Robin Williams facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robin Williams
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Williams in 2011
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| Born |
Robin McLaurin Williams
July 21, 1951 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
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| Died | August 11, 2014 (aged 63) Paradise Cay, California, U.S.
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| Years active | 1976–2014 |
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Full list |
| Spouse(s) |
Valerie Velardi
(m. 1978; div. 1988)Marsha Garces
(m. 1989; div. 2010)Susan Schneider
(m. 2011) |
| Children | 3, including Zelda |
| Comedy career | |
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Robin McLaurin Williams (July 21, 1951 – August 11, 2014) was a famous American actor and comedian. He was known for his amazing improvisation skills. He could create many different characters on the spot. Robin Williams starred in both funny comedies and serious dramas. Many people think he was one of the greatest comedians ever.
He won many important awards for his work. These include an Academy Award, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and six Golden Globe Awards. He also received five Grammy Awards and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. In 2005, he was given the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award for his contributions to entertainment.
Williams started doing stand-up comedy in the mid-1970s. He performed in cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles. He also released several comedy albums. One popular album was Reality ... What a Concept in 1980. He became very famous playing the alien Mork in the TV show Mork & Mindy (1978–1982). His first main movie role was in Popeye (1980).
Robin Williams won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Good Will Hunting (1997). He was also nominated for Oscars for Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), Dead Poets Society (1989), and The Fisher King (1991).
He starred in many popular dramas. These include The World According to Garp (1982) and Awakenings (1990). He also appeared in family-friendly movies like Hook (1991), Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), and Jumanji (1995). He was the voice of the Genie in the animated film Aladdin (1992). He also voiced characters in Happy Feet (2006) and the Night at the Museum movies (2006–2014).
Contents
Early Life and Education
Where Robin Williams Grew Up
Robin McLaurin Williams was born in Chicago, Illinois, on July 21, 1951. His father, Robert Fitzgerald Williams, was a top executive at Ford. His mother, Laurie McLaurin, was a former model. Robin had two older half-brothers.
He went to elementary and middle school in Lake Forest. Robin said he was a quiet child. He only became less shy when he joined his high school drama club. His friends remember him as very funny.
When Robin was 12, his family moved to Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. They lived in a large farmhouse. He went to Detroit Country Day School. He was a good student, on the wrestling team, and class president.
Robin Williams's College Years
Robin's parents both worked. He was partly raised by the family's maid, who was his main friend. At 16, his family moved to Tiburon, California. He attended Redwood High School. His classmates voted him "Most Likely Not to Succeed" and "Funniest."
After high school, Williams started studying political science at Claremont Men's College. But he soon left to focus on acting. He studied theater for three years at the College of Marin. His drama professor, James Dunn, saw his great talent. Robin often improvised during plays, making everyone laugh.
In 1973, Williams received a scholarship to the Juilliard School in New York City. He was one of only 20 students accepted. He and Christopher Reeve were the only two chosen for the Advanced Program. William Hurt and Mandy Patinkin were also his classmates.
Christopher Reeve remembered Robin's energy at Juilliard. He said Robin was like "an untied balloon." Robin could do many different accents instantly. Their acting teacher, Michael Kahn, was amazed by him. Robin and Christopher Reeve remained close friends.
In 1976, Robin left Juilliard. His teacher, John Houseman, suggested he leave. He felt Juilliard had taught him all it could. Another teacher called him a "genius."
Career Highlights
Starting in Stand-up Comedy and TV
Robin Williams began doing stand-up comedy in 1976. He performed in San Francisco and Los Angeles. In 1977, TV producer George Schlatter saw him. This led to Robin's first TV appearance on Laugh-In. He also performed for Home Box Office.
His first movie role was in Can I Do It... 'Til I Need Glasses? (1977). His first main role was as the title character in Popeye (1980). People praised his acting in the film.
Mork and Mindy: A Superstar Is Born
Robin Williams was cast as the alien Mork in an episode of Happy Days in 1978. He impressed the producer, Garry Marshall, by sitting on his head during the audition. As Mork, Robin made up many of his lines and physical jokes. He spoke in a high, funny voice. Everyone was amazed by his performance.
Mork became so popular that he got his own TV show, Mork & Mindy. It co-starred Pam Dawber and ran from 1978 to 1982. The show was written to let Robin improvise a lot. Mork & Mindy had 60 million viewers each week. It made Robin Williams a "superstar."
Mork was very popular. His image appeared on posters, coloring books, and lunchboxes. Robin Williams was on the cover of Time magazine in 1979. This photo showed his funny and thoughtful sides. It was later displayed in the National Portrait Gallery.
With his TV success, Robin's stand-up comedy also grew. He had three HBO comedy specials. He won a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album for his 1979 live show, Reality ... What a Concept.
Becoming a Film Star
In 1982, Robin Williams starred in The World According to Garp. Critic Roger Ebert praised his performance. Robin also had roles in other films like The Survivors (1983).
In 1986, Williams co-hosted the 58th Academy Awards. His big movie break came in Good Morning, Vietnam (1987). He played Adrian Cronauer, a radio DJ during the Vietnam War. Robin was allowed to improvise most of his lines. He did many voice impressions, like Elvis Presley. The producer said Robin created something new for every take. This role earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor nomination.
Many of his later roles were comedies with a touch of sadness. Examples include Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) and Patch Adams (1998). He showed a wide range of acting skills. In Dead Poets Society (1989), he played an English teacher. His performance inspired many people.
In Good Will Hunting (1997), he played a therapist. This role deeply affected many viewers. In Awakenings (1990), he played a doctor. The author of the book, Oliver Sacks, called Robin's mind a "form of genius." In 1991, he played an adult Peter Pan in Hook.
