Basic Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Robin McLaurin Williams |
| Born | July 21, 1951 — Chicago, Illinois, USA |
| Died | August 11, 2014 — Paradise Cay (Tiburon), California, USA |
| Age at Death | 63 |
| Occupations | Comedian, actor, voice actor, producer |
| Years Active | 1976–2014 |
| Education | Juilliard School (conservatory training), College of Marin |
| Breakthrough | Mork & Mindy (1978–1982) |
| Signature Works | Good Morning, Vietnam; Dead Poets Society; Aladdin; Mrs. Doubtfire; Good Will Hunting; The Fisher King; Jumanji; Awakenings |
| Major Honors | Academy Award (Best Supporting Actor, 1998); multiple Emmys, Golden Globes, and Grammys |
| Spouses | Valerie Velardi (m. 1978–1988); Marsha Garces (m. 1989–2010); Susan Schneider (m. 2011–2014) |
| Children | Zachary “Zak” Pym Williams (b. 1983); Zelda Rae Williams (b. 1989); Cody Alan Williams (b. 1991) |
Early Life and Formation
Robin Williams was born in Chicago in 1951 and raised between the Midwest and the Bay Area, a child of a Ford executive father and a model-turned-socialite mother who encouraged his early gift for mimicry. He moved through schools and neighborhoods like a quick-change artist, trying on voices and characters to fit in, honing an ability that would later electrify the stage. Training at Juilliard sharpened the raw talent; he studied drama intensively, found a lifelong friend in Christopher Reeve, and discovered that timing, empathy, and fearlessness could move an audience from tears to laughter in a heartbeat. He left the conservatory to chase performance full time, landing in the crucible of 1970s stand-up, where the mic became both sword and conductor’s baton.
Rise to Stardom: TV and Stand-up
Williams exploded into public consciousness as Mork from Ork, a galactic innocent who arrived on television just as America craved a dose of quirky wonder. Mork & Mindy (1978–1982) turned his jet-fueled improvisation into appointment viewing. Offscreen, he prowled clubs in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York, moving at breakneck speed—riffing, dancing, inhabiting personas as if his brain were an open radio dial. The stand-up specials became cultural markers, and his live shows were kinetic collages: a comedian as jazz soloist, sprinting from political satire to slapstick to piercing observations about loneliness and love.
Film Career and Accolades
Hollywood soon discovered that Williams’s comedic velocity concealed a deep reservoir of pathos. In Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), his DJ patter rattled like machine-gun humor while grief and war’s absurdity simmered beneath the surface. Dead Poets Society (1989) revealed his gift for quiet inspiration; he invited a generation to stand on desks and seize the day. As the Genie in Aladdin (1992), he pioneered a new kind of animated voice performance, anarchic and tender in equal measure. Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) made him a family-film legend—elastic, loving, and hilariously human. Good Will Hunting (1997) brought the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, a triumph of restraint and emotional intelligence in a role that still resonates with anyone who has faced grief and found the courage to care again.
His range stretched further than labels suggested: The Fisher King, Awakenings, Insomnia, and One Hour Photo showed a dramatic actor of remarkable control, capable of menace, sorrow, and grace. He didn’t so much cross genres as ignore their borders.
Personal Life and Family
Behind the floodlights, Williams built a family in three chapters. He married Valerie Velardi in 1978, and together they welcomed Zachary “Zak” Williams in 1983. After their divorce in 1988, he married Marsha Garces in 1989; they had two children—Zelda (1989) and Cody (1991)—and partnered professionally on film projects. The marriage ended in 2010. In 2011, he married Susan Schneider, a visual designer and artist, who became his companion in quieter, later-career years.
His children have honored his legacy in diverse ways—Zak through mental health advocacy and entrepreneurship, Zelda through acting and directing, and Cody through creative work behind the scenes. Family, for Williams, was both anchor and compass. He frequently described fatherhood as the role that taught him patience and humility, two qualities not easily found under klieg lights.
