Celebrity Featured: Robin Williams
Artist: Jan Williamson
Chair Donor: JD Furniture
Fabric Donor: Warwick Fabrics
Upholstery Donor: Jims Upholstery
About Robin Williams
Hailing from Chicago, Illinois, Robin Williams began his acting career studying at the Claremont McKenna College in California, before moving to the Juilliard Drama School, where he roomed with Christopher Reeve. His break was when he was cast as "Mork" in the TV show Happy Days. While the role was only originally intended to be a guest role, it was later spun off into a separate show after massive audience approval. The show, Mork and Mindy ran from 1978 to 1982.
The 1987 movie Good Morning Vietnam is commonly attributed with providing Williams with his film break. It is frequently listed amongst the top 100 comedy films of all time, and most of Robin Williams' humorous radio broadcasts were improvised. His talent was recognised by the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role nomination he received for his part.
In 1989, Williams starred in the film Dead Poets Society, in which his performance earned him a second Academy Award (Oscar) nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role. In 1997 he was again nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role in Good Will Hunting, an award he went on to win.
Confirming his diverse talent, continued to perform live throughout his career - both as his roots as a stand up comic and in traditional theatre. He has also worked as a voice-over artist in cartoons, the most memorable of which being his performance as the Genie in Aladdin. Again, most of his work on that film is reported to have been improvised. It is this wild improvisation and uncanny impersonations that make for his trademark quick-fire comedy which is visible in his work in all mediums: stage, TV and film.
Williams is a co-founder the Windfall Foundation, a philanthropic organisation to raise money for many different charities.