Robin Williams

Biography

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.

CritifyHub Reviews Featuring Robin Williams

Symphony of the Soul: The Resonant Heart of August Rush

on August Rush | Jul 22, 2025

In August Rush (2007), director Kirsten Sheridan crafts a modern fairy tale that pulses with musicality, weaving a narrative as delicate and intricate as a melody. The film follows Evan Taylor, an orp... Read more

The Quiet Courage of Comedy: Unraveling the Layers of "World’s Greatest Dad"

on World's Greatest Dad | Jul 19, 2025

Bobcat Goldthwait’s World’s Greatest Dad (2009) is a daring tightrope walk between dark comedy and piercing human drama, a film that wields humor as both a shield and a scalpel. Anchored by Robin Will... Read more

A Haunting Exploration of Guilt, Isolation, and Moral Ambiguity in the Land of the Midnight Sun

on Insomnia | Jun 07, 2025

Insomnia, directed by Christopher Nolan, is a psychological thriller that delves deep into the murky waters of guilt, isolation, and moral ambiguity in the remote and eerie landscape of Alaska. With s... Read more

Seizing the Verse: The Fragile Fire of Dead Poets Society

on Dead Poets Society | Jun 06, 2025

Peter Weir’s Dead Poets Society (1989) is a film that burns with the quiet ferocity of youth confronting conformity. Set in the rigid halls of Welton Academy, it’s less a coming-of-age tale than a bat... Read more

"Some people can never believe in themselves, until someone believes in them." This poignant quote encapsulates the central theme of trust and self-acceptance in "Good Will Hunting."

on Good Will Hunting | May 31, 2025

Gus Van Sant’s Good Will Hunting is a deeply moving and insightful drama that explores the complexities of genius, trauma, and the transformative power of human connection. Will Hunting (Matt Damon), ... Read more