Remembering actor/comedian Robin Williams

Robin Williams

It’s been three years since actor-comedian Robin Williams ended his life in 2014.  His suicide followed a misdiagnosis of Parkinson’s disease when what he was suffering from was diffuse Lewy body dementia.

When he was alive, he was one of the funniest people I have ever seen.  Even as Disney produces the live-action Aladdin, Will Smith will never be able to bring to that role what Robin brought to his performance as The Genie.  It’s impossible.

Known for his comedy work, the performance that won him on Oscar for Best Supporting Actor came in 1997’s Good Will Hunting when he played psychologist Sean Maguire, who served as somewhat of a mentor to Matt Damon’s Will Hunting.  Williams earned a few Oscar nominations for Best Actor over his career for his roles as Adrian Cronauer in Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), English teacher John Keating in Dead Poets Society (1989), and the homeless Parry in The Fisher King (1991).

After performing stand-up, it was the sitcom Mork & Mindy that gave Williams a breakout role on television, including an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.  The Happy Days spin-off may have only aired four four seasons over 1978-82 but it placed Williams in the trajectory that he needed to take his career to the next level.

With his Oscar, Emmys, and Grammy Awards, Williams was just a Tony Award shy of completing the EGOT.  There are a countless number of performances for which Williams is remembered and he’ll be missed for a long time to come.  In this era, his comedy is something that is badly needed.

Williams may be missed but he’ll never be forgotten.

Danielle Solzman

Danielle Solzman is native of Louisville, KY, and holds a BA in Public Relations from Northern Kentucky University and a MA in Media Communications from Webster University. She roots for her beloved Kentucky Wildcats, St. Louis Cardinals, Indianapolis Colts, and Boston Celtics. Living less than a mile away from Wrigley Field in Chicago, she is an active reader (sports/entertainment/history/biographies/select fiction) and involved with the Chicago improv scene. She also sees many movies and reviews them. She has previously written for Redbird Rants, Wildcat Blue Nation, and Hidden Remote/Flicksided. From April 2016 through May 2017, her film reviews can be found on Creators.

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