Editing Robin Williams (section)

=== 1982–1999: Film stardom and acclaim ===
Williams starred as the lead character in ''[[The World According to Garp (film)|The World According to Garp]]'' (1982), which he noted "may have lacked a certain madness onscreen, but it had a great core".<ref name=Zehme/> Critic [[Roger Ebert]] wrote of his performance, "Although Robin Williams plays Garp as a relatively plausible, sometimes ordinary person, the movie never seems bothered by the jarring contrast between his cheerful pluckiness and the anarchy around him."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-world-according-to-garp-1982|title= The World According to Garp|website= Roger Ebert|accessdate= February 3, 2024|archive-date= March 2, 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140302131647/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-world-according-to-garp-1982|url-status= live}}</ref> Williams continued with other smaller roles in less successful films, such as ''[[The Survivors (1983 film)|The Survivors]]'' (1983) and ''[[Club Paradise]]'' (1986), although he said these roles did not help advance his film career.<ref name=Zehme/>
[[File:Robin Williams and journalist fan (2105789673) (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|Williams and Yola Czaderska-Hayek at the [[62nd Academy Awards]] in 1990]]

In 1986, Williams co-hosted the [[58th Academy Awards]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=O'Connor |first1=John J |author-link=John J. O'Connor (journalist) |title=The Academy Awards Ceremony |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/03/26/movies/the-academy-awards-ceremony.html |access-date=August 12, 2014 |newspaper=The New York Times|date = March 26, 1986|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140812213954/http://www.nytimes.com/1986/03/26/movies/the-academy-awards-ceremony.html|archive-date = August 12, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> The following year, he appeared in a sketch comedy special ''[[Carol, Carl, Whoopi and Robin]]'' (1987), acting alongside [[Carol Burnett]], [[Carl Reiner]], and [[Whoopi Goldberg]]. Williams was also a regular guest on various talk shows, including ''[[The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson]]''<ref>{{YouTube|iqdSagycCWc|"Robin Williams on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show – 1991"}}</ref> and ''[[Late Night with David Letterman]]'', on which he appeared 50 times.<ref name=":0" /> Williams's first major break came from his starring role in director [[Barry Levinson]]'s ''[[Good Morning, Vietnam]]'' (1987), which earned Williams a nomination for the [[Academy Award for Best Actor]].<ref name="actors"/> The film is set in 1965 during the [[Vietnam War]], with Williams playing the role of [[Adrian Cronauer]], a radio [[shock jock]] who keeps troops entertained with comedy and sarcasm. Williams was allowed to play the role without a script, improvising most of his lines. Over the microphone, Williams created voice impressions of various people, including [[Walter Cronkite]], [[Gomer Pyle]], [[Elvis Presley]], [[Mr. Ed]], and [[Richard Nixon]].<ref name=Zehme>{{cite magazine | last = Zehme | first = Bill | author-link=Bill Zehme | magazine = [[Rolling Stone]] | pages = 29–32 | date = February 25, 1988 | access-date = August 18, 2014 | url = https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/features/robin-williams-the-rolling-stone-interview-19880225 | title = Robin Williams: The Rolling Stone Interview | archive-date = March 3, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180303110700/https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/features/robin-williams-the-rolling-stone-interview-19880225 | url-status = live }}</ref> "We just let the cameras roll," said producer Mark Johnson, and Williams "managed to create something new for every single take".<ref>{{Cite book|title = Inventing Vietnam: The War in Film and Television|publisher = Temple University Press|year = 1991|isbn = 978-0-87722-862-2|page = [https://archive.org/details/inventingvietnam0000unse/page/238 238]|series = Culture And The Moving Image: Vol 6|editor-last = Anderegg|editor-first = Michael|editor-link = Michael Murphy Andregg|location = Philadelphia|url = https://archive.org/details/inventingvietnam0000unse/page/238}}</ref>

