- Took full advantage of Janet Jackson's breast- baring controversy by tweaking his nipple at 2004 Oscars, and host Billy Crystal quipped, This is the reason for the five-second delay.
- Williams, the lead performer in a U.S. military show in Iraq, took the outdoor stage at Baghdad International Airport on Tuesday and delivered a barrage of raunchy comedy. (December 17, 2003)
- Williams has joined a campaign to try and grant controversial comedian Lenny Bruce a posthumous pardon for obscenity charges - Bruce was convicted after a six month trial on obscenity charges in 1964 after undercover police witnessed a performance at Cafe A Go Go in New York's Greenwich Village containing over 100 'obscene' words, and Williams joined Bruce's fans lobbying New York state Governor George Pataki to issue a legal pardon over the conviction. (May 30, 2003)
- Williams has ridiculed Michael Jackson's claims he was the victim of racism at the hands of record label Sony -- the comedian said, Michael Jackson's standing outside Sony with a sign claiming racism. I said, 'Honey, you gotta pick a race first. All of a sudden you're a black man, then you're Diana Ross, now you're Audrey Hepburn. Then he's got the little beard going on. He's like Lord Of The Rings, the entire cast. Michael's about to jump species. (March 1, 2003)
- Continuing to prove there's more to him than Mork, Williams is staying on the indie-film track after his villainous performances last year to star in dark comedy THE BIG WHITE, where he'll play an unusual holiday salesman who wants to plan a permanent road trip to a place in the sun in a bid to help his wife who suffers from get this psychosomatic Tourette's syndrome. (January 14, 2003)
- Williams has jetted off to Afghanistan to entertain troops serving in coalition operations against Al Qaeda and Taliban fighters. (October 18, 2002)
- Williams encountered a life imitating art scenario in his new movie ONE HOUR PHOTO where he plays a stalker - the actor himself was the victim of an obsessive fan once. (October 10, 2002)
- Was thrilled to be offered the plum role of the Joker in the 1989 film BATMAN. It was the role of a lifetime - every actor's dream. However, some days after verbally agreeing to do the part, Williams was told that Jack Nicholson would be cast instead. In an interview a few years later, Williams was still bitter about losing the role. He glumly stated, I think I was used for bait to get Nicholson.
- Was considered for the role of The Joker in BATMAN (1989)
- His trademark is wild improvised stream-of-consciousness comedy dialogue where he will do cultural references, impersionations and one liners with rapid switching.
- Studied acting briefly at Julliard under John Houseman. Houseman told him he was wasting his talent at Juilliard and he should strike out on his own and do stand-up comedy.
- Resides with his family in San Francisco's Seacliff neighborhood.
- Was set to play Drew Barrymore's father in the film HOME FRIES (1998) and had the role during production, but pulled out of the part days before his scenes were to be shot.
- (October 1997) Ranked #63 in Empire (UK) magazine's The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time list.
- (1997) Voted funniest man alive by Entertainment Weekly.
- Described as hairy by Hugh Grant on THE TONIGHT SHOW (06/95)
- When he auditioned for the role of Mork from Ork, he met Gary Marshall who told him to sit down. Robin immediately sat on his head on the chair. Gary Marshall immediately chose him saying that he was the only alien who auditioned.
- During the making of MORK AND MINDY, Williams departed from the scripts and ad libbed so many times and so well, that the producers stop trying to make him stick to the script and deliberately left gaps in the later scripts leaving only Mork can go off here in those places so Robin could improvise.
- Was considered for the role of the Riddler in BATMAN AND ROBIN (1995).
- In 1979, Robin released an album Reality...What a Concept on Casablanca Record and Film Works.
- Was set to appear on an episode of STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION as the time traveler Prof. Berlinghoff Rasmussen, but a schedule conflict forced him to drop out (the role eventually went to Matt Frewer). Robin was inspired to seek a Trek role by his friend Whoopi Goldberg, who made several ST:TNG appearances as the bartender Guinan.
- Is a fan of the sport of Rugby Union, and in particular New Zealand All Black star Jonah Lomu, who flew to San Francisco and gifted him with a signed All Black jersey. On a recent visit to New Zealand they were reunited on national TV, Williams humbly accepting another All Black jersey, except this time it had Jonah's number 11 on the back.
- Played soccer at Claremont Men's College
- (1998) Listed as one of Entertainment Weekly's 25 Best Actors
- He is a fan of the comedy series MONTY PYTHON'S FLYING CIRCUS (1969).
