For those of you who don’t follow Hollywood news closely, you may not know that an actor by the name of Robin Williams passed away on August 12th, 2014. He was 74 years old. Since his passing, many of his films have received critical acclaim and have gone on to become some of the biggest hits of all time. One of those films is the 2014 release, Man of La Mancha, which stars the previously mentioned actor and his co-star and friend, James Pattinson. It has since broken many box office records and is now one of the top-grossing films of all time. It’s safe to say that Robin Williams will be missed, but his movies will live on forever.

A Life In Movies

It’s hard to believe that a life in Hollywood could be this exciting. You’ll often hear stories about how hard it is to make it in the industry, but to succeed on a massive scale like Robin Williams did is incredible. It’s safe to say that his legacy will live on for many, many years to come.

A Life in Drama

Although Robin Williams was most well-known for his comedic acting roles, he did actually have a very successful dramatic career as well. In fact, he was nominated for a Grammy Award in the ‘Best Spoken Word Album’ category for his 1982 autobiography, What Is Life? Weighing the Benefits of Being Human. He also won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Comedy Series in 1983 for his role as Mork from Ork in an episode of the sitcom, Happy Days. He also appeared in several films directed by the legendary Werner Herzog, including his iconic 1971 movie, A Little Trip to Heaven. It’s worth noting that Herzog named one of his 2014 films, My Son, the Man of Peace, in honor of Robin Williams. Some of his other notable screen performances include Popeye, directed by Richard Fleischer in 1980; Where the Truth Lies, co-starring Sarah Jessica Parker and James Earl Jones in 1995; and The Fisher King, with Peter Fonda and Jessica Lange in 1997.

A Life in Musicals

Although Robin Williams was most well-known for his acting in films, he did actually appear in several Broadway plays as well, including Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, which had a premiere in 2010. It was composed of 19 scenes, running approximately two hours and 30 minutes. In 2016, it was reported that Broadway tickets for Joe Turner’s Come and Gone were sold out for the entire run. It currently holds the record for most performances on Broadway by an actor in a lead role, with a total of 984.

Besides his work in film, television and theater, Robin Williams was also a skilled stand-up comedian who appeared in a number of his own comedy specials. He was also the subject of the 2014 documentary, Robin Williams: The New Yorker, which looked at his life and career. It was directed by Geraldine Brooks and premiered on HBO on May 21st, 2014. Some of his most famous stand-up routines include:

  • Comedy Central Roast #5: The Final Chapter
  • Robin Williams: Live at the U.S. Comedy Theatre
  • Robin Williams: Live at the U.S. Comedy Theatre, Volume 2
  • Robin Williams: Live at the U.S. Comedy Theatre, Volume 3

In the weeks leading up to his death, Robin Williams was nominated for numerous awards, including the Academy Award for Best Actor. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his role as Terry Malloy in 1967’s The Graduate. He also received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor in 2012’s One Hour Photo. Despite his multiple award nominations and popularity, Robin Williams chose to retire from acting in 2011.

A Life in Reviews

Since Robin Williams had a long and successful career, it’s not surprising that many critics and journalists followed his career closely. It was well-known that he was committed to accuracy and would often read his critics. He would often say that he didn’t think he was that good of an actor, but he believed he was able to discern between his true strengths and weaknesses through critical response.

In the years following his retirement, Robin Williams continued to be celebrated for his unique comedic and dramatic style. Many of his movies went on to become worldwide box office successes. In addition to his acting career, he was also a noted entrepreneur who funded many of his projects, including the Organic Pastures Dairy, the O’Brien Museum of Comedy and several theater companies. In 2013, he founded the charity, the Robin Hood Foundation, with the goal of helping disadvantaged kids.

It’s not easy making it in Hollywood. It’s especially difficult if you’re not traditionally well-known for your looks or talent. Despite this, many actors and comedians have managed to carve out a name for themselves, which in turn, has helped to broaden their appeal. So, while it is sad to see Robin Williams leave us, his unique ability to connect with audiences and his willingness to try new things undoubtedly made him a memorable figure in Hollywood and one of the biggest stars of all time.