Robin Williams
Robin Williams | |
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Williams in 2011 | |
| Born | Robin McLaurin Williams July 21, 1951 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | August 11, 2014 (aged 63) Paradise Cay, California, U.S. |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1976–2014 |
| Works | Full list |
| Spouses | Valerie Velardi
(m. 1978; div. 1988)Marsha Garces
(m. 1989; div. 2010)Susan Schneider (m. 2011) |
| Children | 3, including Zelda |
| Relatives | Anselm J. McLaurin (great-great grandfather) |
| Awards | Full list |
| Comedy career | |
| Medium |
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| Genres |
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Robin McLaurin Williams (July 21, 1951 – August 11, 2014) was an American actor and comedian. Known for his improvisational skills[1][2] and the wide variety of characters he created spontaneously and portrayed in drama and comedy films,[3][4] he is regarded as one of the greatest comedians of all time.[5][6][7] Williams received numerous accolades including an Academy Award, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and six Golden Globe Awards, as well as five Grammy Awards and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. He was awarded the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2005.
Born in Chicago, 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.[8] He rose to fame playing the alien Mork in the ABC sitcom Mork & Mindy (1978–1982).[9] Williams received his first leading film role in Popeye (1980). Williams won 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), Awakenings (1990), Insomnia (2002), One Hour Photo (2002), and World's Greatest Dad (2009). He also starred in Toys (1992), The Birdcage (1996), and Patch Adams (1998), as well as 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). Williams lent his voice to the animated films Aladdin (1992), Robots (2005), Happy Feet (2006), and its 2011 sequel.
During his final years, Williams struggled with severe depression before his death from suicide in 2014 at his Paradise Cay, California, home at age 63.[a] According to his widow, Williams had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, and had been experiencing depression, anxiety, and increasing paranoia.[12] His autopsy found "diffuse Lewy body disease",[13][12] and Lewy body dementia professionals said that his symptoms were consistent with dementia with Lewy bodies.[14][15][13] In the weeks following his suicide, Williams was celebrated in a wave of tributes.
- ^ Kahn, Mattie (August 12, 2014). "When Norm Macdonald Met Robin Williams – 'The Funniest Man in The World'". ABC News. Archived from the original on August 13, 2014. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
- ^ Raab, Lauren; Parker, Ryan; Loomis, Nicky (August 11, 2014). "Robin Williams, 'funniest man alive,' dead at 63". The Bradenton Herald. Archived from the original on October 20, 2014. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
- ^ "Say What? Robin Williams' Most Iconic Character Voices". VH1 News. August 12, 2014. Archived from the original on November 5, 2018. Retrieved November 4, 2018.
- ^ "Remembering Robin Williams – the man with 1000 voices". GQ Magazine UK. August 10, 2017. Archived from the original on November 5, 2018. Retrieved November 4, 2018.
- ^ "The 25 Funniest People Of All Time". Business Insider. Archived from the original on November 26, 2018. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
- ^ "50 Best Stand-Up Comics of All Time". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 15, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
- ^ "The 50 Best Stand-up Comics of All Time". Paste Magazine. Archived from the original on July 19, 2021. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Nachmanwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Robin Williams Has Been Voted Funniest Person Ever". Grintage Ireland. Archived from the original on November 26, 2018. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
- ^ McLean, Tessa (November 18, 2020). "Robin Williams' former Bay Area home finally sells for under asking". SFGate. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
- ^ Martin, Nick (August 13, 2014). "San Francisco Neighbours Mourn Robin Williams". Sky News. Archived from the original on August 13, 2014. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
- ^ a b Gallman S (November 4, 2015). "Robin Williams' widow speaks: Depression didn't kill my husband". CNN. Archived from the original on November 4, 2015. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
- ^ a b "LBDA Clarifies Autopsy Report on Comedian, Robin Williams". Lewy Body Dementia Association. November 10, 2014. Archived from the original on August 12, 2020. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
McKeithConversationwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Robbins R (September 30, 2016). "How Lewy body dementia gripped Robin Williams". Scientific American. Archived from the original on April 10, 2018. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
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