Robin Williams

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Robin McLaurin Williams (July 21, 1951August 11, 2014) was an American actor and comedian. Known for his improvisational skills and the wide variety of characters he created on the spur of the moment and portrayed on film, in dramas and comedies alike, he is regarded as one of the greatest comedians of all time. He received numerous accolades including an Academy Award, two Primetime Emmy Awards, six Golden Globe Awards, five Grammy Awards, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. He was awarded the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2005.

Williams began performing stand-up comedy in San Francisco and Los Angeles during the mid-1970s, and released several comedy albums including ''Reality ... What a Concept'' in 1980. He rose to fame playing the alien Mork in the ABC sitcom ''Mork & Mindy'' (1978–1982). He received his first leading film role in ''Popeye'' (1980). Williams won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for ''Good Will Hunting'' (1997). His other Oscar-nominated roles were for ''Good Morning, Vietnam'' (1987), ''Dead Poets Society'' (1989) and ''The Fisher King'' (1991).

Williams starred in the critically acclaimed dramas ''The World According to Garp'' (1982), ''Moscow on the Hudson'' (1984), ''Awakenings'' (1990), ''Insomnia'' (2002), ''One Hour Photo'' (2002) and ''World's Greatest Dad'' (2009). He also starred in ''Toys'' (1992), ''The Birdcage'' (1996) and ''Patch Adams'' (1998), as well as family films, such as ''Hook'' (1991), ''Mrs. Doubtfire'' (1993), ''Jumanji'' (1995), ''Jack'' (1996), ''Flubber'' (1997), ''RV'' (2006) and the ''Night at the Museum'' trilogy (2006–2014). He lent his voice to the animated films ''Aladdin'' (1992), ''Robots'' (2005), ''Happy Feet'' (2006) and its 2011 sequel.

During his career, he suffered substance abuse issues and instances of severe depression. Williams was found dead at his home in Paradise Cay, California, in August 2014, at age 63. His death was ruled a suicide. According to his widow, he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, and had been experiencing depression, anxiety and increasing paranoia. His autopsy found "diffuse Lewy body disease", and Lewy body dementia professionals said that his symptoms were consistent with dementia with Lewy bodies.