Robin Williams
Born: 1951-07-21 in Chicago, Illinois, USA
Died: 2014-08-11
Known For: 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.
Filmography
2026
- Soccer's American Dream as Self (archive footage)
- Peter Asher: Everywhere Man as Self
- Hook: Never, Never Ending as Self (archive footage)
2024
- Stand-Up: The Laughing Therapy as Self (archive footage)
- Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story as Self (archive footage)
2023
- Once Upon a Studio as Genie (voice) (archive sound)
- Love Has Won: The Cult of Mother God as Self (archive footage)
- Commitment to Life as Self (archive footage)
- A Life in Ten Pictures: Robin Williams as Self (archive footage)
2022
- Dark Side of Comedy as Self (archive footage)
- The Hall: Honoring the Greats of Stand-Up as Self (archive footage)
- The Animograph, or I Was Born in a Shoebox as Self (archive footage)
2021
- Superstar as Self (archive footage)
- A Life in Ten Pictures as Self (archive footage)
- History of the Sitcom as Self (archive footage) - Actor
- Superstar: Robin Williams as Self (archive footage)
2020
- The Paley Center Salutes Law & Order: SVU as (archive footage)
- Robin's Wish as Himself (archive footage)
- Return to Sweethaven: A Look Back With Robin And The Altmans as Self (archive footage)
2018
- The Top Ten Revealed as Self (archive footage)
- Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind as Self (voice and archive footage)
2016
- Koko: The Gorilla Who Talks to People as Self (archive footage)
- Too Hip for the Room: The Righteous Reign of Lord Buckley as Self
- Robin Williams: Behind Closed Doors as Self (archive footage)
2015
- Absolutely Anything as Dennis the Dog (voice)
- Behind Closed Doors with Natalie Morales as Self (archive footage)
- Thank You, Del: The Story of the Del Close Marathon as Self (archive footage)
- Another Take on… Mrs. Doubtfire as Self (Archive)
2014
- Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb as Theodore Roosevelt
- A Merry Friggin' Christmas as Virgil Mitchler
- The Angriest Man in Brooklyn as Henry Altmann
- Altman as Self
- All About Ann: Governor Richards of the Lone Star State as Self (archive footage)
- Boulevard as Nolan
- Robin Williams - Live Across Australia as Self
- 3 Still Standing as Self
2013
- The Crazy Ones as Simon Roberts
- The Butler as Dwight H. Eisenhower
- The Big Wedding as Father Monaghan
- The Face of Love as Roger Stillman
- Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic as Self
- Kelly Clarkson's Cautionary Christmas Music Tale as Self
- Comic Relief Zero as Self (archive footage)
2012
- Inside Comedy as Self
- Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen as (archive footage)
- Radioman as Self
- Reflecting on a Journey: Good Will Hunting 15 Years Later as Self
- Persistence of Vision as Himself
2011
- Wilfred as Dr. Eddy
- Happy Feet Two as Ramon / Lovelace (voice)
- Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored as Mork (archive footage)
2010
- Louie as Robin
- 2Everything2Terrible2: Tokyo Drift as (archive footage)
- Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin' About Him?) as Self
2009
- The Jay Leno Show as Self
- Alan Carr: Chatty Man as Self
- Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian as Theodore Roosevelt
- Old Dogs as Dan
- World's Greatest Dad as Lance Clayton
- SpongeBob's Truth or Square as Self
- Shrink as Holden
- Monkey Mischief as Theodore Roosevelt
- Believe: The Eddie Izzard Story as Self
- Robin Williams: Weapons of Self Destruction as Self
2008
- The Bonnie Hunt Show as Self
- We Are Most Amused as Self
- Johnny Carson Celebrates Christmas as Self
- History of the Joke as Self
- Dreams with Sharp Teeth as Self
- The Madness and Misadventures of Munchausen as Self
- Starz Inside: Ladies or Gentlemen as Self (archive footage)
- Comic Relief: The Greatest... and the Latest
2007
- The Graham Norton Show as Self
- August Rush as Maxwell "Wizard" Wallace
- The Pixar Story as Self (archive footage)
- License to Wed as Reverend Frank
- Shrink Rap as Self
- Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project as Self
- Cannes: All Access as Self
- Certifiably Jonathan as Self
- Fog City Mavericks as Self