Williams appeared opposite [[Steve Martin]] at [[Lincoln Center]] in an [[off-Broadway]] production of ''[[Waiting for Godot]]'' in 1988.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1298&dat=19881126&id=t_pNAAAAIBAJ&pg=4225,5378106|title=Still 'Waiting for Godot': Robin Williams, Steve Martin play it for laughs|last=Kuchwara|first=Michael|author-link=Michael Kuchwara|date=November 26, 1988|work=[[The Free Lance–Star]]|access-date=October 23, 2014|agency=[[Associated Press]]|archive-date=November 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112131226/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1298&dat=19881126&id=t_pNAAAAIBAJ&pg=4225%2C5378106|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Rich |first=Frank |author-link=Frank Rich |title=Review/Theater: 'Godot': The Timeless Relationship of 2 Interdependent Souls |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/07/theater/review-theater-godot-the-timeless-relationship-of-2-interdependent-souls.html |access-date=January 22, 2023 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=November 7, 1988 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525083332/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/07/theater/review-theater-godot-the-timeless-relationship-of-2-interdependent-souls.html |url-access=subscription |archive-date=May 25, 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Many of his subsequent roles were in comedies tinged with [[pathos]], such as ''[[Mrs. Doubtfire]]'' (1993) and ''[[Patch Adams (film)|Patch Adams]]'' (1998).<ref>{{cite news|last1=Monk|first1=Katherine|title=A clown and his demons: Robin Williams mixed zany comedy, sharp satire and pathos (with video)|url=https://vancouversun.com/entertainment/movie-guide/clown+demons+Robin+Williams+mixed+zany+comedy+sharp+satire+pathos/10110121/story.html|access-date=August 12, 2014|newspaper=The Vancouver Sun|date=August 12, 2014|archive-date=August 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814165134/http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/movie-guide/clown+demons+Robin+Williams+mixed+zany+comedy+sharp+satire+pathos/10110121/story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Looking over most of Williams's filmography, one writer was "struck by the breadth" and radical diversity of most of the roles Williams portrayed.<ref name="WP">{{cite news|last=Rosenberg|first=Alyssa|date=August 11, 2014|title=How Robin Williams helped us grow up|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/act-four/wp/2014/08/11/how-robin-williams-helped-us-grow-up/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029230238/http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/act-four/wp/2014/08/11/how-robin-williams-helped-us-grow-up/|archive-date=October 29, 2014}}</ref> In 1989, he played a private-school English teacher in ''[[Dead Poets Society]]'', which included a final, emotional scene that some critics said "inspired a generation" and became a part of pop culture.<ref>{{cite news|last=Goodman|first=Jessica|date=August 11, 2014|title=Robin Williams and the 'O Captain' Scene That Inspired a Generation|work=[[HuffPost]]|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/11/robin-williams-o-captain_n_5670177.html|url-status=live|access-date=October 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013195853/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/11/robin-williams-o-captain_n_5670177.html|archive-date=October 13, 2014}}</ref> Similarly, Williams's performance as a [[Psychotherapy|therapist]] in ''[[Good Will Hunting]]'' (1997) deeply affected even some real therapists.<ref>{{cite web|first=Ryan Thomas|last=Neale|date=August 12, 2014|title=Requiem for a Therapist: A Tribute to Robin Williams|work=[[HuffPost]]|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/ryan-thomas-neace-/requiem-for-a-therapist-a_b_5670467.html?page_version=legacy&view=print&comm_ref=false|url-status=live|access-date=October 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819102825/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ryan-thomas-neace-/requiem-for-a-therapist-a_b_5670467.html?page_version=legacy&view=print&comm_ref=false|archive-date=August 19, 2014}}</ref> In ''[[Awakenings]]'' (1990), he plays a doctor modeled after [[Oliver Sacks]], who wrote the book on which the film is based. Sacks later said the way the actor's mind worked was a "form of genius". In 1991, Williams played an adult [[Peter Pan]] in the film ''[[Hook (film)|Hook]]'', although he had said that he would have to lose 25 pounds for the role.<ref>''Rolling Stone'', February 21, 1991, p. 26.</ref> [[Terry Gilliam]], who directed Williams in two of his films, ''[[The Fisher King]]'' (1991) and ''[[The Adventures of Baron Munchausen]]'' (1988), said in 1992 that Williams had the ability to "go from manic to mad to tender and vulnerable{{nbsp}}... [Williams had] the most unique mind on the planet. There's nobody like him out there."<ref name="Grobel" />

