Such opportunities arose with the roles of a therapist in the psychological drama Good Will Hunting (1997) and a man in heaven who attempts to save his wife from hell in the fantasy drama What Dreams May Come (1998). Although he was hailed 'the funniest person alive' by Entertainment Weekly in 1997, he wanted to do more serious work as an actor around this time. Doubtfire, which he also produced, earned him a third Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy he previously won for Good Morning, Vietnam and The Fisher King. Aladdin, in which he improvised 52 characters, was the highest-grossing film of the year. Doubtfire (1993), the adventure Jumanji (1995) and the comedy The Birdcage (1996). Many of his films during this period earned more than $100 million, including the fantasy Hook (1991), the animated musical Aladdin (1992), the comedy-drama Mrs. He also found greater commercial success in the 1990s. įurther critical praise followed with Williams's lead roles in Dead Poets Society (1989), Awakenings (1990) and The Fisher King (1991). He earned his first of three Academy Award for Best Actor nominations for playing disc jockey Adrian Cronauer in the war comedy Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), in which he improvised some of his scenes. He garnered two consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program for the television specials Carol, Carl, Whoopi and Robin (1987) and ABC Presents A Royal Gala (1988). Williams then took on more serious parts in the comedy-dramas The World According to Garp (film) (1982) and Moscow on the Hudson (1984).

By the early 1980s, Williams wanted to do mainstream acting, and made his film debut in a lead role in the musical comedy Popeye (1980), a critical failure that earned thrice its budget. Running for four seasons, the show was Williams's breakthrough and earned him his first Golden Globe Award and a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award. The guest role of an alien named Mork in an episode of the sitcom Happy Days in 1978 earned him positive reviews, and led to the spin-off Mork & Mindy, focusing on his character's experience on Earth. 'Til I Need Glasses? and the television shows The Richard Pryor Show and Laugh-In. Williams's career began in 1977 with minor roles in the film Can I Do It.

He is often regarded as one of the greatest comedians of all time. Known for his fast-paced, improvisational style and playing a wide variety of characters, he was described by Screen Actors Guild president Ken Howard as 'a performer of limitless versatility, equally adept at comedy and drama, whether scripted or improv'.

American actor and comedian Robin Williams (1951–2014) starred in films, television and video games throughout a career that spanned nearly four decades.

Another Year or Two by Robin Stephen