It's been 10 years since the death of Robin Williams, and amid the man's amazing legacy is his incredible connection to Disney that is worth remembering!
When news broke on August 11, 2014, that Robin Williams had died, the shockwaves were huge. It wasn't just that the Oscar-winning comedian had passed at the seemingly too-young age of 63 or the circumstances. It was the idea that a man so full of life and imbued with energy could die at all. If anyone seemed like he could live forever, it was Williams.
No one has ever embodied the pure, chaotic nature of comedy quite like Robin Williams. No matter the talk show or public appearance, the man was always quick with a wild quip or observation that could leave anyone howling. He proved that in his amazing career, yet it can be overlooked that Disney was a critical reason why Williams became the icon he is now and why his passing meant so much.
The early years
Robin Williams burst onto the scene in the late 1970s as stand-up comics were catching on, thanks to cable TV. Williams' often insane antics got attention and led to Gary Marshall casting him as space alien Mork on his hit TV series Happy Days. The success led to Williams earning the spin-off Mork & Mindy. It made him an instant star, fans loving his antics and often ad-libbing half the show as only he could.
Movie came calling although Williams surprised many by showing his serious acting chops in 1982's The World According to Garp. There were other films such as Club Paradise yet Williams' career seemed stalled as he was battling substance abuse problems. Then along came Disney.
Good Morning to fame
In the mid-1980s, Disney expanded into more adult material through Touchstone Pictures. They had already scored a huge hit with Down and Out in Beverly Hills starring Richard Dreyfus and Nick Nolte and then Ruthless People with Bette Middler. When Williams was offered the script for Good Morning Vietnam, he cracked that Disney's casting agents "must hang out by the Betty Ford Clinic."
Good Morning was tailor-made for Williams, casting him as a military DJ in the Vietnam War who becomes a success with his great comedy. Williams improvised most of the film's dialogue and impressions, allowed to cut loose completely. The film was not only a smash box office hit, but a Golden Globe win and an Oscar nomination made Williams an A-list Hollywood star.
He followed it up with the Touchstone release Dead Poets Society, toning down the comedy a bit as the English professor inspiring his students at a boy's school. It showed more dramatic tones for Williams, becoming a hit and another Oscar nomination for him.
Then came the role that, to many, may be the ultimate showcase for Robin Williams on film