I know everyone is currently writing their thoughts, memories and sadness about the untimely death of a true comic genius, in Robin Williams, but I certainly won't let that stop me from adding my "two-cents" worth.
When I first read yesterday that Robin had committed suicide, I was deeply saddened, much more so than when I have read of other famous people's untimely demises. I'm not quite sure what Robin had that so appealed to me and millions of others all around the world, but it was something special that spoke directly to your heart and your soul. He simply made people happy, he made them briefly forget the problems of their lives and of the world, and so it was for me. I mourned his passing in much the same way as I would mourn the passing of someone I knew personally and loved personally. He had that ability to inculcate himself into your very being, through the roles he played on television and in the movies. Few actors or comedians have that ability, and Robin had it in "spades".
Like many people everywhere, my first view of Robin Williams was that of the zany, but adorable "Mork from Ork". The very first time I saw "Mork and Mindy", I was hooked. It is a tribute to his comic genius and the show's brilliant writers that words such as "Nanu-Nanu" and "Shazbat", became a living part of our lexicon. I suppose for many people, like myself, Mork represented the unusual outsider, the odd-ball, who wanted nothing more than to fit into regular society. We watched, each week, transfixed, as Mork encountered mundane, everyday, earth dilemmas and brought to them his simple, yet refreshingly sweet, cosmic responses and solutions. We also watched the sweet romantic relationship develop between Pam Dawber (Mindy) and Mork. Mindy was the quintessential "girl next door" - beautiful, sweet and adorable. Men wanted to marry her and women wanted to be like her. We all rooted for Mork and Mindy to be a couple, that was part of the magic of the show. It's staggering to think that 35 years later, after all Robin's amazing comedic and dramatic movie roles, for most of us, it is that naive, little alien, Mork, that we remember and love him the most for.
When I first read yesterday that Robin had committed suicide, I was deeply saddened, much more so than when I have read of other famous people's untimely demises. I'm not quite sure what Robin had that so appealed to me and millions of others all around the world, but it was something special that spoke directly to your heart and your soul. He simply made people happy, he made them briefly forget the problems of their lives and of the world, and so it was for me. I mourned his passing in much the same way as I would mourn the passing of someone I knew personally and loved personally. He had that ability to inculcate himself into your very being, through the roles he played on television and in the movies. Few actors or comedians have that ability, and Robin had it in "spades".
Like many people everywhere, my first view of Robin Williams was that of the zany, but adorable "Mork from Ork". The very first time I saw "Mork and Mindy", I was hooked. It is a tribute to his comic genius and the show's brilliant writers that words such as "Nanu-Nanu" and "Shazbat", became a living part of our lexicon. I suppose for many people, like myself, Mork represented the unusual outsider, the odd-ball, who wanted nothing more than to fit into regular society. We watched, each week, transfixed, as Mork encountered mundane, everyday, earth dilemmas and brought to them his simple, yet refreshingly sweet, cosmic responses and solutions. We also watched the sweet romantic relationship develop between Pam Dawber (Mindy) and Mork. Mindy was the quintessential "girl next door" - beautiful, sweet and adorable. Men wanted to marry her and women wanted to be like her. We all rooted for Mork and Mindy to be a couple, that was part of the magic of the show. It's staggering to think that 35 years later, after all Robin's amazing comedic and dramatic movie roles, for most of us, it is that naive, little alien, Mork, that we remember and love him the most for.
Of course his movie career was stellar as well. With a string of roles that highlighted his comedic and dramatic talents, he rode the wings of success and we loved him for it. From "Good Morning Vietnam"; to "Good Will Hunting"; to "Dead Poets Society"; to the hilariously funny "Mrs Doubtfire"; to the playfully "little-boy" appeal of "Jumanji"; to "Patch Adams" and to many, many more roles, he made us laugh, he made us cry and most of all he made us see our humanity.
My personal favourite movie of his was actually not a great success at the box-office, but it was such a departure from his usual roles, I found it intensely compelling. "What Dreams May Come" was, for me, a highlight of his career. This comic actor played a harrowing, gut-wrenching role focused on death, the afterlife and hell. His performance in this movie was compelling and I for one, rate it as one of my top movies ever watched.
From a comedic point of view, I still think the funniest line ever spoken by Robin in a movie was from "Mrs Doubtfire". When Pierce Brosnan's character asked Mrs Doubtfire if she had seen who threw the fruit at him, she replied with a perfectly straight face; "I don't know dear - perhaps it was a 'drive-by' fruiting". Truly classic comedy - I loved it.
My personal favourite movie of his was actually not a great success at the box-office, but it was such a departure from his usual roles, I found it intensely compelling. "What Dreams May Come" was, for me, a highlight of his career. This comic actor played a harrowing, gut-wrenching role focused on death, the afterlife and hell. His performance in this movie was compelling and I for one, rate it as one of my top movies ever watched.
From a comedic point of view, I still think the funniest line ever spoken by Robin in a movie was from "Mrs Doubtfire". When Pierce Brosnan's character asked Mrs Doubtfire if she had seen who threw the fruit at him, she replied with a perfectly straight face; "I don't know dear - perhaps it was a 'drive-by' fruiting". Truly classic comedy - I loved it.
Free now - Genie! Robin Williams gave so much of himself to others. His work for charities has been well documented, but it is a measure of the man's immense generosity and empathy for others that so many people have benefited directly from from his largess. He knew so well the joys of giving and yet somehow he could not find that joy in his own life. Whatever demons Robin Williams may have lived with, ultimately we can just be thankful that he lived so fully and completely and that he enriched our lives so wonderfully.
For me,, like millions of others who didn't know Robin Williams personally, it still is like saying goodbye to a dear and close friend.
Goodbye my friend, you deserve the ultimate accolade - "This world was a better place, for your having been in it". Now you may rest in peace.
#RIPRobinWilliams
For me,, like millions of others who didn't know Robin Williams personally, it still is like saying goodbye to a dear and close friend.
Goodbye my friend, you deserve the ultimate accolade - "This world was a better place, for your having been in it". Now you may rest in peace.
#RIPRobinWilliams
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