The Robin Goes Bobin' Along

The Robin Goes Bobin' Along

I followed Robin Williams since the 1970s and loved everything he did. Unfortunately, he passed away on August 11.  I'm very sad about that, but I prefer to celebrate his life. To say he had a gift would be an understatement. He was a supernova comedian. And a deep, thoughtful actor. Robin Williams was also a father and a husband. My heartfelt condolences go to his family.

Robin McLaurin Williams (July 21, 1951 – August 11, 2014)  was an American actor and comedian. Starting as a stand-up comedian in San Francisco and Los Angeles, he soon rose to fame as Mork in the TV series Mork & Mindy (1978–82). Williams went on to establish a career in stand-up comedy and feature film acting. Williams's film career included such films as Popeye (1980), The World According to Garp (1982), Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), Dead Poets Society (1989), Awakenings (1990), The Fisher King (1991), and Good Will Hunting (1997), as well as financial successes such as Hook (1991), Aladdin (1992), Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), Jumanji (1995), The Birdcage (1996), Night at the Museum (2006), and Happy Feet (2006). He appeared in the video  "Don't Worry, Be Happy" by Bobby McFerrin. Williams was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor three times and won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Good Will Hunting. He received two Emmy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and five Grammy Awards. TV producer George Schlatter, who first saw Williams doing stand-up comedy in 1977 and gave him his first TV spot in Laugh-In, recognized Williams's talent immediately, telling associates that Williams would be an important person in show business. Terry Gilliam, who directed Williams in two films,was impressed by his ability to "go from manic to mad to tender and vulnerable," stating that Williams was unique. Williams had chronic substance abuse throughout his career. He had been diagnosed with depression and, shortly before his death, early stage Parkinson's disease. On August 11, 2014, his body was found after committing suicide by hanging at his home in Paradise Cay, near Tiburon, California. (Wikipedia)

He was amazing in all that he did. Whether it was stand-up, Mork and Mindy on tv, or the dozens of films he was in, where his range and depth of acting was breath taking to watch. Laughing or crying, I was moved, and the humanity of his work is something that will always stay with me.

Enjoy

© 2014 MU-Peter Shimon