Robin Williams voiced the Genie in Disney's Aladdin (1992). The role was written just for him. He improvised much of his dialogue, recording about 30 hours of tape. He imitated many celebrities. His role as the Genie became one of his most loved. The film was the highest-grossing movie of 1992. He won a Special Golden Globe Award for his voice work. His performance helped other animated films use famous actors. He was named a Disney Legend in 2009.
Due to a disagreement, Robin did not voice the Genie in the sequel, The Return of Jafar (1994). But he returned for the second sequel, Aladdin and the King of Thieves (1996). He also voiced characters in FernGully: The Last Rainforest (1992).
Robin Williams also took on darker roles in the early 2000s. He played a murderer in Insomnia (2002). In One Hour Photo (2002), he played a disturbed photo technician.
Later Career and Return to Television
Robin Williams continued his stand-up comedy. His show Robin Williams: Live on Broadway (2002) was very successful. In 2004, he was ranked 13th on Comedy Central's "100 Greatest Stand-ups of All Time."
In 2008, he announced a new comedy tour called Weapons of Self-Destruction. It became an HBO Special in 2009.
Robin Williams was interested in playing Rubeus Hagrid in the Harry Potter movies. However, he was not chosen because the director wanted only British actors.
He continued to voice characters in animated films. These included Robots (2005) and the Happy Feet movies (2006–2011). He also voiced Dr. Know in A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001).
In 2011, he made his Broadway acting debut in Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo. In 2013, he starred in the CBS series The Crazy Ones. This show was canceled after one season.
The Angriest Man in Brooklyn was his last movie released while he was alive. Four more films starring Robin Williams were released after his passing in 2014. These included Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb and Absolutely Anything.
Personal Life and Family
Robin Williams's Marriages and Children
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Robin Williams married his first wife, Valerie Velardi, in June 1978. They met in 1976 when he was a bartender. Their son, Zachary Pym "Zak" Williams, was born in 1983. They divorced in 1988.
On April 30, 1989, Robin married Marsha Garces. They had two children: Zelda Rae Williams (born 1989) and Cody Alan Williams (born 1991). Marsha filed for divorce in 2008, and it was finalized in 2010.
Robin married his third wife, Susan Schneider, on October 22, 2011. They lived in San Francisco, California. Robin often said his children gave him "a great sense of wonder."
Robin Williams's Hobbies and Interests
Robin Williams was a runner in New York City. He enjoyed the Foundation trilogy by Isaac Asimov. His favorite childhood book was The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. He later read it to his own children.
He was a big fan of both role-playing games and video games. His daughter Zelda was named after the main character from The Legend of Zelda video game series.
Robin also loved anime and collecting figures. His daughter called him a "figurine hoarder." He was a devoted cycling enthusiast. He collected many bicycles and followed professional races like the Tour de France. After his passing, his children donated 87 of his bicycles to charity.
Helping Others: Philanthropy
In 1986, Robin Williams, along with Whoopi Goldberg and Billy Crystal, started Comic Relief USA. This annual TV event raised money for people experiencing homelessness. By 2014, it had raised $80 million. Robin felt lucky to come from a wealthy family. He wanted to help those who were less fortunate.
Robin also supported literacy and women's rights. He performed for veterans. He was a regular on the USO circuit. He traveled to 13 countries and performed for about 90,000 troops. The USO thanked him for his support after his passing.
Robin and his second wife, Marsha, created the Windfall Foundation. This organization raised money for many charities. In 1999, he sang on a charity music video for Children's Promise.
After the 2010 Canterbury earthquake in New Zealand, he donated all the money from his show in Christchurch to help rebuild the city. He also performed for U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. For several years, Robin supported St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Passing and Legacy
Robin Williams passed away at his home in Paradise Cay, California, on August 11, 2014. He had been dealing with health issues. His passing was global news. Friends, fans, and the entertainment world shared their sadness. His wife, Susan Schneider Williams, said she lost her husband and best friend. His daughter, Zelda Williams, said the world was "less colorful and less full of laughter" without him.
President Barack Obama released a statement. He said Robin Williams "arrived in our lives as an alien—but he ended up touching every element of the human spirit." He added that Robin "made us laugh. He made us cry."
A tunnel on Highway 101 in California was officially named the "Robin Williams Tunnel" in 2016. In 2017, Sharon Meadow in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park was renamed "Robin Williams Meadow."
In 2018, HBO made a documentary about his life called Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind. A mural of Robin Williams was also created on Market Street in San Francisco. A biography titled Robin was published in 2018.
In 2020, a new documentary called Robin's Wish was released. In 2022, Robin Williams was inducted into the National Comedy Center.
Acting Credits and Awards
Throughout his career, Robin Williams won many awards. He won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Good Will Hunting (1997). He also won six Golden Globe Awards. These included Best Actor for Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), The Fisher King (1991), and Mrs. Doubtfire (1993). He received a special Golden Globe for his voice work as the Genie in Aladdin (1992). In 2005, he received the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award. He also won two Primetime Emmy Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and five Grammy Awards.
Discography
- Reality ... What a Concept (Casablanca, 1979)
- Throbbing Python of Love (Casablanca, 1983)
- A Night at the Met (Columbia, 1986)
- Live 2002 (Columbia, 2002)
- Weapons of Self Destruction (Sony Music, 2009)
Images for kids
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The Los Angeles Theatre honors Williams on their marquee
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Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
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Williams's prints at Grauman's Chinese Theatre
See also
In Spanish: Robin Williams para niños
