It was the twinkle in his eyes that made Robin Williams so special. He could get away with saying or doing just about anything and could make anyone have a side-pinching, eye-watering, knee-slapping, uncontrollable laugh. The actor and comedian was born on July 21, 1951 and was known for his fast-paced performances. After developing his improvisational style as a stand-up comedian, he landed his own television show, Mork and Mindy, which ran for four seasons. He then moved into leading film parts, including The World According to Garp, America in Moscow on the Hudson, Good Morning Vietnam, Patch Adams, Jumanji, The Bicentennial Man, the classic Mrs. Doubtfire, and many more. After three previous nominations, he won an Academy Award for best supporting role in Good Will Hunting.
Although his career was taking off, personally, Williams was struggling. He developed a drug and alcohol addiction while working on the sitcom Mork and Mindy and would continue to deal with this issue for more than two decades. He also became very promiscuous and unfaithful to his wife, actress Valerie Velardi, taking part in several romantic relationships and love with other women while still married. Eventually, the two divorced in 1998, and a year later, he married his son’s nanny, Marsha Garces. The couple had a daughter Zelda and a son Cody. In 2008, Robin Williams started touring for his one-man stand-up comedy show, Weapons of Self Destruction, focusing on “social and political absurdities.” That same year, he and Garces filed for celebrity divorce after 19 years together. The comedian put all of his energy and effort into his sold-out shows, but health problems would hinder the comedian. Several months into his tour, he began experiencing shortness of breath. The complications led him to cancel many performances, and he ended up undergoing heart surgery. While he was recovering, he returned to the big screen, playing Teddy Roosevelt in Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. He soon began a celebrity romance with Susan Schneider and married her in 2010.
Sadly, on August 11, 2014, Robin Williams was found dead in his California home at age 63. According to a press release issued by the Marin County Sheriff’s Office, he committed suicide by hanging, and there were several cuts found on his left wrist. A toxicology report showed no alcohol or illegal drugs in his system. His wife later revealed that her husband was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, which he had not discussed publicly. The whole world mourned the news of his death, but he will live on in his movies and in the hearts of those who loved him.
