Robin Williams: A Comic Genius and Amazing Actor

I’ve been a fan of Robin Williams since I was 12 when I first saw him on t.v. and his comedy helped me with my depression.

And it has ever since.

In 1982 I saw him in “The World According to Garp” with my fellow juvenile home residents at a fancy mall. The fact that I was in the kind of place I was living at the time and seeing the movie around the same time frame helped get me out of my depression.

I kept up with him through the years and loved watching his comedy acts on t.v., always wanting to see him live on tour. I also love his charitable works and his sensitivity as well as his genuine personality.

Then in 1988 my then-boyfriend and I went to see “Good Morning Vietnam” and it became one of my favorites of Robin’s. Since then I’ve seen that movie a few more times and just last night it was on again and I had to leave it on.

In the summer of 1989 I saw Robin, five-time Golden Globe winner, in “Dead Poet’s Society” and once again another of his movies had given me hope out of my depression and showed me how powerful humor and inspiration are. It was particularly meaningful to me since I’m a writer.

“The Fisher King” was a masterpiece also and Robin, who did win an Oscar for a later movie, should have won for this one too.

Then in the summer of 1990 I got to see him in “Awakenings” at a small old theatre with a friend of mine and was so moved by his performance yet again. Seeing some of the actors and actresses he worked with on screen reminded me of some of the places I was forced to live in as teenager and gave me hope that the future could turn itself around.

In December of 1991 my then-boyfriend and I went to see Robin in “Hook” and I marveled at how much he emerged himself into the character of Peter. His character’s touching speech during the film about being a former foster child made me reflect on my time in foster care in the 80s.

Although “Toys” was considered not one of his better films I liked it but then I like everything he ever did because I love his versatility in acting and his comedic genius.

In “Mrs. Doubtfire,” another favorite, Robin once again portrayed a role recommended for him by his wife.

I wouldn’t have seen “Jumanji” because of the spiders (which I’m scared of) in the film but since Robin was in it I saw it anyway and loved the imagination of it.

Then, of course there was “The Bird Cage” where Robin’s flamboyant moves were loved by many, especially some of my gay male friends who were convinced the actor was playing for their team.

I didn’t get to see “Good Will Hunting” till right before Robin won the Oscar for his supporting role as a counselor helping a guy who had been abused as a child conquer his demons. Another one of my favorites, it shows the sometimes quiet, often loud genius that encompasses Robin Williams. The film made me think about all the counselors I’d been to and the heart of compassion.

The kids’ movie “Flubber” was cool for adults, too and was a good escape for those of us who like odd inventions. I took a juvenile client of mine to see it at the time who had Down’s syndrome and he loved it.

“What Dreams May Come” wasn’t a critic’s favorite but I liked the imagery, loved the storyline, and embraced the romanticism of it all. It reminded me of my marriage at the time and about how important it was to go to any lengths to help the one you love.

“Patch Adams,” based on a true story was practically written for Robin Williams, I think and he took on the role with his usual comic magnitude and motivation for kids and adults. Having been hospitalized since 1992 seven times for chronic asthma I related to needing to laugh when sick.

One part of the “Jakob The Liar” character reminded me of the good side of my dad – playful, spontaneous, and free – when Robin Williams’ role called for him to dance carefree with the child actress.

“Bicentennial Man” seemed to reflect some of Robin Williams’ personality – love of kids, family, and dedication to his work. It was also a hopeful love story that I took to heart.

When Robin kicked off his live tour in 2002 and one of his stops was in Dallas, TX I was so bummed I couldn’t afford the $100 ticket – and that was for the nosebleed seats. But I got to watch the DVD and was catapulted temporarily into the mind that is Robin Williams. Another great cure for depression if you watch it. Plus you’ll see why he won a Grammy for his show.

“Insomnia,” another of my favorites was fantastic and once again showed the broad range of Williams’ talent playing a bad guy.

Then in “One Hour Photo” he played another bad seed who happened to have suffered abuse as a child.

“One Hour Photo may be more civilized than ‘Taxi Driver’ but just as effectively creepy,” said movie writer Jeff Shannon.

My late boyfriend and I saw “Robots” together since we were big Robin Williams fans. We both agreed the role he played in the film was perfect for his charisma.

In “The Final Cut” Robin played a technical master who harbored a dark secret of his own all the while trying to clean up other people’s images. While the movie wasn’t widely played in theaters, I checked it out on DVD and liked the intensity of the character as well as the surprise ending.

Last year Robin won the much deserved Cecil B. Demille Award for career achievement and dedicated his prize to his late friend and former college roommate, actor Christopher Reeve.