ACTOR · BORN 1951 · DIED 2014
Robin Williams
- Born
- 21 July 1951, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Died
- 11 August 2014
- Known for
- Good Will Hunting (1997), Dead Poets Society (1989), Aladdin (1992), Jumanji (1995)
98 archived facts 5 topics 1 source Last reviewed Sep 2026
49 Interesting Facts About Robin Williams
- #007
During his school years, Robin Williams was voted 'Funniest' and 'Most Likely to Fail' by his classmates. The two labels are like an ironic summary of his life: everyone recognized his comedic talent, yet no one predicted his future success. Williams defied those predictions and became one of the greatest comedians in cinema history.
- #009
In the restaurant scene in Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), the false teeth of the character played by Robin Williams fall into a wine glass. The moment happened when the actors and crew least expected it; Williams's action was improvised. The actors' astonished reactions in the film were completely genuine, which added a special sincerity to the scene.
- #010
While Robin Williams's interview on Inside the Actors Studio (1994) was being recorded, one audience member laughed so hard that he got a hernia and was taken to the hospital. The incident is an unusual example of how impressive Williams's comedic power was. Williams's jokes did not just make people laugh; sometimes they could even cause physical effects.
- #014
Named 'the funniest man alive' by Entertainment Weekly in 1997, Robin Williams more than deserved the title. At the time he was winning great acclaim for both his films and his stand-up shows. The selection once again confirmed Williams's undisputed place in the world of comedy.
- #015
Robin Williams was passionately devoted to pen-and-paper board games. He regularly gathered with close friends in San Francisco every month to play them. These meetings were warm, enjoyable moments when he could step away from his busy work life and have fun.
- #016
Robin Williams was one of the co-owners of Rubicon Restaurant in San Francisco. The partnership also included famous names such as Robert De Niro and Francis Ford Coppola. Through the restaurant, Williams both stepped into the business world and became part of the city's social life.
- #017
Robin Williams, a comic book enthusiast, had agreed to play the role of the Joker in Batman (1989). But when Jack Nicholson wanted the part, Warner Bros. pushed Williams aside. Williams was deeply upset, believing he had been used to persuade Nicholson, and for years he refused to appear in Warner Bros. films. The incident is known as an example of Hollywood's ruthless negotiating tactics.
- #018
After Robin Williams's death, his wife Susan Schneider said in a statement, 'This morning, I lost my husband and my best friend, while the world lost one of its most beloved artists.' Schneider asked for privacy on behalf of the family and stressed that the focus should be not on Robin's death but on the moments of joy and laughter he gave to millions. The emotional statement reminds us that Williams was not only an artist but also a loving person.
- #019
Robin Williams chose Jonathan Winters and Richard Pryor as his role models in the world of comedy. These two master comedians had a great influence on shaping Williams's style. Inspired by their bold, boundary-breaking approach to comedy, Williams developed his own unique style.
- #025
Robin Williams helped his close friend Christopher Reeve cover his physical therapy and other medical expenses after his horseback riding accident. After Reeve was left paralyzed, Williams stood by him and provided financial support. This behavior reveals the importance Williams placed on friendship and his generosity.
- #027
Robin Williams agreed to voice the Genie in Aladdin (1992) because he wanted to be part of the animation tradition. However, worried that his voice would be commercially exploited, he stipulated that he would work for minimum wage and that his voice not be used on merchandise. When Disney violated these conditions, Williams refused to work with the studio again and for that reason did not voice the Genie in The Return of Jafar (1994). This incident shows how committed Williams was to his principles.
- #028
Robin Williams and Robert De Niro were the last celebrities to see John Belushi alive. In March 1982, when Belushi died of a drug overdose, the two had separately visited bungalow number 3 of the Chateau Marmont Hotel. This tragic event recalls the dark side of Hollywood and the devastating consequences of drug addiction.
- #029
On Inside the Actors Studio, Robin Williams gave a witty answer to James Lipton's question, "When you get to heaven, what would you like God to say to you?": "There's a seat down front at a Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Elvis Presley concert." This answer shows Williams's love for both classical music and rock and roll, and that he never lost his sense of humor, even about death.
