Biography

Robin McLaurin Williams (July 21, 1951 - August 11, 2014) was an American actor and comedian whose career moved fluidly between stand-up, television, film, theater, voice acting, and music-related performance. Celebrated for his rapid-fire improvisation, vocal range, physical comedy, and ability to shift suddenly from exuberance to emotional seriousness, Williams became one of the most versatile entertainers of his generation.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Williams studied theater at the Juilliard School in New York City, where he was taught by actor John Houseman and studied alongside Christopher Reeve. After performing in comedy clubs, he gained national attention as the eccentric alien Mork in the television series Mork & Mindy. The character first appeared on Happy Days in 1978 and was developed into a successful spin-off that ran for four seasons. Williams' inventive performance made him a television star and earned him his first Golden Globe Award.

His early film work quickly demonstrated that he was more than a television comedian. He played the title character in Robert Altman's Popeye (1980), followed by acclaimed performances in The World According to Garp (1982), Moscow on the Hudson (1984), and Good Morning, Vietnam (1987). In the last film, Williams combined improvisational comedy with a dramatic portrayal of a military radio broadcaster, receiving his first Academy Award nomination. He was nominated again for Dead Poets Society (1989) and The Fisher King (1991), establishing himself as a major dramatic actor as well as a comic performer.

During the 1990s, Williams became closely associated with family entertainment. He supplied the voice of the Genie in Disney's Aladdin (1992), a performance that became one of his most recognizable screen roles. He also starred in Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), Jumanji (1995), Jack (1996), Flubber (1997), and Bicentennial Man (1999). These films displayed his gift for creating outsized comic personalities, while often placing them in stories about family, loneliness, responsibility, or the desire to be accepted.

Williams won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as a troubled psychologist in Good Will Hunting (1997). He continued to pursue darker and more restrained material in films such as One Hour Photo and Insomnia, both released in 2002, as well as World's Greatest Dad (2009) and Boulevard (2014). At the same time, he remained active as a voice performer, notably in Robots, Happy Feet, and the Night at the Museum series.

Stand-up comedy remained central to Williams' identity. His live albums and concert films, including Reality... What a Concept, Throbbing Python of Love, A Night at the Met, Live 2002, and Weapons of Self Destruction, capture the restless energy and improvisational intelligence that defined his stage work. He also appeared in Bobby McFerrin's music video for "Don't Worry, Be Happy" and made a later appearance in Cobra Starship's "You Make Me Feel...".

Williams performed on Broadway in Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo in 2011. He died in California in 2014 at the age of 63. His legacy rests on the unusual breadth of his work: he could dominate a stand-up stage, carry a mainstream comedy, voice an animated character, or deliver a quiet dramatic performance without seeming confined to a single artistic identity.