
Robin Williams
Department: Acting
Biography
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.
Known For

The Fisher King
1991

Dead Poets Society
1989

Insomnia
2002

Hook
1991

Good Will Hunting
1997

A.I. Artificial Intelligence
2001

Cadillac Man
1990

Night at the Museum
2006

Mrs. Doubtfire
1993

Good Morning, Vietnam
1987

Aladdin
1992

Bicentennial Man
1999

Hamlet
1996

Jakob the Liar
1999

Patch Adams
1998

Deconstructing Harry
1997

License to Wed
2007

World's Greatest Dad
2009

Robin Williams: Live on Broadway
2002

Awakenings
1990

The Birdcage
1996

Popeye
1980

August Rush
2007

The Final Cut
2004

Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored
2011

The Best of Times
1986

Old Dogs
2009

An Evening with Robin Williams
1983

Robin Williams: An Evening at the Met
1986

The World According to Garp
1982

Moscow on the Hudson
1984

Toys
1992

Nine Months
1995

Dead Again
1991

Jack
1996

House of D
2004

Jumanji
1995

What Dreams May Come
1998

Shakes the Clown
1991

Death to Smoochy
2002

RV
2006

Club Paradise
1986

Robots
2005

Flubber
1997

The Night Listener
2006

Robin Williams: Weapons of Self Destruction
2009

FernGully: The Last Rainforest
1992

One Hour Photo
2002

Fathers' Day
1997

The Big White
2005

Citizen Steve
1987

Happy Feet
2006

Return to Sweethaven: A Look Back With Robin And The Altmans
2020

Man of the Year
2006

The Survivors
1983

I Love Liberty
1982

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen
1988

The Aristocrats
2005

In Search of Dr. Seuss
1994

Being Human
1994

Happy Feet Two
2011

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
2009

Billy Connolly: Erect for 30 Years
1999

Once Upon a Studio
2023

Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen
2012

Comic Relief 2006
2006

Jonathan Winters: On the Ledge
1987

The Big Wedding
2013

Sorority '62
1978

Seize the Day
1986

Free to Be... a Family
1988

The Angriest Man in Brooklyn
2014

The Butler
2013

The Beatles Revolution
2000

SpongeBob's Truth or Square
2009

Radioman
2012

The Face of Love
2013

The Hall: Honoring the Greats of Stand-Up
2022

Rona Barrett Looks at 1978
1979

Absolutely Anything
2015

The Pixar Story
2007

Boulevard
2014

Comic Relief III
1989

Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb
2014

Super Duper Bloopers
1986

A Merry Friggin' Christmas
2014

But... Seriously
1994

Carol, Carl, Whoopi and Robin
1987

Shrink
2009

An Evening with Lily Tomlin and Friends
1993

Earth to America
2005

Portrait of a White Marriage
1988

The Animograph, or I Was Born in a Shoebox
2022

We Are Most Amused
2008

Richard Lewis: I'm In Pain
1985

A Tribute to Sam Kinison
1993

George Martin: In My Life
1998

Nos Bastidores de Hollywood
2005

Making Jumanji: The Realm of Imagination
2000

In the Wild: Dolphins With Robin Williams
1994

Superstar: Robin Williams
2021

2Everything2Terrible2: Tokyo Drift
2010

Comic Relief Zero
2013

Junket Whore
1998

Johnny Carson Celebrates Christmas
2008

The 2nd Annual HBO Young Comedians Show
1977

Saturday Night Live: 15th Anniversary
1989

Andy Kaufman Plays Carnegie Hall
1980

Altman
2014

Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin' About Him?)
2010

I'm from Hollywood
1989

Can't Buy Me Lunch: Another Look at The Rutles
2003

Whoopi Goldberg Presents: Billy Connolly
1989

Kelly Clarkson's Cautionary Christmas Music Tale
2013

Back to Neverland
1989

Bob Goldthwait: Don't Watch This Show
1986

Elton 60: Live At Madison Square Garden
2007

The Tale of the Frog Prince
1982

The Young Comedians All-Star Reunion
1986

Starz Inside: Ladies or Gentlemen
2008

Sitcom: The Adventures of Garry Marshall
1979

All About Ann: Governor Richards of the Lone Star State
2014

The Earth Day Special
1990

Bobby McFerrin: Spontaneous Inventions
1987

E.T. and Friends: Magical Movie Visitors
1982

Dreams with Sharp Teeth
2008

Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project
2007

Persistence of Vision
2012

Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!!
2003

Koko: The Gorilla Who Talks to People
2016

History of the Joke
2008

Emmanuel's Gift
2005

Get Bruce!
1999

3 Still Standing
2014

A Wish for Wings That Work
1991

The Secret Agent
1996

Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic
2013

Rabbit Ears - The Fool and the Flying Ship
1991

The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
1995