- #031
On the night Robin Williams died, an episode of Family Guy was airing on BBC Three. In the episode, Peter Griffin wishes everyone were Robin Williams and then, after being struck by lightning, gains the power to turn everyone he touches into Robin Williams. This coincidence made for a highly emotional experience for viewers after the news of Williams's death.
- #032
Robin Williams achieved a unique feat in his career by having two of his films gross 100 million dollars in the US in the same week: Jumanji (1995) and The Birdcage (1996). This event shows how broad an audience he could reach in both family films and adult comedies.
- #035
After Robin Williams's death, his body was cremated and his ashes were scattered in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he spent much of his life. This was interpreted as a sign of his attachment to the land where he was born and which he loved. Williams loved living and working in this area.
- #036
In memory of Robin Williams, Disney aired Aladdin (1992) on three children's channels between August 16 and 18, 2014. At the end of the film, shown twice on each channel, a tribute image drawn by Eric Goldberg appeared before the credits with the words "In memory of Robin Williams, who made us laugh." This gesture shows how important Williams was to the Disney family and the legacy he left behind.
- #045
Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) has more than one version because Robin Williams's improvisation was so extensive that editing the film while staying faithful to the script was nearly impossible. Director Chris Columbus compared the process to editing a documentary. The other versions could not be used because they were inconsistent in tone, showing how Williams's performance shaped the film's final form.
- #047
Robin Williams was one of the few celebrities to appear in an episode of Sesame Street (1969) that featured no Muppets or regular characters. This shows how special his contribution to the program was. Williams enjoyed appearing as a guest on children's programs.
- #048
Robin Williams was a fan of the BBC comedy series Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969), and the admiration was mutual. After Williams's death, Michael Palin said he stood on the same level as his all-time heroes Spike Milligan and Peter Cook. Palin described performing with Williams as 'like being invited into a jazz group when you can't play an instrument', and added that Williams was possessed by a 'comedy demon' that could be hard to live with.
- #049
Robin Williams was an active supporter of the Democratic Party and openly stated his opposition to the Iraq war. Despite this, after the war began he was the most consistent entertainer of US troops and was therefore called by some 'the new Bob Hope'. Williams traveled many times to areas near the front to boost soldiers' morale.
- #050
Robin Williams invented the curse word 'Shazbot', which was first heard in the series Mork & Mindy (1978). It was later used in The Simpsons episode Treehouse of Horror VI (1995) and in the video game 'Starsiege Tribes'. The phrase 'Shazbot, nano nano' is also known as the last recorded words of former AC/DC singer Bon Scott.
- #052
Robin Williams formed a very close relationship with Sarah Michelle Gellar, who played his daughter on the series The Crazy Ones (2013). Gellar described Williams as a 'surrogate father'. This reflected Williams's warm and supportive personality on set.
- #058
Robin Williams appeared as a guest alongside Bette Midler on the penultimate episode of Johnny Carson's The Tonight Show. The episode was part of Carson's farewell tour, and Williams witnessed one of the significant moments in television history. On the program, Williams made the audience laugh with his jokes.
- #061
Robin Williams was being considered for the role of the Genie in Aladdin (1992) while the film was still in the script stage. Disney animators used Williams's facial features as a model for the Genie's design. This shows how early Williams became involved in the character's creation and how he influenced its visual design.
- #062
Robin Williams's close friend, the Scottish comedian Billy Connolly, jokingly referred to his hairy arms as 'Quest for Fire opera gloves.' The teasing reflected the intimate friendship and shared sense of humor between the two. Williams enjoyed laughing at such jokes.
- #063
Robin Williams played both a fictional president in Man of the Year (2006) and a real president in The Butler (2013). These two roles demonstrated his ability to play political figures and his range across different genres. With them, Williams showed both his comedic and dramatic sides.
- #064
Robin Williams was a very close friend of the famous director Steven Spielberg. The two worked together on Hook (1991). After Williams's death, Spielberg made emotional statements about him and expressed how much their friendship had meant to him.
