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.
Academy Awards
Best Supporting Actor
Golden Globe Awards
Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
National Board of Review Awards
Best Actor
Known For
Good Will Hunting
(1997)
Sean Maguire
Aladdin
(1992)
Genie / Peddler (voice)
Happy Feet
(2006)
Ramon / Lovelace (voice)
Robots
(2005)
Fender (voice)
Awakenings
(1990)
Malcolm Sayer
Dead Poets Society
(1989)
John Keating
Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb
(2014)
Theodore Roosevelt
Mrs. Doubtfire
(1993)
Daniel Hillard / Mrs. Doubtfire
Insomnia
(2002)
Walter Finch
Once Upon a Studio
(2023)
Genie (voice) (archive footage)
A.I. Artificial Intelligence
(2001)
Dr. Know (voice)
RV
(2006)
Bob Munro
Hook
(1991)
Peter Banning / Peter Pan
Night at the Museum
(2006)
Teddy Roosevelt
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
(2009)
Theodore Roosevelt
Happy Feet Two
(2011)
Ramon / Lovelace (voice)
Full Filmography
Acting
Can I Do It Till I Need Glasses?
(1977)
Lawyer / Man with Toothache
The Complete Richard Pryor Roast
(1977)
Sorority '62
(1978)
Henry
Robin Williams: Off the Wall
(1978)
Himself
Sitcom: The Adventures of Garry Marshall
(1979)
Himself
Rona Barrett Looks at 1978
(1979)
Popeye
(1980)
Popeye
Andy Kaufman Plays Carnegie Hall
(1980)
Himself (uncredited)
The Tale of the Frog Prince
(1982)
The Frog / Prince Robin
Night of 100 Stars
(1982)
Self
E.T. and Friends: Magical Movie Visitors
(1982)
Himself - Host
The World According to Garp
(1982)
T.S. Garp
I Love Liberty
(1982)
Self
The Survivors
(1983)
Donald Quinelle
An Evening with Robin Williams
(1983)
Himself
Moscow on the Hudson
(1984)
Vladimir Ivanoff
Richard Lewis: I'm In Pain
(1985)
Self
Super Duper Bloopers
(1986)
Himself
Club Paradise
(1986)
Jack Moniker
The Best of Times
(1986)
Jack Dundee
Seize the Day
(1986)
Tommy Wilhelm
Bob Goldthwait -- Don't Watch This Show
(1986)
Albert Einstein
Robin Williams: An Evening at the Met
(1986)
Himself
Barbra Streisand: One Voice
(1986)
Self - Guest Performer
The Young Comedians All-Star Reunion
(1986)
Himself
Max Headroom's Giant Christmas Turkey
(1986)
Himself
Jonathan Winters: On the Ledge
(1987)
Self
Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam
(1987)
(voice)
Citizen Steve
(1987)
Robin Leach
Good Morning, Vietnam
(1987)
Adrian Cronauer
Bobby McFerrin: Spontaneous Inventions
(1987)
Himself
Carol, Carl, Whoopi and Robin
(1987)
Free to Be... a Family
(1988)
Self
Portrait of a White Marriage
(1988)
Bill Lohmer – Air Conditioning Salesman (uncredited)
Rabbit Ears - Pecos Bill
(1988)
Narrator (voice)
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen
(1988)
King of the Moon
Back to Neverland
(1989)
Robin
Whoopi Goldberg Presents Billy Connolly
(1989)
Himself (uncredited)
I'm from Hollywood
(1989)
Himself
Saturday Night Live: 15th Anniversary
(1989)
Self
Dead Poets Society
(1989)
John Keating
Awakenings
(1990)
Malcolm Sayer
The Earth Day Special
(1990)
Everyman
Cadillac Man
(1990)
Joey O'Brien
Dead Again
(1991)
Cozy Carlisle
Shakes the Clown
(1991)
Mime Class Instructor
A Wish for Wings That Work
(1991)
Kiwi (voice)
The Fisher King
(1991)
Parry
Hook
(1991)
Peter Banning / Peter Pan
Rabbit Ears - The Fool and the Flying Ship
(1991)
Narrator (voice)
Toys
(1992)
Leslie Zevo
Aladdin
(1992)
Genie / Peddler (voice)
The Return of Spinal Tap
(1992)
Robin Williams (TV version)
FernGully: The Last Rainforest
(1992)
Batty Koda (voice)
A Tribute to Sam Kinison
(1993)
Self
An Evening with Lily Tomlin and Friends
(1993)
Self
Mrs. Doubtfire
(1993)
Daniel Hillard / Mrs. Doubtfire
Sesame Street All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!
(1994)
Self (archive footage)
The World of Jim Henson
(1994)
Self (archive footage)
Being Human
(1994)
Hector
In Search of Dr. Seuss
(1994)
The Father
In the Wild: Dolphins With Robin Williams
(1994)
Self
But... Seriously
(1994)
Self (archive footage)
Jumanji
(1995)
Alan Parrish
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
(1995)
Self
Aladdin on Ice
(1995)
Genie (voice)
Nine Months
(1995)
Dr. Kosevich
To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar
(1995)
John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt (uncredited)
Nichols and May: Take Two
(1996)
Self
Jack
(1996)
Jack Powell
Aladdin and the King of Thieves
(1996)
Genie (voice)
Hamlet
(1996)
Osric
The Birdcage
(1996)
Armand Goldman
The Secret Agent
(1996)
Assassin (uncredited)
Flubber
(1997)
Professor Philip Brainard
Fathers' Day
(1997)
Dale Putley
Deconstructing Harry
(1997)
Mel
Good Will Hunting
(1997)
Sean Maguire
What Dreams May Come
(1998)
Chris Nielsen
Patch Adams
(1998)
Hunter "Patch" Adams
George Martin: In My Life
(1998)
Self
Get Bruce!
