RIP Robin Williams

RIP Robin Williams

In case you did not hear, I regret to inform you that actor Robin Williams has passed away today. Evidently, Williams committed suicide earlier today and that his body was found around noon today. I for one am crushed by this news and I will miss Williams deeply. A one-of-a-kind talent has left the world today and it is devastating.

What I loved most about Williams is that he had so tremendous range as an actor. It was a range that nobody could impersonate, a special thing that nobody could replicate. He was so good at becoming anybody on a script page that it seems that his fans broke into two factions. There were fans who knew Williams from his more family-oriented films, like “Aladdin,” “Flubber” and “Hook.” Williams also had a dark side too and he become deranged and detached just as well as he could be bright and bubbly. Back in 1989, Tim Burton considered Robin Williams to play The Joker in his “Batman” movie. You better believe that Williams campaigned hard for the role, so much so that he was shockingly heartbroken when the role went to Jack Nicholson. Then, in 1995, Williams was considered for The Riddler for “Batman Forever,” a role which went to Jim Carrey. Personally, I would have killed to see a movie where Williams got to play The Riddler, and that it was a script that had an actual version of The Riddler and not some neon-green, screwball Joker clone (no offense, Jim). If you could not picture Robin Williams as The Joker or The Riddler, then I strongly suggest you check out both “Insomnia” and “One Hour Photo,” Williams possessed a power to be ultra-freaky on camera when he wanted to.

My love for Robin Williams started young and I am fairly certain that my first film with Williams that I saw was “Aladdin.” Even though that movie was animated and we never once saw Robin Williams’ face, there was something about his voice. I always felt Robin Williams had a distinct voice, something nobody could recreate. I grew up on films like “Flubber,” “Jumanji” and “Ms. Doubtfire.” I was drawn to him ever since. As I got older, I wondered about Robin Williams and how his career would shape. And I as I got older I grew to love his movies like “The Fisher King,” “Dead Poets Society,” “Good Morning, Vietnam” and “Father’s Day.” I have to say that my favorite film of his, as well as my favorite Williams’ performance was no doubt “Good Will Hunting.” In a film full of wonderful performances, I think it was Williams that stole the scene. Every. Single. Time. He sold his back-story and character arc with genuine ease and he was able to show both sides of his acting talent, there were several moments in that film where he is funny and others when he’s convincingly serious.

To say Robin Williams was a unique talent seems like it would take away what made him great in the first place. I am sorry to hear that he is no longer with us, and he will be greatly missed.