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Good Bye Mr. Williams
Aug. 11th, 2014 09:23 pmI was a bit surprised to read online that Robin Williams had died at the age of 63. Despite being so incredibly funny and energetic, he's had many personal problems, including depression and substance abuse. His death is suspected to be a suicide.
I basically grew up watching Robin Williams on TV. "Happy Days" was a staple in my house growing up where he first appeared as "Mork from Ork," which was quickly followed by "Mork and Mindy." As a kid, it wasn't unusual to try sitting on your head or spew out a "Shazbot" or two. In those formative years when my eye was being drawn to the hairy chest of Tom Selleck, the fur of Robin Williams did not go unnoticed.
While I always enjoyed seeing him shirtless (and occasionally naked) on film, it really was his talent that I loved. I have always been a big fan. When he did stand-up, he was phenomenal; when he was acting, he was amazing. Whenever "The Birdcage" is on, I invariably stop to watch it.
I think the greatest appeal of Robin Williams was his ability to make you connect with him. When he was happy, you were happy. When he was sad, you just wanted to hug him. To this day, when I watch "The Fisher King," I just want to take Parry (his character) home and make everything okay for him. That Oscar win for "Good Will Hunting" was well-deserved.
One of my favorite stand-up performances was at an anniversary for "The Comedy Store" that I had taped on TV over 20 years ago. He was all over the place, seemingly totally unscripted, playing off the audience is wild ways. One of my favorite lines was when he was dealing with a heckler of sorts. The guy said he was incognito.
"You're not incognito anymore," Williams replied, "You're not even in Kansas anymore, Dorothy! No, you're not, you're on Hollywood Boulevard. Hookers, transvestites, and pimps! Oh my!!"
The latter part of that was done with him skipping across the stage.![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
aceofspace and I still quote that last line to each other on occasion.
I'm sad that he's gone. It just felt like his talent was endless and to think that there will be no more is disappointing.
I basically grew up watching Robin Williams on TV. "Happy Days" was a staple in my house growing up where he first appeared as "Mork from Ork," which was quickly followed by "Mork and Mindy." As a kid, it wasn't unusual to try sitting on your head or spew out a "Shazbot" or two. In those formative years when my eye was being drawn to the hairy chest of Tom Selleck, the fur of Robin Williams did not go unnoticed.While I always enjoyed seeing him shirtless (and occasionally naked) on film, it really was his talent that I loved. I have always been a big fan. When he did stand-up, he was phenomenal; when he was acting, he was amazing. Whenever "The Birdcage" is on, I invariably stop to watch it.I think the greatest appeal of Robin Williams was his ability to make you connect with him. When he was happy, you were happy. When he was sad, you just wanted to hug him. To this day, when I watch "The Fisher King," I just want to take Parry (his character) home and make everything okay for him. That Oscar win for "Good Will Hunting" was well-deserved.
One of my favorite stand-up performances was at an anniversary for "The Comedy Store" that I had taped on TV over 20 years ago. He was all over the place, seemingly totally unscripted, playing off the audience is wild ways. One of my favorite lines was when he was dealing with a heckler of sorts. The guy said he was incognito.
"You're not incognito anymore," Williams replied, "You're not even in Kansas anymore, Dorothy! No, you're not, you're on Hollywood Boulevard. Hookers, transvestites, and pimps! Oh my!!"
The latter part of that was done with him skipping across the stage.
aceofspace and I still quote that last line to each other on occasion.I'm sad that he's gone. It just felt like his talent was endless and to think that there will be no more is disappointing.
