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Robin Williams Facts

Robin Williams Facts
Robin Williams was an American actor and comedian well-known for his improvisational skills. He was born Robin McLaurin Williams on July 21st, 1951, in Chicago, Illinois to Robert Fitzgerald Williams and Laurie McLaurin. He had two older half-brothers. He was a quiet and shy child until he joined the drama department in high school. He was already described as funny by his friends in school. Robin began to attend college for political science but dropped out to pursue an acting career. He studied acting for three years at community college. He attended Juilliard School in New York City from 1973-1976 on full scholarship. He moved to San Francisco in the 1970s and began doing stand-up.
Interesting Robin Williams Facts:
Robin Williams' classmates at Juilliard School included Mandy Patinkin, William Hurt, and Christopher Reeve.
While living in New York City Robin Williams performed as a mime to earn money.
In 1978 Robin Williams got his first big break. He landed a role on Happy Days as Mork. Mork became the main character in the TV show Mork & Mindy, which also starred Robin Williams.
While working on Mork & Mindy Robin Williams developed an addiction to drugs and alcohol. It lasted more than 20 years.
The writers of Mork & Mindy left gaps in the script because Robin was so good at improvising they had to leave room for him to do so.
Robin Williams was cast as Popeye in 1980.
Although Popeye was not a hit Robin Williams went on the star in The World According to Garp.
Robin Williams starred in Good Morning Vietnam in 1987 and was nominated for an Oscar for his role.
Robin Williams won an Oscar for his role in the movie Good Will Hunting.
Robin Williams' first wife was Valerie Velardi. They had a son Zachary Pym Williams in 1983. Robin and Valerie divorced in 1988.
Two of Robin Williams' movies hit $100 million at the box office in 1996 - The Birdcage and Jumanji.
Robin Williams was a cycling fan and was known to train with Lance Armstrong.
Robin Williams voiced the character of Genie in the animated movie Aladdin. The majority of his lines were improvised.
Robin Williams idolized Richard Pryor and Jonathan Winters.
Robin Williams was married to his second wife Marsha Garces from 1989 to 2010. She had been his son Zachary's nanny and was pregnant at the time. Robin and Marsha had two children together, in 1989 and 1991.
Robin Williams' third wife was Susan Schneider who he married in 2011.
Robin Williams won one Oscar, two Emmy awards, a total of 7 Golden Globe Awards, 4 Grammy Awards, and 2 Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, and Whoopi Goldberg founded Comic Relief USA in 1986 to benefit homeless people. By 2014 the annual television show had raised over $80 million.
Robin Williams had heart surgery in 2009 to replace his aortic valve.
In 2014 Robin Williams committed suicide. He was 63 years old. He had a disease called Lewy body dementia.


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