Robin Williams - Stand-up Comedians, Timeline and Family
Robin Williams's Personal Details
Robin Williams was an American actor best known for his performance in the movie ‘Good Will Hunting’
Information | Detail |
---|---|
Birthday | July 21, 1951 |
Died on | August 11, 2014 |
Nationality | American |
Famous | Juilliard School, Film & Theater Personalities, Actors, Comedians, Voice Actors, ENFP, Stand-up Comedians |
City/State | Illinois |
Spouses | Susan Schneider |
Siblings | Robert Todd Williams |
Known as | Robin McLaurin Williams |
Childrens | Cody Alan Williams, Zachary Pym Williams, Zelda Rae Williams |
Universities |
|
Notable Alumnis |
|
Cause of death |
|
Birth Place | Chicago |
Diseases Disabilities | Depression |
Gender | Male |
Father | Robert Williams |
Mother | Laurie Williams |
Net Worth | $130 million |
Sun Sign | Cancer |
Born in | Chicago |
Famous as | American stand-up comedian |
Died at Age | 63 |
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Robin Williams's photo
Who is Robin Williams?
Robin Williams, the funnyman who made not just America but the whole world laugh at his wonderful antics, was an American actor and comedian loved equally by both kids and adults for his quirky expressions, charming clumsiness, and innocent yet witty dialogues. Even though more famous as a comedian, Williams was a very talented personality who could pull off a very serious role with the same ease as he performed a comedic one. Thrice nominated for the coveted Academy Awards, he won it once for his much acclaimed performance in the movie ‘Good Will Hunting’. The son of a senior executive, showbiz seemed to be an unlikely career path for the young Robin. As a boy he always joked around at school and made others laugh with his jokes, no doubt his classmates voted him the “Funniest”! He began his career as a stand-up comedian where he found success. One thing led to another and soon he was on television doing comedy shows. The hit sitcom ‘Mork & Mindy’ made him so popular that he realized that he was meant for greater success. Thus, he entered the world of movies and became the funnyman everyone fell in love with.
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Childhood & Early Life
He was born to Robert Fitzgerald Williams and Laurie McLaurin in Chicago as one of their three sons. His father worked as a senior executive at Ford Motor Company while his mother had been a former model. He was of mixed ancestry.
His family moved to Michigan when he was a young kid and there he joined the Detroit Country Day School. He was a very good student and also played sports. Yet, he was bullied much of the time in school.
He was an introvert and spent much of his time alone playing with his toys. Since both his parents worked, the lonely child entertained himself with his imagination.
As a teenager he attended Redwood High School from where he graduated in 1969. He was a popular student in school, always telling jokes and making others laugh.
He had a penchant for acting from a young age and won a full scholarship to attend the esteemed Juilliard School in New York City in 1973. He was among the only two students who were accepted by John Houseman into the Advanced Program that year. Christopher Reeve and William Hurt were his classmates.
Career
He began his career performing stand up comedy shows during the 1970s. While he was performing at the Comedy Club in Los Angeles in 1977, he was spotted by the TV producer George Schlatter who asked him to appear on a revival of his ‘Laugh-In’ show.
His debut TV appearance happened in late 1977 where he performed an extension of his stand-up routines. Even though the Laugh-In was not a success, it definitely led to his talent getting recognized.
He auditioned for the role of Mork the Alien for the show ‘Happy Days’ in 1978. When asked to take a seat, he promptly sat on his head which really impressed the producer, Garry Marshall. The character was so successful that it set off a spin-off.
The American sitcom ‘Mork & Mindy’ was first broadcast in 1978 featuring Robin as Mork the Alien from the planet Ork. The show was a huge success and made him a popular figure in comedy. The show ran till 1982.
In 1979, he gave a live comedy show at the Copacabana in New York, ‘Reality… What a Concept’ the recording of which won him a Grammy Award.
Even though he had made his big screen debut in 1977 with the comedy movie, ‘Can I Do It ‘Till I Need Glasses?’, it wasn’t until 1980 that he got his first big break with ‘Popeye’ in which he played Popeye the Sailor Man.
