. 2009Old DogsDan
  13. 2009World's Greatest DadLance Clayton
  14. 2009ShrinkHolden
  15. 2009Night at the Museum: Battle of the SmithsonianTheodore Roosevelt
  16. 2008Comic Relief: The Greatest... and the Latest
  17. 2007August RushMaxwell "Wizard" Wallace
  18. 2007License to WedReverend Frank
  19. 2006Night at the MuseumTheodore Roosevelt
  20. 2006Happy FeetRamon / Lovelace (voice)
  21. 2006Man of the YearTom Dobbs
  22. 2006Everyone's HeroNapoleon Cross (uncredited)
  23. 2006RVBob Munro
  24. 2006The Night ListenerGabriel Noone
  25. 2005The Big WhitePaul Barnell
  26. 2005RobotsFender (voice)
  27. 2004NoelCharlie Boyd / The Priest
  28. 2004The Final CutAlan W. Hakman
  29. 2004House of DPappass
  30. 2003Can't Buy Me Lunch: Another Look at The RutlesHans Hänkie
  31. 2002One Hour PhotoSeymour "Sy" Parrish
  32. 2002InsomniaWalter Finch
  33. 2002Death to SmoochyRainbow Randolph
  34. 2001A.I. Artificial IntelligenceDr. Know (voice)
  35. 1999Bicentennial ManAndrew
  36. 1999Jakob the LiarJakob Heym
  37. 1998Patch AdamsPatch Adams
  38. 1998What Dreams May ComeChris Nielsen
  39. 1997Deconstructing HarryMel
  40. 1997Good Will HuntingSean Maguire
  41. 1997FlubberProfessor Philip Brainard
  42. 1997Fathers' DayDale Putley
  43. 1996HamletOsric
  44. 1996The Secret AgentThe Professor (uncredited)
  45. 1996JackJack Powell
  46. 1996Aladdin and the King of ThievesGenie (voice)
  47. 1996The BirdcageArmand Goldman
  48. 1995JumanjiAlan Parrish
  49. 1995Aladdin on IceGenie (voice) (uncredited)
  50. 1995To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie NewmarJohn Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt (uncredited)
  51. 1995Nine MonthsDr. Kosevich
  52. 1994In Search of Dr. SeussThe Father
  53. 1994Being HumanHector
  54. 1993Mrs. DoubtfireDaniel Hillard / Mrs. Doubtfire
  55. 1992ToysLeslie Zevo
  56. 1992AladdinGenie / Peddler (voice)
  57. 1992FernGully: The Last RainforestBatty Koda (voice)
  58. 1991A Wish for Wings That WorkKiwi (voice) (credited as Sudy Nim)
  59. 1991The Fisher KingParry
  60. 1991Shakes the ClownMime Class Instructor
  61. 1991Dead AgainCozy Carlisle
  62. 1991Rabbit Ears - The Fool and the Flying ShipNarrator (voice)
  63. 1991HookPeter Banning / Peter Pan
  64. 1990AwakeningsMalcolm Sayer
  65. 1990Cadillac ManJoey O'Brien
  66. 1989Dead Poets SocietyJohn Keating
  67. 1988The Adventures of Baron MunchausenKing of the Moon
  68. 1988Rabbit Ears - Pecos BillNarrator (voice)
  69. 1988Portrait of a White MarriageBill Lohmer – Air Conditioning Salesman (uncredited)
  70. 1987Good Morning, VietnamAdrian Cronauer
  71. 1987Citizen SteveRobin Leach
  72. 1986Seize the DayTommy Wilhelm
  73. 1986Club ParadiseJack Moniker
  74. 1986Bob Goldthwait: Don't Watch This ShowAlbert Einstein
  75. 1986The Best of TimesJack Dundee
  76. 1984Moscow on the HudsonVladimir Ivanoff
  77. 1983The SurvivorsDonald Quinelle
  78. 1982The Tale of the Frog PrinceThe Frog / Prince Robin
  79. 1982The World According to GarpT.S. Garp
  80. 1980PopeyePopeye
  81. 1978Sorority '62Henry
  82. 1977Can I Do It Till I Need Glasses?Lawyer / Man with Toothache (uncredited)