Comedian Robin Williams Found Dead
August 12, 2014
The unexpected death on August 11 of comedian-actor Robin Williams left millions of people with an almost personal sense of loss. For more than three decades, Williams had dazzled audiences with his quick wit and high-energy “what will he say next” improvisational style and eccentric but endearing personality. The shock of Williams’s death was intensified by the news that he probably committed suicide after suffering for years from depression as well as alcoholism and cocaine addiction.
Williams was born in Chicago on July 21, 1951. He began his show business career as a stand-up comedian in San Francisco and Los Angeles nightclubs and became a national favorite on television starting in the late 1970’s. Williams’s big break came in 1978 when he made a guest appearance on the hit television series “Happy Days” as a space alien named Mork. The success of the character led to a starring role in the popular TV comedy series “Mork and Mindy” (1978-1982).
Actor and comedian Robin Williams was known for his skill at improvising and his frantic comic style. (AP/Wide World)
Williams became a major motion-picture star in the 1980’s. In his first major role, Williams played the famous cartoon character in Popeye (1980). He won international respect as an actor in such movies as The World According to Garp (1982), Good Morning Vietnam (1987), Dead Poets Society (1989), the animated feature Aladdin (1992)—as a high-spirited genie—and Mrs. Doubtfire (1993). He won the Academy Award for best supporting actor his performance as a psychotherapist in the drama Good Will Hunting (1997).
Williams was active in charity work. Starting in the 1980’s, he joined with comedians Billy Crystal and Whoopi Goldberg to offer “Comic Relief” fundraising events to benefit the homeless.
