Robin Williams

July 21, 2025

Fast Facts
Background
Career Timeline
Why We Love
Surprising Facts
FAQs

Robin Williams, born on July 21, 1951, was, without a doubt, one of the greatest actors of all time. Popularly known for his witty demeanor and humorous characters, the actor had his fair share of serious roles under his belt. His career had been a joyride for film buffs and fans, giving them a dose of entertainment and inspiration. On his birthday, let us remember the man — both on and off the screen.

Fast Facts

Full Name:

Robin McLaurin Williams

Nickname:

Quicksilver

Birth date:

July 21, 1951

Death date:

August 11, 2014 (age 63)

Zodiac Sign:

Cancer

Height:

5' 7"

Net Worth:

$50 million

Background

Robin McLaurin Williams was born in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. to Robert Fitzgerald Williams and Laurie McLaurin. His father was an executive for the Ford Motor Company, while his mom was a former model. Williams had French, German, Scottish, English, and Irish ancestry.

For a brief period in his life, Williams was a student of political science at Claremont Men’s College. He also pursued theater at the College of Marin. Thereafter, he joined the Juilliard School in order to focus solely on theater. After he left the school, Williams began performing in nightclubs, whereafter he was cast in the role of Mork, from Ork, in the 1974 T.V. series “Happy Days.” Then, he was featured in the popular spin-off weekly series “Mork & Mindy” in 1978. In 1980, Williams made a feature starring debut in “Popeye.”

Over the years, Williams proved his mettle as a dramatic actor as well, receiving Academy Award nominations for his leading roles in several movies during the 1980s and 1990s. In 1997, he won the Academy Award for ‘Best Actor in a Supporting Role’ for the film “Good Will Hunting.” Moreover, during and after the 1990s, he transformed into a cherished hero for kids across the globe due to his appearance in a string of family-oriented movies, such as “Hook,” “Jumanji,” “Bicentennial Man,” “Happy Feet,” and the “Night at the Museum” franchise. The actor also received acclaim for his performance in “The World According to Garp,” “Awakenings,” “Insomnia,” and “Boulevard,” among numerous other films. Williams was found dead at his Tiburon home on August 11, 2014.

Career timeline

1976

His First Performance

Williams performs a stand-up set in San Francisco.

1978

He Bags an HBO Special

Williams reaches a wider audience and stars in HBO’s comedy special “Off The Wall.”

1979

His Wins a Grammy

The actor wins a Grammy for ‘Best Comedy Album.’

1987

His First Major Break

Williams makes his mark in the film “Good Morning, Vietnam,” earning an Academy nomination for ‘Best Actor.’

1997

Another Win

He receives another Academy Award for ‘Best Supporting Actor’ for his role in “Good Will Hunting.”

Why We Love Robin Williams

One of a kind
Barack Obama once described Williams as “one of a kind” and we could not agree more. He was a unique actor who always managed to add his special touch to every character, thereby making them more humane and distinctive. In fact, Williams added a lot of libs in the film “Aladdin,” so much so that it was ineligible for the ‘Best Screenplay’ category at the Academy Awards. As a result, he won the Academy for the ‘Best Adapted Screenplay.’
A philanthropist
Although he came from wealth, Williams always did his best to help the less fortunate. He supported the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for years. Throughout his life, he gave back to the community and supported women’s rights, veterans, and children.
His charm
Whenever Williams entered a room or appeared on screen, all faces lit up! People were drawn to him not just for who he was, but for how he made them feel. His charm, wit, and humor made him one of the most admired of all time.

5 Surprising Facts

He had a lonely childhood
Nobody played with young Williams as he was quite overweight, so he began to entertain himself by speaking in different voices.
His critically-acclaimed improvisation
The actor played his role in “Good Morning, Vietnam” without a script and improvised the majority of his lines!
His “magical” voice
He voiced the Genie in the 1992 animated musical “Aladdin.”
His favorite binge-worthy shows
Williams was a huge fan of “Star Trek” (1996) and “Doctor Who” (1963).
He wanted to be in “Harry Potter”
The actor wanted to star in the “Harry Potter” film series as Rubeus Hagrid but was rejected due to the ‘Brits-only’ rule.