One of the most popular American comedian and actor who also won the Academy Award, this comedian is known for performing various roles on television, stage and film.
Robin Williams or Robin McLaurin Williams was born in the year 1951, in Chicago Illinois. But he was raised in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and Marin County, California. Robin studied in Redwood High School in Larkspur and grew up in the suburb of Tiburon in San Francisco. While staying at Michigan, he studied in Detroit Country Day School which was an incompatible and exclusive college-preparatory school. Other well-known alumni of this school are Steve Ballmer from Microsoft and Courtney Vance from Law and Order: Criminal Intent. Williams used to be a shy boy. His first imitation was that of his grandmother, to his mom. His shyness vanquished when he became actively involved with his high school drama. He also won the "Faisal" award for "Most Likely To Not Succeed", in his high school.
In the year 1973, he along with another student, Christopher Reeve was selected into the Advanced Program at Juilliard and they remained friends throughout their lives. When Reeve was paralyzed from an accident, it was Williams who helped him to cure from the illness by cheering him up by arriving as an eccentric Russian doctor. It is almost similar to the role that he played in Nine Months. In Julliard, William's comedy failed to impress most of his teacher, but his dramatic skills impressed one.
He used to perform stand-up comedy in various clubs such as the Purple Onion in San Francisco. He also got a guest role to play as the alien Mork, in the TV series Happy Days by Garry Marshall. His appearance as Mork became so popular (due to his verbal and physical comedy and nasal voice) that a new series was made Mork and Mindy, that ran from 1978 to 1982. The series was great hit and Mork started appearing on posters, lunchboxes, coloring books as well other merchandise. His signature in the show was the greeting "nanoo nanoo" and the swear word "shazbot". Throughout the 80's, William reached out to more audience with his stand-up comedy appearing in other series such as Home Box Office (HBO), An Evening with Robin Williams (1982) and Robin Williams: Live at the Met (1986). Robin Williams Live on Broadway that featured in the year 2002 was a great success. He also appeared in the episode of Whose Line is it Anyway? in the year 2000. On stage his notable performances was as Estragon in a production of Waiting for Godot.
Williams has also acted in a number of films, too. A list of his first starring roles, are Popeye (1980) and The World According to Garp (1982), which were average success. Then came Good Morning, Vietnam (1987) which was a smashing hit, and he was also nominated for an Academy Award. Some of his roles have been comedies blended with pathos, The Birdcage, Mrs. His most famous role is as the Genie in the Aladdin, the animated film. He also starred in dramatic films that won him two Academy Award nominations for Dead Poets Society and The Fisher King. He won the Oscar as Best Supporting Actor for his role as a psychologist in Good Will Hunting in the year 1997.