[[File:Robin Williams 1.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.85|170px|Williams in Washington, D.C., in 1998]]
While Williams voiced characters in several animated films, his voice role as the [[Genie (Disney)|Genie]] in the animated musical ''[[Aladdin (1992 Disney film)|Aladdin]]'' (1992) was written for Williams. The film's directors said that they had taken a risk by writing the role.<ref>{{cite video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akOo9XqAyxE&t=2m24s| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/akOo9XqAyxE| archive-date=December 11, 2021 | url-status=live|via=YouTube|title=Turning Robin Williams into 'Aladdin's' Genie|publisher=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|date=August 15, 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref> At first, Williams refused the role because it was a [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]] movie and he did not want the studio profiting by selling merchandise based on the movie. Williams accepted the role with certain conditions: "I'm doing it basically because I want to be part of this animation tradition. I want something for my children. One deal is, I just don't want to sell anything—as in Burger King, as in toys, as in stuff."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/08/15/robin-williams-almost-didnt-make-aladdin-and-a-generation-of-children-are-grateful-that-he-did/|title=Robin Williams almost didn't make 'Aladdin,' and a generation of children is grateful that he did|last=McDonald|first=Soraya Nadia|author-link=Soraya Nadia McDonald|date=August 15, 2014|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=September 10, 2017|archive-date=December 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216091427/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/08/15/robin-williams-almost-didnt-make-aladdin-and-a-generation-of-children-are-grateful-that-he-did/|url-status=live}}</ref> Williams improvised much of his dialogue, recording approximately 30 hours of tape,<ref name="Kornbluth" /> and impersonated dozens of celebrities, including [[Ed Sullivan]], [[Jack Nicholson]], [[Robert De Niro]], [[Groucho Marx]], [[Rodney Dangerfield]], [[William F. Buckley Jr.]], [[Peter Lorre]], [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]], and [[Arsenio Hall]].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://insidemovies.ew.com/2014/08/12/robin-williams-aladdin-eric-goldberg/ |title=Robin Williams in 'Aladdin': Animator Eric Goldberg remembers drawing Genie |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |first=Jeff |last=Labrecque |date=August 12, 2014 |access-date=August 18, 2014 |archive-date=August 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140818091407/http://insidemovies.ew.com/2014/08/12/robin-williams-aladdin-eric-goldberg/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Williams's role in ''Aladdin'' became one of his most recognized and best-loved, and the film was the highest-grossing of 1992; it won numerous awards, including a [[50th Golden Globe Awards|Special Golden Globe Award for Vocal Work in a Motion Picture]] for Williams. His performance paved the way for other animated films to incorporate actors with more star power.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2011/10/how-celebrities-took-over-cartoon-voice-acting/247481/ |title=How Celebrities Took Over Cartoon Voice Acting |first=Scott |last=Meslow |date=October 28, 2011 |access-date=August 17, 2014 |magazine=[[The Atlantic]] |archive-date=July 31, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731120907/https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2011/10/how-celebrities-took-over-cartoon-voice-acting/247481/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Williams was named a [[Disney Legends|Disney Legend]] in 2009.<ref>{{cite news|title=2009 Disney Legends Award Recipients to Be Honored During D23 Expo in Anaheim|work=[[Reuters]]|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/2009/09/01/idUS158754+01-Sep-2009+PRN20090901|date=September 1, 2009|access-date=January 26, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214011248/https://www.reuters.com/article/2009/09/01/idUS158754+01-Sep-2009+PRN20090901|archive-date=December 14, 2013}}</ref>