(1999)
Self
Billy Connolly: Erect for 30 Years
(1999)
Jakob the Liar
(1999)
Jakob Heym
Bicentennial Man
(1999)
Andrew
The Beatles Revolution
(2000)
Self
Making Jumanji: The Realm of Imagination
(2000)
Self / Alan Parrish
Chuck Jones: Extremes and In-Betweens - A Life in Animation
(2000)
Self
A.I. Artificial Intelligence
(2001)
Dr. Know (voice)
The 1st 13th Annual Fancy Anvil Awards Show Program Special: Live in Stereo
(2002)
Himself
Death to Smoochy
(2002)
Rainbow Randolph
One Hour Photo
(2002)
Seymour Parrish
Robin Williams: Live on Broadway
(2002)
Himself
Insomnia
(2002)
Walter Finch
2003 Florida Marlins: The Official World Series Film
(2003)
Himself
Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!!
(2003)
Self
The Rutles 2: Can't Buy Me Lunch
(2003)
Hans Hänkie
The Tour Baby
(2004)
Himself
The Final Cut
(2004)
Alan W. Hakman
Noel
(2004)
Charlie Boyd / The Priest
The Aristocrats
(2005)
Self
Robots
(2005)
Fender (voice)
The Big White
(2005)
Paul Barnell
House of D
(2005)
Pappass
Emmanuel's Gift
(2005)
Self (archive footage)
Romanekian
(2005)
Himself
Earth to America
(2005)
Self
Nos Bastidores de Hollywood
(2005)
Self
JoJo: The Pop Princess
(2006)
Himself
Happy Feet
(2006)
Ramon / Lovelace (voice)
Barry Sonnenfeld: The Kosher Cowboy
(2006)
Self
Comic Relief 2006
(2006)
Man of the Year
(2006)
Tom Dobbs
The Night Listener
(2006)
Gabriel Noone
RV
(2006)
Bob Munro
Night at the Museum
(2006)
Teddy Roosevelt
RV Nation: The Culture of Road Warriors
(2006)
Self
Elton 60: Live At Madison Square Garden
(2007)
Self
Certifiably Jonathan
(2007)
Self
Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project
(2007)
Self
The Pixar Story
(2007)
Self (archive footage)
Fog City Mavericks
(2007)
Self
August Rush
(2007)
Maxwell "Wizard" Wallace
License to Wed
(2007)
Reverend Frank
Cannes: All Access
(2007)
Self
History of the Joke
(2008)
Self
Starz Inside: Ladies or Gentlemen
(2008)
Self (archive footage)
Dreams with Sharp Teeth
(2008)
Himself
We Are Most Amused
(2008)
Self
The Madness and Misadventures of Munchausen
(2008)
Self
Shrink
(2009)
Holden
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
(2009)
Theodore Roosevelt
Robin Williams: Weapons of Self Destruction
(2009)
Himself
SpongeBob's Truth or Square
(2009)
Self
Old Dogs
(2009)
Dan
World's Greatest Dad
(2009)
Lance Clayton
Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin' About Him?)
(2010)
Himself
Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored
(2011)
Himself
Happy Feet Two
(2011)
Ramon / Lovelace (voice)
Persistence of Vision
(2012)
Himself
Radioman
(2012)
Self
Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen
(2012)
(archive footage)
Kelly Clarkson's Cautionary Christmas Music Tale
(2013)
Self
Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic
(2013)
Self
The Butler
(2013)
Dwight Eisenhower
The Big Wedding
(2013)
Father Monaghan
The Face of Love
(2013)
Roger Stillman
All About Ann: Governor Richards of the Lone Star State
(2014)
Self (archive footage)
3 Still Standing
(2014)
Self
Altman
(2014)
Self
Robin Williams, A Comedy Genius
(2014)
Himself (archive footage)
Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb
(2014)
Theodore Roosevelt
Boulevard
(2014)
Nolan Mack
The Angriest Man in Brooklyn
(2014)
Henry Altmann
A Merry Friggin' Christmas
(2014)
Mitch Mitchler
And the Oscar Goes To...
(2014)
Self (archive footage)
Robin Williams Remembered
(2014)
Himself
Absolutely Anything
(2015)
Dennis the Dog (voice)
Thank You, Del: The Story of the Del Close Marathon
(2015)
Self (archive footage)
Koko: The Gorilla Who Talks to People
(2016)
Self
Robin Williams: Behind Closed Doors
(2016)
Self (archive footage)
The Paley Center Salutes Law & Order: SVU
(2020)
(archive footage)
Robin's Wish
(2020)
Himself (archive footage)
Return to Sweethaven: A Look Back With Robin And The Altmans
(2020)
Self (archive footage)
Superstar: Robin Williams
(2021)
Self (archive footage)
The Hall: Honoring the Greats of Stand-Up
(2022)
Self (archive footage)
The Animograph, or I Was Born in a Shoebox
(2022)
Self (archive footage)
Robin Williams: Laugh Until You Cry
(2022)
Self (archive footage)
Once Upon a Studio
(2023)
Genie (voice) (archive footage)
Writing
An Evening with Robin Williams
(1983)
Writer
Robin Williams: An Evening at the Met
(1986)
Writer
Robin Williams: Live on Broadway
(2002)
Writer
Robin Williams: Weapons of Self Destruction
(2009)
Writer
Production
Crew