More roles soon followed and in 1984 he found himself playing the role of Vladimir Ivanoff in the comedy-drama ‘Moscow on the Hudson’ for which he was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor.
He portrayed a radio DJ on Armed Forces Radio Service in the 1987 war comedy film, ‘Good Morning, Vietnam’, a movie in which his character was loosely based on the life of radio DJ Adrian Cronauer.
In 1989, he appeared in the drama film ‘Dead Poets Society’ which was about the story of an English teacher in a conservative academy who inspires his students by teaching them poetry. The movie was a huge hit.
One of his most memorable comedy films was ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’ (1993) in which he pretends to be a woman so that he can be closer to the kids he has with his ex-wife.
The year 1997 was a good one for him as he got the opportunity to star in the brilliant movie, ‘Good Will Hunting’ in which he plays the role of a therapist who counsels a troubled yet hugely talented young man. The movie won him many accolades.
The success of his career continued well into the new millennium where he performed in movies such as ‘One Hour Photo’ (2002), ‘Robots’ (2005), ‘License to Wed’ (2007), and ‘Old Dogs’ (2009).
Over the past few years his depression had been worsening and he was also having problems with alcoholism. He died suddenly in 2014; some of his movies like ‘Merry Friggin’ Christmas’ and ‘Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb’ are scheduled for posthumous release.
Major Works
He was best known for his role as a therapist in the 1997 drama film ‘Good Will Hunting’ which was both a critical and commercial success. He shared the screen with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck in this much acclaimed movie.
Awards & Achievements
Hewas nominated for the Academy Award for the Best Actor thrice. In 1997 he won the Academy Award for the Best Supporting Actor for his role as Dr. Sean Maguire in the film ‘Good Will Hunting’.
Personal Life & Legacy
Williams married thrice. His first marriage was to Valarie Velardi in 1978 with whom he had a son. Their marriage unraveled due to his alcoholism and infidelity.
He married Marsha Garces, his son’s nanny, in 1989. The couple went on to have two children. This marriage too, did not last long and ended in divorce.
His third marriage was to graphic designer Susan Schneider in 2011.
Williams had always had problems with alcoholism and drug abuse. He also suffered from depression. He was discovered unconscious by his personal assistant on 11 August 2014 and the doctors declared him dead shortly afterwards. His death is believed to be a result of suicide.
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Robin Williams's awards
Year | Name | Award |
---|---|---|
Academy Awards(Oscars) | ||
1998 | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Good Will Hunting (1997) |
Golden Globe Awards | ||
1994 | Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical | Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) |
1992 | Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical | The Fisher King (1991) |
1988 | Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical | Good Morning, Vietnam (1987) |
1979 | Best Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical | Mork & Mindy (1978) |
Primetime Emmy Awards | ||
1988 | Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program | ABC Presents: A Royal Gala (1988) |
1987 | Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program | Carol, Carl, Whoopi and Robin (1987) |
Grammy Awards | ||
2003 | Best Spoken Comedy Album | Robin Williams Live on Broadway (2002) |
1989 | Best Recording for Children | Winner |
1989 | Best Comedy Recording | Good Morning, Vietnam (1987) |
1980 | Best Comedy Recording | Winner |
MTV Movie & TV Awards | ||
1994 | Best Comedic Performance | Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) |
1993 | Best Comedic Performance | Aladdin (1992) |
People's Choice Awards | ||
2009 | Favorite Scene Stealing Guest Star | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) |
2008 | Favorite Funny Male Star | Winner |
2007 | Favorite Funny Male Star | Winner |
1994 | Favorite Comedy Motion Picture Actor | Winner |
1979 | Favorite Male Performer in a New TV Program | Winner |
Robin Williams biography timelines
- // 21st Jul 1951He was born to Robert Fitzgerald Williams and Laurie McLaurin in Chicago as one of their three sons. His father worked as a senior executive at Ford Motor Company while his mother had been a former model. He was of mixed ancestry.
- // 1969As a teenager he attended Redwood High School from where he graduated in 1969. He was a popular student in school, always telling jokes and making others laugh.
- // 1973He had a penchant for acting from a young age and won a full scholarship to attend the esteemed Juilliard School in New York City in 1973. He was among the only two students who were accepted by John Houseman into the Advanced Program that year. Christopher Reeve and William Hurt were his classmates.