- Calls people Chief in almost every movie he does.
- In ALADDIN (1992) he worked for scale ($485 per day, Screen Actors Guild minimum), plus a painting by Pablo Picasso.
- Was considered for the role of The Joker in BATMAN (1989); he would later be considered for The Riddler as well.
- During PATCH ADAMS (1998) filming, he and the rest of the cast and crew worked closely with the Make A Wish Foundation to fulfill the fantasies of several children who were at the time undergoing cancer treatment. The children appeared with Williams in scenes at the pediatric ward.
- Francis Coppola gave him camping gear to spend the night in his backyard and ten dollars to spend at Toys R Us before shooting JACK (1996).
- He ad-libbed all of Adrian Cronauer, broadcasts in GOOD MORNING, VIETNAM (1987).
- He and Rosie O'Donnell were two of the celebrities who had asked for a role in HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE without pay. However they did not film any scenes for the movie.
- His last line in GOOD WILL HUNTING, That son of a bitch, he stole my line, was ad-libbed.
- In GOOD WILL HUNTING (1997) his character has a spiel on love/women and talks of one who could rescue you from the depths of hell. (WHAT DREAMS MAY COME (1998))
- In the scene on the park bench in GOOD WILL HUNTING, he gives an example of love that Will hasn't experienced as Going to hell and back for it. In his next movie, WHAT DREAMS MAY COME, he does just that for Annabella Sciorra, after she commits suicide.
- Mrs. Doubtfire's accent was inspired by Bill Forsyth, the Scottish director that Williams had just worked with on BEING HUMAN (1993).
- His portrayal of Adrian Cronauer has led to confusion as to the beliefs of the real Cronauer. Cronauer has said that the film is about 45 percent accurate, according to a biography on Robin Williams. Cronauer has said that the film misrepresented him to make him seem anti-war, when he was, in his one words, anti-stupidity. Furthermore, Cronauer has also said that if he'd done half the tings Williams did in the film, he would've been court marshaled and sent to Fort Leavenworth.
- The electric jacket he worn in TOYS (1992) was created by the Italian actor Giancarlo Giannini.
- The character Mrs. Doubtfire was first performed by him at a show Andy Kaufman did at Carnegie Hall. Williams pretended to be Kaufman's grandmother.
- The scene where Sean and Will are in his office, and Sean starts talking about his dead wife and her farting antics. These lines were adlibbed by Robin Williams. Which is probably why Matt Damon is laughing so hard. If you watch the scene carefully you can notice the camera shaking, probably due to the cameraman laughing as well.
- Universal Studios wanted to cast him instead of Charles Grodin in MIDNIGHT RUN (1988). Williams was eager to play the part, willing to do many screen tests. Director Martin Brest was so impressed with the way that Grodin and Robert De Niro worked together that he cast Grodin against the wishes of the studio.
- When Mrs. Doubtfire ('Williams, Robin') loses her teeth in the drink at the restaurant (MRS. DOUBTFIRE - 1993), she says Carpe Dentum... Seize the teeth, a reference to DEAD POETS SOCIETY (1989), which also starred Williams.
- His mother, Laurie Williams died September 08, 2001. Heart failure.
- Only days after actor Christopher Reeve was paralyzed from a fall off of a horse, Robin showed up at Reeve's UVA hospital room disguised as a doctor with a surgeon's mask on speaking a foreign language. He then suddenly removed the mask and Reeve started laughing.
