On this day 10 years ago, August 11th, 2014, the world was shook by the untimely death & passing of one of the world's greatest entertainers, actors & comedians of our time, the legendary Robin Williams. There hasn't been a day that's gone by where no one has stopped to think about the tremendous impact the comedy icon has made not just in the world of comedy but entertainment & beyond. There's a very short list of entertainers who are held in the same highest regard like Williams is. He had an incredible gift of making comedy fans smile & laugh unbearable with his on the spot impressions, beyond compare acting chops & just brilliant storytelling.
Williams originally got his start on George Schlatter's Laugh-In in 1977 after having made his way around the Comedy Store in Los Angeles. That later brought him to his starring role on the hit ABC sitcom Mork & Mindy and quickly brought him to household acting status starring in the critically acclaimed & award-winning films Good Will Hunting, Dead Poet's Society, Mrs. Doubtfire, Aladdin, Jumanji, Night At The Museum, & the list goes on and on & on.
His legacy still holds so high & his brilliant performances still live on in our hearts. To honor the comedy legend on this day, we're looking back at 10 classic clips of Robin Williams' comedy & performances!
He Just Wants A Hug From Tina Turner
Robin Williams is seen performing here on George Schlatter's The New Laugh-In in 1978, who's swooning the music legend Tina Tuner & can't help but just ask her for a hug.
A Beautiful Ballet
Robin being the skilled dancer he is sometimes can't help but be mesmerized by his beautiful dance partners. In this classic clip from the first episode of The New Laugh-In in 1977, Robin hilariously lets his partner loose but walks away with something better than having two slippers on the feet in this ballet number.
Superman On Drugs
In this early stage stand-up comedy clip from The Great American Laugh Off in 1977, Williams gives a "suppression" on what it would be like if Clark Kent was on drugs. If you're on drugs watching this, rest assured you'll still be in on the bit.
Robin Williams & Frank Sinatra
While on The New Laugh-In, Williams had a rather standout encounter with the legendary singer & "chairman of the board" Mr. Frank Sinatra. Before it was cool to drop the mic, Robin dropped the log on the sketch series in the way only he could do best.
The Itch
In this this classic Laugh In sketch, Williams gives the ultimate sales pitch on what real men hate & what they really need. Take a look how he remedies "the itch" with his featured product "oven off."
Robin Williams Energy
While promoting his movie Good Morning, Vietnam (for which he would be Academy Award Nominated for Best Actor), Williams stopped by Robert Klein's talk show Robert Klein Time & gave true "Robin Williams energy." Of the many iconic late night television guest entrances, Williams stands out as one of the most memorable & a reminder for why he's one of the great entertainers of our time.
A Love Poem
From another set during Williams' time on The Great American Laugh Off, he gave his take on a love poem filled with red & blue.
Robin Williams on Whose Line Is It Anyway?
We all know what a gifted improviser Robin Williams was. Fans and colleagues would marvel at how quick his brain worked. So when a show like Whose Line is it Anyway? came along, Robin was destined to appear on it at some point. He did for one episode as a guest improviser, and he did what he did best: Take the ball, run, and make it all look so damn effortless.
Robin Williams Howard Storm Promo
When Robin Williams agreed to shoot a promo for frequent Mork and Mindy director Howard Storm, the assignment was simple. All he had to do was say the line “If Howard can direct me, he can direct anybody.” Instead, Robin spent 13 minutes doing everything but the line. Instead, he went on every tangent known to man, and displayed his comedic talents in a way that only he could for a very small audience. The result is nothing short of magical.
Robin & Conan
When Conan was leaving NBC - after NBC made the boneheaded decision to push Conan out of The Tonight Show in favor of Jay Leno -, he wanted to go out with a bang with the best guests he could get. Robin Williams was among the best. On his second to last show, Robin gifted Conan and us all with an improvised Irish ditty that sums up what everyone was all feeling about the Il-advised decision, before he and Conan do an Irish jig together. Pure gold.
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