Robin McLaurin Williams was born in Chicago, Illinois on July 21, 1951. He studied acting at the Juilliard School. He was an actor and comedian, who appeared in both television shows and feature films. His television shows included Mork and Mindy and The Crazy Ones. He starred in numerous films including Popeye, Good Morning, Vietnam, Dead Poets Society, The Fisher King, Awakenings, Aladdin, Mrs. Doubtfire, Patch Adams, Bicentennial Man, Insomnia, Night at the Museum, Lee Daniels' The Butler, Merry Friggin' Christmas, and Boulevard. He won an Oscar in 1998 for Good Will Hunting.

He also appeared in stand-up comedy specials like Robin Williams: An Evening at the Met and in an annual series of HBO telethons for Comic Relief, a charity organization that helps homeless people and others in need. In 2011, he made his acting debut on Broadway in Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo. He suffered from drug and alcohol addiction in the past and was currently battling severe depression. He died of a suspected suicide due to asphyxia on August 11, 2014 at the age of 63.

(Bowker Author Biography)