- Nominated for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program at Emmy Awards for Robin Williams: Live on Broadway (2003)
- Nominated for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program at Emmy Awards for Robin Williams: Live on Broadway (2003)
- Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical at Golden Globe Awards for PATCH ADAMS (1999)
- Nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role at Academy Awards for GOOD WILL HUNTING (1998)
- Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture at Golden Globe Awards for GOOD WILL HUNTING (1998)
- Nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Cast at Screen Actors Guild Awards for GOOD WILL HUNTING (1998)
- Nominated for Best On-Screen Duo at MTV Movie Awards for THE BIRDCAGE (1997) - shared with Nathan Lane
- Nominated for Best Comedic Performance at MTV Movie Awards for THE BIRDCAGE (1997)
- Nominated for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program at Emmy Awards for Comic Relief VII (1996)
- Nominated for Best Male Performance at MTV Movie Awards for MRS. DOUBTFIRE (1994)
- Nominated for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series at Emmy Awards for Homicide: Life on the Street (1994)
- Nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role at Academy Awards for THE FISHER KING (1992)
- Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama at Golden Globe Awards for AWAKENINGS (1991)
- Nominated for Best Actor at BAFTA Awards for DEAD POETS SOCIETY (1990)
- Nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role at Academy Awards for DEAD POETS SOCIETY (1990)
- Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama at Golden Globe Awards for DEAD POETS SOCIETY (1990)
- Nominated for Best Actor at BAFTA Awards for GOOD MORNING, VIETNAM (1988)
- Nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role at Academy Awards for GOOD MORNING, VIETNAM (1988)
- Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical at Golden Globe Awards for MOSCOW ON THE HUDSON (1985)
- Nominated for Best TV Actor - Musical/Comedy at Golden Globe Awards for MORK & MINDY (1980)
- Nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series at Emmy Awards for Mork & Mindy (1979)
Quotes- "If you can remember the sixties, you weren't there."
- "Cocaine is God's way of telling you you are making too much money."
- "Ah, yes, divorce, from the Latin word meaning to rip out a man's genitals through his wallet."
- "You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it."
- "See, the problem is that God gives men a brain and a penis, and only enough blood to run one at a time."
- "Ballet: Men wearing pants so tight that you can tell what religion they are."
- "You can start any Monty Python routine and people finish it for you. Everyone knows it like shorthand."
- "When the media ask him a question, he answers, 'Can I use a lifeline?'" [on George W. Bush]"
Awards- 3 Grammys: one for the audio recording of JUMANJI; one for LIVE AT THE MET and one for the audio recording of GOOD MORNING, VIETNAM.
- Saturn Award: Best Actor, ONE HOUR PHOTO (2003)
- U.S. Comedy Arts Festival: AFI Star Award (2000)
- Blockbuster Entertainment Awards: Favorite Actor/Actress - Family, FLUBBER (1998)
- Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role, GOOD WILL HUNTING (1998)
- Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by a Cast, THE BIRDCAGE (1997)
- American Comedy Awards: Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role), MRS. DOUBTFIRE (1994)
- Golden Globe Awards: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical, MRS. DOUBTFIRE (1994)
- MTV Movie Awards: Best Comedic Performance, MRS. DOUBTFIRE (1994)
- People's Choice Awards: Favorite Comedy Motion Picture Actor (1994)
- ShoWest Convention: ShoWest Award - Male Star of the Year (1994)
- Golden Globe Awards: Special Award, ALADDIN (1993)
- MTV Movie Awards: Best Comedic Performance, ALADDIN (1993)
- Saturn Award: Best Supporting Actor, ALADDIN (1993)
- Golden Globe Awards: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical, THE FISHER KING (1992)
- National Board of Review: Special Award (1992)
- Women in Film Crystal Awards: Humanitarian Award (1991)
- American Comedy Awards: Funniest Male Performer in a TV Special (Leading or Supporting) Network, Cable or Syndication, COMIC RELIEF III (1990)
- National Board of Review: Best Actor, AWAKENINGS (1990)
- American Comedy Awards: Funniest Male Stand-Up Comic (1989)
- Hasty Pudding Theatricals: Man of the Year (1989)
- American Cinematheque Gala Tribute: American Cinematheque Award (1988)
- American Comedy Awards: Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role), GOOD MORNING, VIETNAM (1988)
- American Comedy Awards: Funniest Male Performer in a TV Special (Leading or Supporting) Network, Cable or Syndication, COMIC RELIEF '87 (1988)
- American Comedy Awards: Funniest Male Performer of the Year (1988)
- American Comedy Awards: Funniest Male Stand-Up Comic (1988)
- CableACE Awards: Performance in a Comedy Special, COMIC RELIEF '87 (1988)
- Golden Globe Awards: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical, GOOD MORNING, VIETNAM (1988)
- American Comedy Awards: Funniest Male Performer of the Year (1987)
- American Comedy Awards: Funniest Male Stand-Up Comic (1987)
- American Comedy Awards: Funniest Television Star in a Special - Male or Female, AN EVENING AT THE MET (1987)
- CableACE Awards: Performance in a Comedy Special, COMIC RELIEF (1987)
- Golden Globe Awards: Best TV Actor - Musical/Comedy, MORK & MINDY (1979)
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