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Robin Williams Biography

Birth Name:Robin McLaurin Williams

Birth Place:Chicago, Illinois, United States

Profession Actor, Soundtrack, Writer, Producer, Director

Fast Facts

Co-founded the Windfall Foundation, an organization that helps raise money for various charities
Was recognized as a consistent supporter of the USO and worked for more than a decade to provide entertainment and support for U․S․ military members serving in 13 different countries
Participated in the Rolling Stones' cover of "It's Only Rock 'n' Roll (But I Like It)" for the Children's Promise charity in 1999
Was featured in St․ Jude Children's Research Hospital's promotional commercials, and reportedly never charged a fee for his involvement in any of their events
Helped raise money and awareness for spinal cord injury research during his four years as a board member of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation
Won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in "Good Will Hunting" in 1998
Attended Claremont Men's College and College of Marin
Born to model Laurie Williams
Was one of only 20 students accepted to the Juilliard School in 1973 and was one of only two students accepted into the Advanced Program, along with Christopher Reeve
Worked as a bartender before performing stand-up comedy at the Holy City Zoo comedy club
Quote: "My battles with addiction definitely shaped how I am now․ They really made me deeply appreciate human contact․ And the value of friends and family, how precious that is․"
Quote: "You're only given one little spark of madness․ You mustn't lose it․"
Quote: "People ask why I do children's comedies․ I'm happy being a Robert de Niro for 9-year-olds․"
Frequently portrayed father figures or family-oriented characters
Was known for his imitations and impersonations of figures in pop culture
Called Steven Spielberg during the filming of "Schindler's List" to cheer him up
Joined his high school's wrestling team
Was a cycling enthusiast and occasionally trained with Lance Armstrong
Went off script so much during the filming of "Mork & Mindy" that producers deliberately left gaps in future scripts so that he could ad-lib his lines
Studied at Juilliard alongside actor Christopher Reeve
Voiced the Timekeeper attraction at Walt Disney World Resort
Was in contention for the role of Joe Miller in "Philadelphia," before the part ultimately went to Denzel Washington
Was voted "Least Likely to Succeed" by his classmates during high school

Awards

1979Golden Globe-Best Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical: winner
1979Gold Medal-Favorite TV Program: nominated
1979Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
1980Golden Globe-Best Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical: nominated
1980Stinker Award-Worst Actor: nominated
1985Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: nominated
1985NSFC Award-Best Actor: nominated
1988Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
1988American Comedy Award-Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role): winner
1988Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: winner
1989BAFTA Film Award-Best Actor: nominated
1989Grammy-Best Comedy Recording: winner
1989Sant Jordi-Best Foreign Actor (Mejor Actor Extranjero): nominated
1990Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
1990American Comedy Award-Funniest Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
1990BAFTA Film Award-Best Actor: nominated
1990David-Best Foreign Actor (Migliore Attore Straniero): nominated
1990Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
1990NBR Award-Best Actor: winner
1991ACCA-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
1991Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
1991Jupiter Award-Best International Actor: winner
1992Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
1992Saturn Award-Best Actor: nominated
1992American Comedy Award-Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role): nominated
1992ACCA-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: winner
1992DFWFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
1992Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: winner
1993Saturn Award-Best Actor: nominated
1993Saturn Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
1993ACCA-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
1993Special Award-: winner
1993MTV Movie Award-Best Comedic Performance: winner
1994American Comedy Award-Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role): winner
1994CableACE-Entertainment Host: winner
1994Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: winner
1994Blimp Award-Favorite Movie Actor: winner
1994MTV Movie Award-Best Comedic Performance: winner
1994MTV Movie Award-Best Male Performance: nominated
1994Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
1996Saturn Award-Best Actor: nominated
1996American Comedy Award-Funniest Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
1996Blimp Award-Favorite Movie Actor: nominated
1997Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast: winner
1997ACCA-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: winner
1997Blimp Award-Favorite Movie Actor: nominated
1997MTV Movie Award-Best On-Screen Duo: nominated
1997MTV Movie Award-Best Comedic Performance: nominated
1998Oscar-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: winner
1998Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role: winner
1998Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast: nominated
1998Blockbuster Entertainment Award-Favorite Actor/Actress - Family: winner
1998Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: nominated
1998Blimp Award-Favorite Movie Actor: nominated
1998OFTA Film Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
1998Golden Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture, Drama: nominated
1999American Comedy Award-Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role): nominated
1999Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: nominated
1999Golden Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical: nominated
1999Stinker Award-Worst Actor: winner
2000Blockbuster Entertainment Award-Favorite Actor - Comedy: nominated
2000Blimp Award-Favorite Movie Actor: nominated
2000Razzie Award-Worst Actor: nominated
2002Golden Schmoes-Best Actor of the Year: nominated
2002Sierra Award-Best Actor: nominated
2002Peabody Award-Winner: winner
2003Movies for Grownups Award-Best Breakaway Performance: nominated
2003Saturn Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2003Saturn Award-Best Actor: winner
2003Critics Choice Award-Best Actor: nominated
2003DFWFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2003Chainsaw Award-Best Actor: winner
2003Grammy-Best Spoken Comedy Album: winner
2003IOMA-Best Supporting Actor (Miglior attore non protagonista): nominated
2003OFTA Television Award-Best Host or Performer of a Variety, Musical, or Comedy Special: nominated
2003OFTA Film Award-Best Actor: nominated
2003OFCS Award-Best Actor: nominated
2003Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program: nominated
2003Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program: nominated
2003Razzie Award-Worst Supporting Actor: nominated
2003Golden Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama: nominated
2004TV Land Award-Favorite "Fish Out of Water": nominated
2004TV Land Award-Superlatively Supernatural: nominated
2005TV Land Award-Most "Out of This World": winner
2006Blimp Award-Favorite Voice from an Animated Feature: nominated
2006TV Land Award-Most "Out of this World" Character: winner
2006VES Award-Outstanding Performance by an Animated Character in an Animated Motion Picture: nominated
2008Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Guest Actor: nominated
2008OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series: winner
2008Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2009People's Choice Award-Favorite Scene Stealing Guest Star: winner
2012Felix-Best Actor: nominated
2014Hollywood Award-Best Ensemble Cast: nominated
2014Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
2014Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
2018Felix-Best Supporting Actor: nominated