
Robin Williams
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.
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.
51Credits21 TV · 30 films
1974–2023Years activefirst to latest
9.7 Highest ratedThe Paley Center Salutes Law & Order: SVU
7.4 Average ratingacross 51 titles
Top TV shows 21best Robin Williams shows
- 1
The Mork & Mindy / Laverne & Shirley / Fonz HourMork (voice) · 1 ep · 1982 - 2
L.A. DoctorsHugo Kingsley · 1 ep · 1998 - 3
FriendsTomas (uncredited) · 1 ep · 1994 - 4
Faerie Tale TheatreThe Frog / Prince Robin · 1 ep · 1982 - 5
Homicide: Life on the StreetRobert Ellison · 1 ep · 1993 - 6
The SimpsonsDr. J. Loren Pryor (voice) (as Doug Hill) · 1 ep · 1989 - 7
Law & Order: Special Victims UnitMerritt Rook · 1 ep · 1999 - 8
Mork & MindyMork · 1978–1982 · Drama - 9
LouieRobin · 1 ep · 2010 - 10
The Larry Sanders ShowRobin Williams · 2 eps · 1992 - 11
Happy DaysMork · 2 eps · 1974 - 12
Robin Williams: Weapons of Self-DestructionCreator - 13
WilfredDr. Eddy · 1 ep · 2011 - 14
Out of the BlueMork · 1 ep · 1979 - 15
Life with BonnieKevin Powalski · 1 ep · 2002 - 16
The Crazy OnesSimon Roberts · 2013–2014 · Comedy - 17
The Richard Pryor ShowVarious · 5 eps · 1977 - 18Laugh-InRegular Performer · 6 eps · 1977
- 19
Eight Is EnoughThe Circuit Breakers Member · 1 ep · 1977 - 20
Great Minds Think for ThemselvesGenie (voice) · 13 eps · 1997 - 21
Mind of Mencia1 ep · 2005
Top movies 30best Robin Williams movies
- 1
The Paley Center Salutes Law & Order: SVU(archive footage) · 2020 - 2
Dead Poets SocietyJohn Keating · 1989 - 3
Once Upon a StudioGenie (voice) (archive sound) · 2023 - 4
Robin Williams: An Evening at the MetWriter · 1986 - 5
Good Will HuntingSean Maguire · 1997 - 6
Comic Relief III1989 - 7
AwakeningsMalcolm Sayer · 1990 - 8
Robin Williams: Live on BroadwayWriter · 2002 - 9
Bob Goldthwait: Don't Watch This ShowAlbert Einstein · 1986 - 10
AladdinGenie / Peddler (voice) · 1992 - 11
Robin Williams: Off the WallWriter · 1978 - 12
Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen(archive footage) · 2012 - 13
Robin Williams: Weapons of Self DestructionWriter · 2009 - 14
To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie NewmarJohn Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt (uncredited) · 1995 - 15
August RushMaxwell "Wizard" Wallace · 2007 - 16
HamletOsric · 1996 - 17
The ButlerDwight Eisenhower · 2013 - 18
An Evening with Robin WilliamsWriter · 1983 - 19
Patch AdamsHunter 'Patch' Adams · 1998 - 20
Good Morning, VietnamAdrian Cronauer · 1987 - 21
The Fisher KingParry · 1991 - 22
Bicentennial ManAndrew · 1999 - 23
Deconstructing HarryMel · 1997 - 24
JumanjiAlan Parrish · 1995 - 25
What Dreams May ComeChris Nielsen · 1998 - 26
Mrs. DoubtfireDaniel Hillard / Mrs. Doubtfire · 1993 - 27
Billy Connolly: Erect for 30 Years1999 - 28
Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam(voice) · 1987 - 29
In Search of Dr. SeussThe Father · 1994 - 30
A.I. Artificial IntelligenceDr. Know (voice) · 2001