A man of many faces
Scene from Good Will Hunting
We loved Robin Williams. We loved him for the joy he brought to his work, the twinkle in his eye but equally for the villains he played, the disquieting evil in a familiar face. Such an accomplished actor, he won five Grammys, four Golden Globes, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, two Emmys, and an Oscar – not a bad tally for a stand-up comedian who burst onto the scene as Mork, a ridiculous alien. Here are some of the films we’ll best remember him for.
Dead Poets Society
Dead Poets Society
Playing the role of John Keating, an English teacher at a conservative private school, Williams delivered a stirring performance as he shared with his students his deep love of literature and poetry. When tragedy struck, Keating’s unconventional teaching methods were blamed but as the movie makes clear, he has already changed his students’ lives forever. Critics love to hate this film, but it won the hearts of an entire generation of young moviegoers and went on to rack up four Academy Awards nominations (including Best Actor for Williams). This week marks the film’s 25th anniversary Say with me now: “O captain, my captain, wherefore art thou…!”
Mrs.Doubtfire
In this 1993 comedy, Williams became for a brief while a modern family’s answer to Mary Poppins – if only he hadn’t set his fake breasts on fire. Pretending to be their housekeeper so he could spend time with his kids in the wake of a bitter divorce, Williams wrung tears and laughter out of his audience. Fans were looking forward to a promised sequel before his untimely death was announced.
Good Morning, Vietnam!
To read the title of this film, is to hear William’s voice booming out the words on radio. One of the most popular movies in his oeuvre earned him his first Oscar nomination and first Golden Globe. Again inspired by a true story, the film dramatized the wartime experience of Armed Forces Radio Service DJ Adrian Cronauer. The wonderful soundtrack went on to become one of the decade’s most popular. Critics hailed it as “one man’s tour de force.”
Aladdin
Though all you saw of him was a blue genie, Disney’s Aladdin cast Williams in one of his most memorable characters to date. Firing on all cylinders, singing and delivering some of his funniest dialogue, he was the heart of the film. Writing about it, one critic said: ‘From the speed and clarity of his rapid-fire shifts in characters to his bottomless reservoir of impersonations, Williams was the comedic equivalent of a five-octave singer.’
Good Will Hunting
As the therapist who helps Will Hunting (Matt Damon) move beyond his troubled past, Williams was once again the emotional heart of this film. His only Oscar winning performance, the movie also portrayed Williams at his most subtle and gentle, with many a quiet, memorable scene that no viewer will forget.