Robin Williams: Watch clips from some of his top movies
Actor, 63, died of apparent suicide, California police say
Iconic actor-comedian Robin Williams, found dead of an apparent suicide in California, leaves behind a decades-long career in which he portrayed a range of beloved characters both in dramatic and comedic roles. Here's a look at just a few of the 63-year-old Oscar winner's most memorable on-screen appearances.
Mork — Mork & Mindy (1978-1982)
Audiences first began paying attention to Williams when he won the role of Mork, a quirky alien from the planet Ork, in the series Mork & Mindy. The sitcom, a spin-off of Happy Days, allowed the then-unknown actor to flex his comedy chops for TV viewers.
Adrian Cronauer — Good Morning, Vietnam (1987)
Starring as a mouthy DJ for the Armed Forces Radio Service who draws the ire of military brass for the content of his broadcasts during the Vietnam War, Williams ultimately won a Golden Globe for his starring performance. He was also nominated for an Academy Award and BAFTA Award for best actor.
John Keating — Dead Poets Society (1989)
In one of his earliest dramatic roles, Williams inspired a generation of young writers at a stuffy Vermont boarding school as the non-conventional English teacher John Keating. The emotional climactic scene in which his students stand on their desks in a show of solidarity and support became an instant classic. The role earned Williams his second Oscar nomination.
The Genie — Aladdin (1992)
Williams delighted millions of children in the 1990s as the voice of the mischievous genie with a heart of gold in Disney's 1992 animated musical Aladdin.
On Monday, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences tweeted this tribute to Williams, which was retweeted more than 140,000 times:
Daniel Hillard / Mrs. Doubtfire — Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
In a comedic role that required him to don drag, Williams pulled double duty, playing a screw-up divorced father who disguises himself as a British female nanny in order to spend more time with his kids.
Dr. Sean Maguire — Good Will Hunting (1997)
Williams won best supporting actor at the 1998 Oscars for his portrayal as a college psychologist who mentors Matt Damon's Will Hunting, a brilliant M.I.T. janitor from South Boston with a gift for mathematics.
Dr. Hunter Adams — Patch Adams (1998)
In one of Williams' most iconic roles, he played Patch Adams, a medical student in the 1970s determined to shake up medical school who believes laughter and joy should be a part of the human healing process.
Seymour Parrish — One Hour Photo (2002)
In later years, Williams began taking on riskier roles and exploring darker characters such as the lonely photo lab technician Sy Parrish, who harbours a dangerous obsession with one of the families that drops off photos at his shop.