- Elton 60: Live At Madison Square Garden as Self
2006
- Night at the Museum as Theodore Roosevelt
- Happy Feet as Ramon / Lovelace (voice)
- Everyone's Hero as Napoleon Cross (uncredited)
- Man of the Year as Tom Dobbs
- RV as Bob Munro
- VH1 Rock Honors as Himself
- The Night Listener as Gabriel Noone
- JoJo: The Pop Princess as Himself
- Barry Sonnenfeld: The Kosher Cowboy as Self
- Robin Williams: A Family Affair as Self
- RV Nation: The Culture of Road Warriors as Self
- Comic Relief 2006
- RV Nation: The Culture of Road Warriors as Self
2005
- The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson as Self
- Robots as Fender (voice)
- Mind of Mencia
- Sit Down Comedy with David Steinberg as Self
- The Aristocrats as Self
- The Big White as Paul Barnell
- Nos Bastidores de Hollywood as Self (archive footage)
- Earth to America as Self
- Emmanuel's Gift as Self (archive footage)
- Romanekian as Self
2004
- Parkinson as Self - Guest (archive footage)
- The Final Cut as Alan W. Hakman
- House of D as Pappass
- Noel as Charlie Boyd / The Priest
- The Tour Baby as Himself
2003
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! as Self
- Real Time with Bill Maher as Self
- The Ellen DeGeneres Show as Self
- Can't Buy Me Lunch: Another Look at The Rutles as Hans Hänkie
- Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!! as Self
- Celebrities Uncensored as Self
2002
- American Idol as Ivan 'Bob' Poppanoff the 'Russian Idol'
- Life with Bonnie as Kevin Powalski
- Insomnia as Walter Finch
- One Hour Photo as Seymour "Sy" Parrish
- Death to Smoochy as Rainbow Randolph
- The 1st 13th Annual Fancy Anvil Awards Show Program Special: Live in Stereo as Self
- Death to Smoochy: Behind the Scenes Documentary as Self
- Death to Smoochy: Bloopers & Outtakes as Self
- Intimate Portrait: Pam Dawber as Self
- Robin Williams: Live on Broadway as Self
2001
- Good Day Live as Self
- A.I. Artificial Intelligence as Dr. Know (voice)
- America | A Tribute to Heroes as Self
- Anatomy of a Scene as Self
- The Firesign Theatre: Weirdly Cool as Self
2000
- Chuck Jones: Extremes and In-Betweens - A Life in Animation as Self
- The Beatles Revolution as Self
- Making Jumanji: The Realm of Imagination as Self / Alan Parrish
- Lions and Monkeys and Pods... Oh My!: The Special Effects of 'Jumanji' as Self (uncredited)
1999
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Merritt Rook
- SpongeBob SquarePants as Robin Williams
- The Early Show as Self
- Bicentennial Man as Andrew
- Jakob the Liar as Jakob Heym
- Get Bruce! as Self
- Billy Connolly: Erect for 30 Years
- Teen Choice Awards as Self
1998
- Hollywood Squares as Self - Panelist
- Parkinson as Self
- Whose Line Is It Anyway? as Self
- L.A. Doctors as Hugo Kingsley
- What Dreams May Come as Chris Nielsen
- Patch Adams as Patch Adams
- Junket Whore as Self
- George Martin: In My Life as Self
1997
- The View as Self
- Good Will Hunting as Sean Maguire
- Flubber as Professor Philip Brainard
- Deconstructing Harry as Mel
- Fathers' Day as Dale Putley
- Great Minds Think for Themselves as Genie (voice)
1996
- The Daily Show as Self
- The Birdcage as Armand Goldman
- Aladdin and the King of Thieves as Genie (voice)
- Clive Anderson All Talk as Self
- Jack as Jack Powell
- Hamlet as Osric
- The Secret Agent as The Professor (uncredited)
- Nichols and May: Take Two as Self
1995
- Nine Months as Dr. Kosevich
- To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar as John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt (uncredited)
- Jumanji as Alan Parrish
- The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies as Self
- Aladdin on Ice as Genie (voice) (uncredited)
- Comic Relief VII as Self - Host
1994
- Friends as Tomas (uncredited)
- Sesame Street | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever! as Self (archive footage)
- The World of Jim Henson as Self (archive footage)
- Inside the Actors Studio as Self
- Being Human as Hector
- But... Seriously as Self (archive footage)
- In the Wild: Dolphins With Robin Williams as Self
- Comic Relief VI as Self - Host
- In Search of Dr. Seuss as The Father
1993
- Late Show with David Letterman as Self - Guest
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien as Self - Guest