Health, Final Years, and Legacy
When Did Robin Williams Die? He died on August 11, 2014, at age 63, at his home in Paradise Cay, California. In the months before his death, he experienced a bewildering cascade of symptoms: anxiety, sleep disturbances, cognitive fog, and subtle movement changes. He had been given a Parkinson’s diagnosis shortly before he died, but a subsequent autopsy revealed diffuse Lewy body disease, a complex neurodegenerative disorder that can affect mood, cognition, sleep, and motor function. The discovery helped explain the storm he was sailing through—a storm largely invisible to those outside his closest circle.
In the aftermath, his family and colleagues channeled grief into action, raising awareness about Lewy body dementia and mental health. Williams’s legacy extends far beyond marquee titles and trophies. He uplifted charities, performed for troops, and co-led Comic Relief fundraisers that directed millions to those in need. On screen he leaves a gallery of indelible characters; off screen he leaves a template for how fame can be used to brighten the dark corners of the world.
Family Members at a Glance
| Name | Relationship | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Valerie Velardi | First wife | Married 1978–1988 |
| Marsha Garces | Second wife | Married 1989–2010 |
| Susan Schneider Williams | Third wife | Married 2011–2014 |
| Zachary “Zak” Williams | Son (with Velardi) | Born 1983 |
| Zelda Rae Williams | Daughter (with Garces) | Born 1989 |
| Cody Alan Williams | Son (with Garces) | Born 1991 |
Selected Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1951 | Born in Chicago, Illinois |
| Early 1970s | Studies at the Juilliard School; develops stagecraft and dramatic range |
| 1976 | Begins professional stand-up; builds a reputation on the West Coast circuit |
| 1978–1982 | Stars in Mork & Mindy; becomes a household name |
| 1987 | Good Morning, Vietnam marks a major film breakthrough |
| 1989 | Dead Poets Society cements his dramatic bona fides |
| 1992 | Voices the Genie in Aladdin, redefining animated performance |
| 1993 | Mrs. Doubtfire becomes a global hit |
| 1998 | Wins the Academy Award for Good Will Hunting |
| 2011 | Marries Susan Schneider |
| 2014 | Dies on August 11 at age 63; autopsy later identifies diffuse Lewy body disease |
The Craft: Style, Method, and Impact
Williams’s improvisational style worked like controlled lightning—dangerous in the wrong hands, dazzling in his. He drew from years of stage work where audience energy taught him to bob and weave, turning crowd noise into narrative cues. When a role demanded quiet, he turned that energy inward, finding the tiniest tremors of human feeling and amplifying them with precision. It’s why his dramatic performances feel so honest: they were powered by the same empathy that made his comedy humane.
He understood timing as music. Silence was not emptiness to him; it was a rest between notes. The Genie’s antic wordplay, John Keating’s whispers, Sean Maguire’s long pauses—each choice landed because he knew when to sprint and when to stand still. That versatility made him a rare bridge: the comedian who could break your heart; the dramatic actor who could disarm you with one perfectly timed shrug.
Philanthropy and Public Service
For decades, Williams lent his voice, time, and presence to causes ranging from homelessness to pediatric health to disaster relief. Comic Relief, the annual charity collaboration he shared with Whoopi Goldberg and Billy Crystal, channeled laughter into tangible support for people without housing. He made unheralded hospital visits, performed for service members, and treated public benefit work as part of the job description of fame. The result is a legacy that can be measured not only in box office figures and awards but also in the quieter math of lives brightened at their most difficult hours.
FAQ
When Did Robin Williams Die?
He died on August 11, 2014, at age 63, at his home in Paradise Cay, California.
What was the cause of death?
His death was ruled a suicide; an autopsy later identified diffuse Lewy body disease, a neurodegenerative disorder that likely contributed to his symptoms.
How many children did he have?
He had three children: Zak (born 1983), Zelda (born 1989), and Cody (born 1991).
Who were his spouses?
He was married to Valerie Velardi (1978–1988), Marsha Garces (1989–2010), and Susan Schneider (2011–2014).
What awards did he win?
He won an Academy Award for Good Will Hunting and multiple Emmys, Golden Globes, and Grammys.
What were his most famous roles?
Highlights include Mork & Mindy, Good Morning, Vietnam, Dead Poets Society, Aladdin, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Good Will Hunting.
Where was he born?
He was born in Chicago, Illinois.
What illness was discovered after his death?
Diffuse Lewy body disease was identified, explaining many of the cognitive and mood symptoms he experienced.
