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