- // 1977He began his career performing stand up comedy shows during the 1970s. While he was performing at the Comedy Club in Los Angeles in 1977, he was spotted by the TV producer George Schlatter who asked him to appear on a revival of his ‘Laugh-In’ show.
- // 1978He auditioned for the role of Mork the Alien for the show ‘Happy Days’ in 1978. When asked to take a seat, he promptly sat on his head which really impressed the producer, Garry Marshall. The character was so successful that it set off a spin-off.
- // 1978Williams married thrice. His first marriage was to Valarie Velardi in 1978 with whom he had a son. Their marriage unraveled due to his alcoholism and infidelity.
- // 1979In 1979, he gave a live comedy show at the Copacabana in New York, ‘Reality… What a Concept’ the recording of which won him a Grammy Award.
- // 1980Even though he had made his big screen debut in 1977 with the comedy movie, ‘Can I Do It ‘Till I Need Glasses?’, it wasn’t until 1980 that he got his first big break with ‘Popeye’ in which he played Popeye the Sailor Man.
- // 1982The American sitcom ‘Mork & Mindy’ was first broadcast in 1978 featuring Robin as Mork the Alien from the planet Ork. The show was a huge success and made him a popular figure in comedy. The show ran till 1982.
- // 1984More roles soon followed and in 1984 he found himself playing the role of Vladimir Ivanoff in the comedy-drama ‘Moscow on the Hudson’ for which he was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor.
- // 1987He portrayed a radio DJ on Armed Forces Radio Service in the 1987 war comedy film, ‘Good Morning, Vietnam’, a movie in which his character was loosely based on the life of radio DJ Adrian Cronauer.
- // 1989In 1989, he appeared in the drama film ‘Dead Poets Society’ which was about the story of an English teacher in a conservative academy who inspires his students by teaching them poetry. The movie was a huge hit.
- // 1989He married Marsha Garces, his son’s nanny, in 1989. The couple went on to have two children. This marriage too, did not last long and ended in divorce.
- // 1993One of his most memorable comedy films was ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’ (1993) in which he pretends to be a woman so that he can be closer to the kids he has with his ex-wife.
- // 1997The year 1997 was a good one for him as he got the opportunity to star in the brilliant movie, ‘Good Will Hunting’ in which he plays the role of a therapist who counsels a troubled yet hugely talented young man. The movie won him many accolades.
- // 1997Hewas nominated for the Academy Award for the Best Actor thrice. In 1997 he won the Academy Award for the Best Supporting Actor for his role as Dr. Sean Maguire in the film ‘Good Will Hunting’.
- // 2011His third marriage was to graphic designer Susan Schneider in 2011.
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Robin Williams's FAQ
What is Robin Williams birthday?
Robin Williams was born at 1951-07-21
When was Robin Williams died?
Robin Williams was died at 2014-08-11
Where was Robin Williams died?
Robin Williams was died in California
Which age was Robin Williams died?
Robin Williams was died at age 63
Where is Robin Williams's birth place?
Robin Williams was born in Chicago
What is Robin Williams nationalities?
Robin Williams's nationalities is American
Who is Robin Williams spouses?
Robin Williams's spouses is Susan Schneider
Who is Robin Williams siblings?
Robin Williams's siblings is Robert Todd Williams
Who is Robin Williams childrens?
Robin Williams's childrens is Cody Alan Williams, Zachary Pym Williams, Zelda Rae Williams
What was Robin Williams universities?
Robin Williams studied at Juilliard School, Detroit Country Day School, Redwood High School, Claremont McKenna College
What was Robin Williams notable alumnis?
Robin Williams's notable alumnis is Juilliard School
What is Robin Williams's cause of dead?
Robin Williams dead because of Suicide
Who is Robin Williams's father?
Robin Williams's father is Robert Williams
Who is Robin Williams's mother?
Robin Williams's mother is Laurie Williams
What is Robin Williams's sun sign?
Robin Williams is Cancer
How famous is Robin Williams?
Robin Williams is famouse as American stand-up comedian