- Homicide: Life on the Street as Robert Ellison
- Mrs. Doubtfire as Daniel Hillard / Mrs. Doubtfire
- Sesame Street's 25th Birthday: A Musical Celebration as Self (segment "Monster in the Mirror")
- A Tribute to Sam Kinison as Self
- An Evening with Lily Tomlin and Friends as Self
1992
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno as Self
- The Larry Sanders Show as Robin Williams
- Aladdin as Genie / Peddler (voice)
- Terry Wogan's Friday Night as Self
- FernGully: The Last Rainforest as Batty Koda (voice)
- Toys as Leslie Zevo
- A Spinal Tap Reunion: The 25th Anniversary London Sell-Out as Robin Williams
1991
- Charlie Rose as Self
- Hook as Peter Banning / Peter Pan
- The Fisher King as Parry
- Dead Again as Cozy Carlisle
- A Wish for Wings That Work as Kiwi (voice) (credited as Sudy Nim)
- Shakes the Clown as Mime Class Instructor
- Rabbit Ears - The Fool and the Flying Ship as Narrator (voice)
1990
- Awakenings as Malcolm Sayer
- The Earth Day Special as Everyman
- Cadillac Man as Joey O'Brien
- Comic Relief '90 as Self
- AN EVENING WITH: FRIENDS OF THE ENVIRONMENT as Self
1989
- The Simpsons as Dr. J. Loren Pryor (voice) (as Doug Hill)
- Dead Poets Society as John Keating
- Saturday Night Live: 15th Anniversary as Self
- I'm from Hollywood as Self
- Whoopi Goldberg Presents: Billy Connolly as Himself (uncredited)
- Back to Neverland as Robin
- Comic Relief III
1988
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark as Self - Guest
- The Adventures of Baron Munchausen as King of the Moon
- Portrait of a White Marriage as Bill Lohmer – Air Conditioning Salesman (uncredited)
- Free to Be... a Family as Self
- An All-Star Toast to the Improv as Self
- Rabbit Ears - Pecos Bill as Narrator (voice)
1987
- Sacrée soirée as Self
- Biography as Self
- Good Morning, Vietnam as Adrian Cronauer
- Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam as (voice)
- Citizen Steve as Robin Leach
- Jonathan Winters: On the Ledge as Self
- Superstars and their Moms as Self
- Carol, Carl, Whoopi and Robin as Self
- Bobby McFerrin: Spontaneous Inventions as Himself
1986
- American Masters as Self
- The Best of Times as Jack Dundee
- Club Paradise as Jack Moniker
- Barbra Streisand: One Voice as Self - Guest Performer
- Comic Relief as Self - Host
- Seize the Day as Tommy Wilhelm
- Bob Goldthwait: Don't Watch This Show as Albert Einstein
- Max Headroom's Giant Christmas Turkey as Self
- The Best of Comic Relief as Self
- The Young Comedians All-Star Reunion as Self
- Bridge School Benefit Concert 1986 as Self
- Robin Williams: An Evening at the Met as Self
- Super Duper Bloopers as Self
1985
- Richard Lewis: I'm In Pain as Self
1984
- Moscow on the Hudson as Vladimir Ivanoff
- The Stars Salute the U.S. Olympic Team as Self - Performer
1983
- The Survivors as Donald Quinelle
- An Evening with Robin Williams as Self
1982
- Late Night with David Letterman as Self - Guest
- Wogan as Self
- Faerie Tale Theatre as The Frog / Prince Robin
- The World According to Garp as T.S. Garp
- The Mork & Mindy / Laverne & Shirley / Fonz Hour as Mork (voice)
- Night of 100 Stars as Self
- The Billy Crystal Comedy Hour as Himself
- I Love Liberty as Self
- The Tale of the Frog Prince as The Frog / Prince Robin
- E.T. and Friends: Magical Movie Visitors as Self - Host
- Catch A Rising Star: 10th Anniversary Special as Self
1980
- Popeye as Popeye
- Andy Kaufman Plays Carnegie Hall as Self (uncredited)
1979
- Out of the Blue as Mork
- Sitcom: The Adventures of Garry Marshall as Self
- Rona Barrett Looks at 1978 as Self
1978
- Mork & Mindy as Mork
- Robin Williams: Off the Wall as Self
- Sorority '62 as Henry
1977
- Eight Is Enough as The Circuit Breakers Member
- The Richard Pryor Show as Various
- Laugh-In as Regular Performer
- Can I Do It Till I Need Glasses? as Lawyer / Man with Toothache (uncredited)
- The 2nd Annual HBO Young Comedians Show as Self
1975
- Saturday Night Live as Self - Cameo (uncredited)
1974
- Happy Days as Mork
1971
- Great Performances as Self
- Film '72 as Self
1969
- Sesame Street as Self
1962
1956
- Tony Awards as Self - Presenter
1953
- The Oscars as Self
1952
- Today as Self
1944
- Golden Globe Awards as Self - Nominee