Robin Williams Success Story

Williams was born to Laurie McLaurin and Robert Fitzgerald Williams on July 21, 1951 in Chicago, United Sates. He was a shy and a quiet child during his upbringing and overcame shyness only after joining the high school drama department. Williams was on the school soccer team and wrestling team. He also became the class president while studying in Detroit Country Day School.

Early career

Williams began his career as a stand-up comedian and performed in comedy shows in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 1970 Williams started working as a mime artist and was photographed performing in Central Park in 1974. TV producer George Schlatter saw him while he was performing in the Comedy Club in 1977.  His debut TV show was “Laugh-In” in 1977 but failed in the revival of the show.

William was cast as Mork in the TV series “Happy Days” in 1978. The character Mork was so popular among audience that it led to the spin-off sitcom “Mork & Mindy” in 1978. He featured on the cover of Time magazine in 1979. In 1980’s Williams reached audience with his stand-up comedy specials “Off The Wall” in 1978, “An Evening with Robin Williams” in 1986.

Career

Williams also appeared in the talk shows including “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” and “Late Night with David Letterman.” He played a cameo in “Friends” along with Billy Crystal in the third season. His appearances in television shows include “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”, “Law and Order: SVU.” Williams made his debut with a low-budget comedy movie “Can I Do It ‘Till I Need Glasses?” His first successful character was the title character of Popeye in 1980. He also starred in the movie “The World According to Grap” in 1982.

Career highlights

Williams starred in “Good Morning, Vietnam” in 1987 and earned a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor. Williams’s roles in comedy garnered him Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. In 1991 he played Peter Pan in the movie “Hook” and lost 25 pounds to suit for character.

Williams’s critically acclaimed films include “Moscow on The Hudson” in 1990, “Awakenings” in 1990 and “What Dreams May Come” in 1998. He played the role of a killer/ writer in the movie “Insomnia” in 2002. “The Angriest Man in Brooklyn” was the last movie released during his career.

Personal Life

William’s married his first wife Valerie Velardi in 1978 prior to which he was in a live-in relationship with Elayne Boosler. Valerie gave birth to his son in 1983. They eventually divorced in 1988. He later married Marsha Garces and had two children. In 2008, Garces filed for a divorce which was finalized in 2010. In 2011, William married his third wife Susan Schneider, a graphic designer.

Death

Williams committed suicide in 2014 at the age of 63. It was initially reported that he hung himself with a belt and died of asphyxiation. He was later revealed that Williams was in depression and had been sleeping in different room from his wife due to anxiety and restlessness caused by Parkinson’s. Neither alcohol nor drugs were involved in his death.

Robin Williams Last Interview Before Suicide