Voted "most funny" and "least likely to succeed" in high school
Was inspired to pursue acting after seeing 2001: A Space Odyssey with his parents in 1969
Was roommates with Christopher Reeve at New York's Juilliard School and the two remained close friends
His stream-of-consciousness comedy was a hit in San Francisco before he moved to Los Angeles to pursue television
Big break came when cast as an alien on Happy Days in 1978; his character, Mork, was spun off into the hit series Mork & Mindy
Made a disastrous film debut in Robert Altman's misfire Popeye in 1980 but rebounded with stellar performances in The World According to Garp and Good Morning, Vietnam, for which he received his first Oscar nomination; won Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Good Will Hunting
Returned to stand-up roots in 2004 and entertained troops in Iraq
Appeared in six films in 2006, including The Night Listener and Night at the Museum
Postponed his one-man show, Weapons of Self-Destruction, to undergo heart surgery in March 2009, but toured in September
Awards
2014Critics' Choice Television Awards-Best Actor in a Comedy Series:nominated
2013Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture:nominated
2010Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special:nominated
2008Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series:nominated
2008People's Choice Awards-Favorite Funny Male Star:winner
2003Critics' Choice Awards-Best Actor:nominated
2003Emmy-Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program:nominated
2003Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program:nominated
2002Grammy-Best Spoken Comedy Album:winner
1999Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy:nominated
1998Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture:nominated
1997Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture:nominated
1997Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role:winner
1997Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role:winner
1996Emmy-Outstanding Performance for a Variety or Music Program:nominated
1994Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy:winner
1992MTV Movie Awards-Best Comedic Performance:winner
1992Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy:winner
1991Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama:nominated
1991Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role:nominated
1990Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama:nominated
1990BAFTA Film Awards-Best Actor in a Leading Role:nominated
1990National Board of Review-Best Actor:winner
1989Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role:nominated
1989BAFTA Film Awards-Best Actor in a Leading Role:nominated
1988Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy:winner
1988Grammy-Best Comedy Recording:winner
1988Emmy-Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program:winner
1987Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role:nominated
1987Emmy-Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program:winner
1987Emmy-Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program:winner
1985Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy:nominated
1980Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy:nominated
1979People's Choice Awards-Favorite Male Performer in a New TV Program:winner
1979Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy:winner
1979Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series:nominated