- #065
After Robin Williams's tragic death, more than 400 celebrities, friends and co-stars offered their condolences and paid tribute to him. Internet polls showed that Williams's name was the most searched term in 2014. This was proof of how much he was loved worldwide and of his impact.
- #067
Robin Williams was a big fan of rugby and especially admired Jonah Lomu, the star of New Zealand's All Blacks. Lomu came to San Francisco and gave Williams a signed All Blacks jersey. When Williams visited New Zealand, he reunited with Lomu on national television and this time accepted another jersey, one bearing Lomu's number 11 on the back.
- #069
Robin Williams owned a house and a vineyard in the St. Helena area of Northern California. For this reason he would make the joke, 'I love the smell of Napa in the morning.' His neighbors included names such as football legend Joe Montana and filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, both of whom ran their own vineyards.
- #070
Robin Williams appeared in four films with Billy Crystal: In Search of Dr. Seuss (1994), Hamlet (1996), Fathers' Day (1997) and Deconstructing Harry (1997). He also made a cameo in the series Friends (1994). These collaborations showed the friendship and comedic chemistry between the two.
- #071
Robin Williams was offered the role of the Riddler in Batman Forever (1995), but the part ultimately went to Jim Carrey.
- #072
ABC News published the family's announcement asking for their privacy to be respected on a web page that also included a live feed of aerial footage of Williams's house. The feed was removed after a campaign by angry Twitter users.
- #074
In October 2008, the production company Frank and Beans Productions sued over a shelved film titled 'A Couple of Dicks.' The film was later given to Gold Circle Films and retitled Cop Out (2010). Williams claimed he was owed a $6 million 'fixed compensation,' meaning he would be paid whether or not the film was made.
- #075
Robin Williams was close friends with Pam Dawber, Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, Paul Reubens, Fred Travalena, Jim Varney and Kristin Chenoweth.
- #076
Robin Williams became a father for the first time at 31, when his then-wife Valerie Velardi gave birth to their son Zak Williams on April 11, 1983. He became a father for the second time at 38, when his then-wife Marsha Garces Williams gave birth to their daughter Zelda Williams on July 31, 1989. He became a father for the third time at 40, when his then-wife Marsha gave birth to their son Cody Williams on November 25, 1991.
- #077
As of 2022, Robin Williams is the oldest actor to have played Peter Pan: he was 40 when he played Peter Banning/Peter Pan in Hook (1991).
- #078
Robin Williams was voted 'Least Likely to Succeed' by his graduating classmates in Larkspur.
- #082
Williams appeared fully nude in The Fisher King (1991) and World's Greatest Dad (2009).
- #084
Williams moved to San Francisco, CA, when he was 16 years old.
- #087
In 1993, Williams wrote the foreword to Gary Larson's book 'The Far Side: Gallery 4.'.
- #088
Williams was set to appear as the time traveler Prof. Berlinghoff Rasmussen in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode 'A Matter of Time' (1991), but a scheduling conflict with Hook (1991) forced him to give up the role (it eventually went to Matt Frewer). He was inspired to take a role on Trek by his friend Whoopi Goldberg, who had a recurring role on the series as the bartender Guinan.
- #089
Because of the seven feature films he shot in the San Francisco Bay Area during the 1990s, Williams was made an Honorary Member of IATSE Local 16 in San Francisco.
- #091
When Chris Columbus saw Williams doing stand-up at comedy clubs in Los Angeles, he likened him to 'an impressive fireball' and described him as 'one of the brightest minds he had ever encountered in comedy.' They later worked together on films such as Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), Nine Months (1995) and Bicentennial Man (1999).
- #092
Williams had English, French, German, Irish, Scottish and Welsh ancestry.
- #093
Williams spent his final moments at his waterfront home overlooking the San Francisco Bay (St. Thomas Way, Tiburon, CA).
- #097
In 1976, Williams performed at the opening of the San Francisco Comedy Competition against Dana Carvey, Harry Anderson and A. Whitney Brown.
- #098
Williams was a big fan of the anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995).
Sources & editorial notes
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