Can I Do It Till I Need Glasses?
1977

Certifiably Jonathan
2007

Romanekian
2005

Thank You, Del: The Story of the Del Close Marathon
2015

Cannes: All Access
2007

Robin Williams: Off the Wall
1978

Max Headroom's Giant Christmas Turkey
1986

The 1st 13th Annual Fancy Anvil Awards Show Program Special: Live in Stereo
2002

Robin Williams: Behind Closed Doors
2016

The Tour Baby
2004

To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar
1995

The Madness and Misadventures of Munchausen
2008

JoJo: The Pop Princess
2006

RV Nation: The Culture of Road Warriors
2006

Barry Sonnenfeld: The Kosher Cowboy
2006

Chuck Jones: Extremes and In-Betweens - A Life in Animation
2000

The World of Jim Henson
1994

Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam
1987

Noel
2004

Rabbit Ears - Pecos Bill
1988

Aladdin on Ice
1995

Robin's Wish
2021

Barbra Streisand: One Voice
1986

Nichols and May: Take Two
1996

Fog City Mavericks
2007

Sesame Street | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!
1994

Night of 100 Stars
1982

The Paley Center Salutes Law & Order: SVU
2020

Everyone's Hero
2006

Comic Relief '90
1990

An All-Star Toast to the Improv
1988

Bridge School Benefit Concert 1986
1986

The Best of Comic Relief
1986

A Life in Ten Pictures: Robin Williams
2023

AN EVENING WITH: FRIENDS OF THE ENVIRONMENT
1990

Intimate Portrait: Pam Dawber
2002

Death to Smoochy: Bloopers & Outtakes
2002

Death to Smoochy: Behind the Scenes Documentary
2002

Reflecting On A Journey: Good Will Hunting 15 Years Later
2012

Superstars and their Moms
1987

A Spinal Tap Reunion: The 25th Anniversary London Sell-Out
1992

Lions and Monkeys and Pods... Oh My!: The Special Effects of 'Jumanji'
2000

America | A Tribute to Heroes
2001

The Stars Salute the U.S. Olympic Team
1984

The Firesign Theatre: Weirdly Cool
2001

Aladdin and the King of Thieves
1996

Portrait of a White Marriage
1988

Monkey Mischief
2009

Robin Williams - Live Across Australia
2014

Comic Relief: The Greatest... and the Latest
2008

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story
2024

Another Take on… Mrs. Doubtfire
2015

Sesame Street Jam: A Musical Celebration
1993

Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind
2018

Catch A Rising Star: 10th Anniversary Special
—

Believe: The Eddie Izzard Story
2009

Inside the Actors Studio
1994

The Ellen DeGeneres Show
2003

Jimmy Kimmel Live!
2003

The Daily Show
1996

Friends
1994

Life with Bonnie
2002

LIVE with Kelly and Mark
1988

Today
1952

The View
1997

The Early Show
1999

Mind of Mencia
2005

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1992

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
1999

Mork & Mindy
1978

Happy Days
1974

The Richard Pryor Show
1977

Inside Comedy
2012

American Idol
2002

Faerie Tale Theatre
1982

The Jay Leno Show
2009

Homicide: Life on the Street
1993

Late Night with Conan O'Brien
1993

American Masters
1986

Celebrities Uncensored
2003

Sit Down Comedy with David Steinberg
2005

Out of the Blue
1979

The Top Ten Revealed
2018

VH1 Rock Honors
2006

Alan Carr: Chatty Man
2009

Clive Anderson All Talk
1996

The Oscars
1953

Good Day Live
2001

The Billy Crystal Comedy Hour
1982

The Mork & Mindy / Laverne & Shirley / Fonz Hour
1982

The Crazy Ones
2013

The Bonnie Hunt Show
2008

Laugh-In
1977

Saturday Night Live
1975

Saturday Night Live
1975

The Larry Sanders Show
1992

L.A. Doctors
1998

Eight Is Enough
1977

Wilfred
2011

Louie
2010

The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
2005

Hollywood Squares
1998

SpongeBob SquarePants
1999

The Graham Norton Show
2007

Superstar
2021

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962

Great Minds Think for Themselves
1997

Dark Side of Comedy
2022

Wogan
1982

Terry Wogan's Friday Night
1992

The Simpsons
1989

Sesame Street
1969

Teen Choice Awards
1999

Shrink Rap
2007

Comic Relief
1986

Love Has Won: The Cult of Mother God
2023

Real Time with Bill Maher
2003

Behind Closed Doors with Natalie Morales
2015

Whose Line Is It Anyway?
1998

Anatomy of a Scene
2001

Charlie Rose
1991

Golden Globe Awards
1944

Golden Globe Awards
1944

Parkinson
1998

Golden Globe Awards
1944

Golden Globe Awards
1944

Great Performances
1971

Stand-Up: The Laughing Therapy
2024

Biography
1987

History of the Sitcom
2021

Sacrée Soirée
1987

Saturday Night Live
1975

Tony Awards
1956