Robin Williams facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robin Williams
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Williams in 2011
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| Born |
Robin McLauri Williams
July 21, 1951 |
| Died | August 11, 2014 (aged 63) Paradise Cay, California, U.S.
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| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Actor, stand-up comedian |
| Years active | 1976–2014 |
| Spouse(s) | Valerie Velardi (m. 1978–1988; divorced) Marsha Garces Williams (m. 1989–2010; divorced) Susan Schneider (m. 2011–2014; his death) |
| Children | 3, including Zelda Williams |
| Academy Awards | |
| Best Supporting Actor 1997 Good Will Hunting |
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| Emmy Awards | |
| Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program 1987 Carol and Carl and Whoopi and Robin 1988 ABC Presents A Royal Gala |
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| Golden Globe Awards | |
| Best Actor – TV Series Musical or Comedy 1978 Mork & Mindy Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy 1987 Good Morning, Vietnam 1991 The Fisher King 1993 Mrs. Doubtfire Special Achievement Award 1992 Aladdin Cecil B. Demille Award 2005 |
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| Grammy Awards | |
| Best Comedy Recording 1980 Reality...What a Concept 1988 ABC Presents A Royal Gala 1988 A Night at the Met 1989 Good Morning, Vietnam 2003 Robin Williams - Live 2002 Best Spoken World Album 2003 Live 2002 |
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| Screen Actors Guild Awards | |
| Outstanding Performance by a Cast - Motion Picture 1996 The Birdcage Best Supporting Actor 1997 Good Will Hunting |
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Robin McLaurin Williams (July 21, 1951 – August 11, 2014) was an American actor and stand-up comedian. He first became famous on the television show Mork and Mindy. He starred in many movies.
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Early life
Williams was born Robin McLaurin Williams in Chicago, Illinois on July 21, 1951. His father Robert Fitzgerald Williams (September 10, 1906 – October 18, 1987) worked for Ford Motor Company. His mother Laura McLaurin (née Smith, September 24, 1922 – September 4, 2001) was a former model from New Orleans, Louisiana. His great-great-grandfather on his mother's side was Mississippi senator and governor Anselm J. McLaurin. Williams' ancestors were English, Welsh, Irish, Scottish, German, and French.
When he was young, Williams lived in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and in Marin County, California. He studied at Redwood High School and at Claremont McKenna College. He studied to become an actor at the Julliard School in New York City and at the College of Marin.
Career
After his family moved to Marin County, Williams began his career doing stand-up comedy shows in the San Francisco Bay Area in the mid-1970s. His first performance took place at the Holy City Zoo, a comedy club in San Francisco, where he worked his way up from tending bar to getting on stage.
Williams became famous for his role as Mork in the television series Mork & Mindy (1978–1982). His idol Jonathan Winters also appeared in the show. Williams went on to a successful career in both stand-up comedy and movie acting.
He acted in the movies The World According to Garp, Good Morning, Vietnam, Dead Poets Society, Awakenings, The Fisher King, Good Will Hunting, Popeye, Hook, Aladdin, Mrs. Doubtfire, Jumanji, The Birdcage, Night at the Museum, and Happy Feet.
Williams appeared in the music video for "Don't Worry, Be Happy" by Bobby McFerrin. In 2013, Williams starred as President Dwight D. Eisenhower in Lee Daniels' The Butler.
Before his death, Williams starred in the short-lived comedy The Crazy Ones. It was cancelled shortly before his death.
Once Williams got angry with Disney for using his voice as the Genie in Aladdin to sell merchandise for the movie. Disney tried to apologize to Williams. The Disney company bought a Picasso painting for him.
Awards
Williams was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor three times. He received 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.
Personal life
Williams married Valerie Velardi in 1978. They divorced in 1988. In 1989, Williams married Marsha Garces. She divorced him in 2008. Williams married Susan Schneider in 2011. Their marriage lasted until Williams' death in 2014. Williams had a son with Velardi. He had a daughter and son with Garces. His son, Zak Williams, is an actor, businessman, and filmmaker. His daughter, Zelda Williams, is an actress.
Williams lived in San Francisco and Paradise Cay in California.
Death
On August 11, 2014 Williams died at his home.
Williams was cremated. His ashes were scattered in the San Francisco Bay.
Notable movies
- Popeye (1980)
- The World According to Garp (1982)
- Good Morning, Vietnam (1987)
- Dead Poets Society (1989)
- Awakenings (1990)
- Hook (1991)
- The Fisher King (1991)
- Aladdin (1992)
- Toys (1992)
- Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
- Jumanji (1995)
- The Birdcage (1996)
- Flubber (1997)
- Good Will Hunting (1997)
- Patch Adams (1998)
- Bicentennial Man (1999)
- Death to Smoochy (2000)
- One Hour Photo (2002)
- Robots (2005)
- Night at the Museum (2006)
- Happy Feet (2006)
- Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009)
- Happy Feet Two (2011)
- The Butler (2013)
- The Angriest Man in Brooklyn (2014)
- Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014)
Discography
- 1979: Reality...What a Concept!
- 1983: Throbbing Python of Love
- 1986: A Night at the Met
- 1987: Good Morning Vietnam Soundtrack
- 1988: Pecos Bill; narrated a children's book, with music by Ry Cooder
- 2003: Live 2002; recorded from a tour on Broadway, 2002
- 2010: Weapons of Self Destruction; filmed in Washington D.C. during Williams' national tour
Images for kids
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Williams at a United Service Organization (USO) show on December 20, 2007
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Williams at Aviano Air Base (Italy) on December 22, 2007
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Robin Williams (1979)
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Williams and Yola Czaderska-Hayek at the 62nd Academy Awards in 1990
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Williams in Washington, D.C., 1996
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Williams at the USO World Gala in Washington, D.C., on October 1, 2008
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Williams with Marsha Garces at the 61st Academy Awards in 1989
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Williams at the BBC World Debate on February 27, 2008
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Williams at Naval Support Activity Bahrain on December 19, 2003
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A fan-made tribute to Williams at the San Francisco Pacific Heights home used for Mrs. Doubtfire (August 2014)
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The Los Angeles Theatre honors Williams on their marquee
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Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
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Williams's prints at Grauman's Chinese Theatre
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See also
In Spanish: Robin Williams para niños
