1Robin & Christopher: Lifelong Friendship
Robin Williams and Christopher Reeve, who were close friends and attended Juilliard together, shared a deep bond. Williams generously covered many of Reeve's medical expenses following his equestrian accident.
2. Just before Christopher Reeve's surgery to reattach his skull to his spine, Robin Williams, posing as a proctologist, burst into the room to give him a rectal exam. His entry lightened the mood, causing Reeve to laugh for the first time since the accident.
3. A significant portion of the radio broadcasts in the film 'Good Morning, Vietnam' were improvised by Robin Williams.
4. Robin Williams contributed 14 hours of improvised lines for his inaugural animated voice role in 'Ferngully: The Last Rainforest'. Originally slated for an 8-minute part, Williams' performance impressed the director, leading to a tripling of his screen time.
5. When Sharon Osbourne, who was battling cancer, was feeling despondent, Ozzy asked Robin Williams to visit her. Unexpectedly, Williams joined her in bed, instantly transforming tears into laughter among her family. Sharon's spirits lifted, prompting her to undergo chemotherapy the next day.
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6'Mrs. Doubtfire' Edits: Robin's Improv
During the filming of 'Mrs. Doubtfire' (1993), Robin Williams improvised so much that there were multiple edits of the film ranging from PG, PG-13, NC-17 to R.
7. While shooting 'Mrs. Doubtfire,' Robin Williams strolled through the streets of San Francisco in full Mrs. Doubtfire attire. On one occasion, he visited a sex shop to purchase a large dildo and other toys.
8. During the tea-serving scene in 'Mrs. Doubtfire,' the icing on the character's face began to melt unintentionally due to the heat from the set lights. Robin Williams, known for his improvisational skills, seized the moment and improvised the majority of that scene.
9. Robin Williams performed stand-up comedy at a Seattle nightclub in 2004, 2007, and 2008, donating all proceeds, which amounted to nearly $50,000, to a local food bank without publicizing his actions.
10. During Robin Williams' appearance on 'Inside the Actors Studio' in 2001, an audience member laughed so hard that they developed a hernia and had to be escorted away in an ambulance.
11Spielberg's Robin Williams Phone Calls
While filming "Schindler's List," Steven Spielberg would frequently put Robin Williams on speakerphone to lift the spirits of the cast and crew.
12. In order to persuade Robin Williams to voice the Genie in Aladdin (1992), Disney commissioned an animator to sketch and synchronize the Genie performing Williams' own stand-up comedy. Williams was so impressed by the demonstration that he immediately agreed to the role.
13. Robin Williams accepted the role of the Genie for SAG scale pay ($75,000) under the conditions that neither his name nor image be used for marketing and that the character not occupy more than 25 percent of space on advertising artwork. However, Disney failed to honor both agreements.
14. During his audition for the role of Mork, when asked to take a seat, Robin Williams promptly sat on his head on the chair. He was cast on the spot.
15. The scripts for 'Mork & Mindy' were notably shorter due to Robin Williams' penchant for improvisation. Certain sections were simply notated with "Robin will do something here."
16Robin's Multilingual Filming Antics
The production team for 'Mork and Mindy' had to employ a censor proficient in four languages to prevent Robin Williams from secretly slipping swear words in various languages into the show's filming.
17. According to reports, Robin Williams' suggestion led Sid Meier, the creator of games like Sid Meier's Civilization and Sid Meier's Pirates!, to start including his name in the titles of his games in the 1980s.
18. The actress who portrayed Robin Williams' teenage daughter in 'Mrs. Doubtfire' was expelled from school due to excessive absences during filming. Robin Williams penned a letter to the principal, respectfully pleading for reconsideration. Though unsuccessful in her reinstatement, the school did frame the letter.
19. Billy Crystal and Robin Williams made an impromptu cameo appearance on the show 'Friends.' They stumbled onto the set from a nearby set and improvised the opening scene for "The One With The Ultimate Fighting Champion."
20. Robin Williams was offered and agreed to play The Joker in the 1989 film "Batman." However, Warner Bros. extended the offer primarily to entice their first choice, Jack Nicholson, who eventually accepted. Williams demanded an apology from the studio because he felt tricked.
21Hagrid Hope: Robin's British Rule Obstacle
Robin Williams expressed interest in portraying Hagrid in the Harry Potter movies, but he was disqualified due to a British-only casting rule.
22. In 'Good Will Hunting,' Robin Williams improvised the final line as well as the scene where he discusses his wife farting in bed, resulting in Matt Damon's genuine laughter.
23. Robin Williams was considered for the lead role in "The Shining," but upon viewing 'Mork & Mindy,' Stanley Kubrick deemed him too psychotic for the part.
24. Prior to Norm MacDonald's debut appearance on the Tonight Show, Robin Williams surprised him in his dressing room. During the visit, Williams assumed various roles, including pretending to be a Jewish tailor and a Chinese restaurant employee, before helping dress Norm and departing.
25. In the 1990 movie "Awakenings," Robin Williams accidentally broke Robert De Niro's nose. However, De Niro took it in stride, as he had previously broken his nose during the filming of "Raging Bull," so breaking it again in the other direction straightened it out.
