Williams, Robin (1951-2014), was an American actor and comedian known for his skill at improvising and his frantic comic style. Williams first gained fame for his sometimes eccentric comedy in nightclubs and on television. He later won respect as a versatile, serious motion-picture actor. He received an Academy Award for best supporting actor for Good Will Hunting (1997).
Williams was born in Chicago on July 21, 1951. He began his show business career as a stand-up comedian in clubs in San Francisco and Los Angeles. His big break came in 1978 when he made a guest appearance on the hit TV series “Happy Days” as a space alien named Mork. The success of the character led to Williams’s starring in the TV comedy series “Mork and Mindy” (1978-1982). In 2013 and 2014, he starred in the TV comedy “The Crazy Ones.”
Williams’s other films include Popeye (1980); The World According to Garp (1982); Moscow on the Hudson (1984); Good Morning Vietnam (1987); Dead Poets Society (1989); Cadillac Man and Awakenings (both 1990); The Fisher King (1991); Mrs. Doubtfire (1993); The Bird Cage (1996); What Dreams May Come and Patch Adams (both 1998); Insomnia and One Hour Photo (both 2002); August Rush (2007); World’s Greatest Dad and Old Dogs (both 2009); The Big Wedding and Lee Daniels’ The Butler (both 2013); The Angriest Man in Brooklyn (2014); and A Merry Friggin’ Christmas and Boulevard (2014, both released after his death). He also provided voices for the animated films Aladdin (1992), Robots (2005), and Happy Feet (2006). Williams committed suicide on Aug. 11, 2014.
