Remembering the man with 1000 voices

(1951-2014)

Who was Robin Williams?

Actor and comedian Robin Williams was known for his fast-paced, improvisational performance style and for his performances in films like 'Good Will Hunting' and 'Dead Poets Society. Famed actor and comedian Robin Williams was born on July 21, 1951, in Chicago, Illinois. As both his parents worked, Williams was attended to by the family's maid, who was his main companion. When Williams was 16, his father took early retirement and the family moved to Marin County, settling in Tiburon, California. Following their move, Williams attended Redwood High School in nearby Larkspur. At the time of his graduation in 1969, he was voted "Most Likely Not to Succeed" and "Funniest" by his classmates.

After developing his improvisational style as a stand-up comedian, Williams landed his own television show, Mork and Mindy, and moved into leading parts in film with Robert Altman's Popeye. He played numerous memorable film roles, both comedic and dramatic, and after three previous nominations he won an Academy Award for best supporting actor in Good Will Hunting. Robin Williams built his career to be one of the most iconic and favored works of all time.

Career Breakthrough

To this day, Robin Williams remains a comedy icon, and even though he is gone, the legacy of his film work lives on. After success as a stand-up comic and television stardom via “Mork and Mindy,” Williams turned to film and achieved success far beyond what his TV success could have indicated. He won an Academy Award for “Good Will Hunting” (1997), one of four Oscar nominations he earned in his career (also including “Dead Poets Society,” “The Fisher King” and “Good Morning, Vietnam”). Williams also earned two Screen Actors Guild Awards (for 1996’s “The Birdcage” and “Good Will Hunting”) and received nine Golden Globe nominations, winning statues for “Good Morning, Vietnam,” “The Fisher King,” “Aladdin,” and“Mrs. Doubtfire.”







Williams acted in a wide variety of renown films. In Jumanji (1995), Williams plays Alan, who, as a child was sucked into the board game Jumanji and reappears 26 years later as an adult. Although not a success critically, Williams received good reviews, and anecdotally, the film has become a favorite among family audiences. One of William’s most iconic performances was Daniel Hillard in Mrs. Doubtfire (1993). He played a disguised housekeeper hired by his ex-wife. This performance earned him his fourth Golden Globe. Williams won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Dr. Sean Maguire, a psychologist who is trying to break through a troubled math genius in Good Will Hunting (1997). This performance revealed new levels of his acting capabilities and also earned him his eight Golden Globe Nomination. Aladdin (1992) is arguable one of the greatest voice performances in a feature wilm ever and earned Williams his third Golden Globe Award. Without the constraints of live-action performing, the role of Genie in the animated film gave free-rein to Williams to go wherever his imagination takes him and go there he does.

Battle with Addiction

While his career was taking off, Williams faced many personal challenges. He developed a drug and alcohol problem while working on the sitcom Mork and Mindy, and would struggle with addiction for more than two decades. He also became involved in several tumultuous romantic relationships; while married to actress Valerie Velardi, he was involved with other women. Williams and Velardi ultimately divorced in 1988. The following year, he married his son's nanny, Marsha Garces.

While his career was taking off, Williams faced many personal challenges. He developed a drug and alcohol problem while working on the sitcom “Mork and Mindy”, and would struggle with addiction for more than two decades. He also became involved in several tumultuous romantic relationships; while married to actress Valerie Velardi, he was involved with other women. Williams and Velardi ultimately divorced in 1988. The following year, he married his son's nanny, Marsha Garces.



On August 11, 2014, Robin Williams’ passing from suicide came as a shock to many. A well-loved comedian and actor, he was loved by millions around the world. It wasn’t a secret that Williams struggled with cocaine abuse and alcohol abuse throughout his life; he quit the use of both before his son was born in 1983. He remained sober for twenty years but started drinking again in 2003. Following his relapse, he headed back to rehab to seek help.

Substance abuse was not the only battle Williams faced. Mara Buxbaum, his representative, told CNN: “He has been battling severe depression of late. This is a tragic and sudden loss.” When asked why he started drinking again, Williams described why he turned back to alcohol and not cocaine: “Cocaine–paranoid and impotent, what fun. There was no bit of me thinking, ooh, let’s go back to that. Useless conversations until midnight, waking up at dawn feeling like a vampire on a day pass. No.” But for Williams, alcohol was a different lure. He was on set in Alaska when he relapsed: “I just thought, hey, maybe drinking will help. Because I felt alone and afraid. It was that thing of working so much, and going f***, maybe that will help. And it was the worst thing in the world.



The 63-year-old was discovered by authorities in his home in California unresponsive at approximately 11:55am. The assumed cause of death is suicide by asphyxiation. Additionally, a pocket knife was found at the scene and several cuts were found on Williams’ left wrist. Toxicology tests were administered as part of the autopsy. The final report was released in November 2014 and revealed no alcohol or illegal drugs had been found in his system. Prescription medications were found, but in “therapeutic concentrations.” The coroner confirmed the results were in line with the preliminary findings. Robin Williams' death left the world with a tragic loss, but he leaves behind a wife, three children, a large fan-base, and a legendary career.