Due to Disney breaking an agreement with Williams regarding the use of the Genie in the advertising for ''Aladdin'', he refused to sign for the direct-to-video sequel, ''[[The Return of Jafar]]'' (1994); the Genie was instead voiced by [[Dan Castellaneta]]. When [[Jeffrey Katzenberg]] was replaced by [[Joe Roth]] as Walt Disney Studios chairman, Roth organized a public apology to Williams.<ref>{{cite news|last=Welkos|first=Robert|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-10-24-ca-54095-story.html|title=Abracadabra: Disney, Robin Williams Quit Feud|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=October 24, 1994|access-date=July 12, 2017|archive-date=June 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170614154408/http://articles.latimes.com/1994-10-24/entertainment/ca-54095_1_robin-williams|url-status=live}}</ref> He would, in turn, reprise the role in the second sequel, ''[[Aladdin and the King of Thieves]]'' (1996).<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-09-27-ca-50412-story.html | title=Genie Grants Disney's Video Wish : Marketing: Robin Williams will reprise his 'Aladdin' role in 'King of Thieves,' continuing the emergence of direct-to-video projects as an industry gold mine. | last=Cerone | first=Daniel Howard | author-link=Daniel Cerone | newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] | date=September 27, 1995 | access-date=August 15, 2014 | archive-date=May 12, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512082228/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-09-27-ca-50412-story.html | url-status=live }}</ref> During this time, Williams lent his voice to ''[[FernGully: The Last Rainforest]]'' (1992). Other dramatic performances by Williams include ''[[Moscow on the Hudson]]'' (1984), ''[[What Dreams May Come (film)|What Dreams May Come]]'' (1998), and ''[[Bicentennial Man (film)|Bicentennial Man]]'' (1999).<ref name="allmovie_bio">{{cite web|last1=Brennan|first1=Sandra|title=Robin Williams|url=https://www.allmovie.com/artist/robin-williams-p116900|access-date=August 12, 2014|publisher=[[AllMovie]]|archive-date=February 20, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150220052914/http://www.allmovie.com/artist/robin-williams-p116900|url-status=live}}</ref> During the early 2000s, Williams demonstrated a new rank of his versatility by playing darker roles than he had in the previous decades. Williams appeared with fellow comedian, [[Billy Crystal]], in an unscripted cameo at the beginning of a 1997 episode of the third season of ''[[Friends]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Cook |first=Jon |title=Comedians Crystal and Williams in "Friends" episode |url=http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/Artists/W/Williams_Robin/1997/04/04/762654.html |website=canoe.ca |access-date=August 12, 2014 |date=April 4, 1997 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140812202812/http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/Artists/W/Williams_Robin/1997/04/04/762654.html |archive-date=August 12, 2014 |url-status=usurped}}</ref>

Williams's performances garnered various accolades, including an [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor]] for his performance in ''Good Will Hunting'';<ref name="actors" /> as well as two previous Academy Award nominations, for ''Dead Poets Society'', and as a troubled homeless man in ''The Fisher King'', respectively.<ref name="actors" /> Among the actors who helped Williams during his acting career, he credited Robert De Niro, from whom Williams learned the power of silence and economy of dialogue when acting. From [[Dustin Hoffman]], with whom Williams co-starred in ''Hook'', he learned to take on totally different character types, and to transform his characters by extreme preparation. [[Mike Medavoy]], producer of ''Hook'', told its director, [[Steven Spielberg]], that he intentionally teamed up Hoffman and Williams for the film because he knew they wanted to work together, and that Williams welcomed the opportunity of working with Spielberg.<ref>{{cite book|title = You're Only as Good as Your Next One: 100 Great Films, 100 Good Films, and 100 for Which I Should Be Shot|last = Medavoy|first = Mike|author-link = Mike Medavoy|publisher = Simon & Schuster (Altria)|year = 2002|isbn = 978-0-7434-0054-1|location = New York|page = [https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780743400541/page/n281 228]|others = Young, Josh (contributor)|url = https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780743400541|url-access = registration}}</ref> Having [[Woody Allen]], who directed him and Billy Crystal in ''[[Deconstructing Harry]]'' (1997), helped Williams. Allen knew that Crystal and Williams had often worked together on stage.<ref>{{cite book|title = Conversations with Woody Allen: His Films, the Movies, and Moviemaking|last = Lax|first = Eric|author-link = Eric Lax|publisher = [[Knopf Doubleday]]|location=New York City|year = 2007|isbn = 978-0375415333|page = [https://archive.org/details/conversationswit00laxe/page/52 52]|url = https://archive.org/details/conversationswit00laxe/page/52}}</ref>