Robin Williams

Personal context

Summary

Robin Williams was an actor and comedian known for fast-paced improvisational comedy and for both comic and dramatic roles in Mork & Mindy, Dead Poets Society, Good Will Hunting, and other films. His work ranged from broad comedy to stories about personal struggle and human connection. He publicly supported Comic Relief’s work with homeless people, testified to Congress for legislation to help them, and contributed to Amnesty International’s human-rights benefit concerts. In a 1996 interview, he said he hoped The Birdcage would encourage greater acceptance of gay people and criticized anti-gay politics and anti-abortion rhetoric.