Remembering Robin Williams

The Life and Career of an Oscar Winner


Chicago native, comedian and Oscar-winning actor Robin Williams died at the age of 63. We take a look back at his life and career. Joining us to talk William’s impact is Lori Rackl, TV critic for the Chicago Sun-Times, comedian Aaron Freeman and comedian Pat McGann, who hosted the WTTW series The Chicago Stand-up Project.


Robin WilliamsRobin  Williams was born in Chicago and spent his early years in Lake Bluff and Lake Forest. He told interviewers the accent he used for "Mrs. Doubtfire was" inspired in part by North Shore matrons. While Chicago can't claim Williams as its own, he did have enormous impact on Chicago’s comics, particularly those on the improv scene. And Williams' prolific career included far more than comedy, including his Academy Award winning role as a psychiatrist in 1997's "Good Will Hunting".

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But his talent, success and fame did not protect him from pain and suffering. His personal assistant, who found his body yesterday, said Williams had been suffering from severe depression. Today the coroner revealed the details of Williams’ suicide. 

View a timeline of Williams' career.

 

--Timeline by Taurean Small

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