Williams, Robin (1952– )

US actor and comedian. His rapid-fire, stream-of-consciousness delivery and hyperactive stage presence first came to attention in the television comedy series Mork and Mindy (1978–82). In films, he played a subversive disc jockey in Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), but has also excelled in straight dramatic performances, such as Dead Poets Society (1989) and Good Will Hunting (1998), for which he received an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Williams began his career as a stand-up comic in the late 1970s and still continues to deliver his free-association comic rants in live performances and television specials. His film debut in a leading role was in Robert Altman's Popeye (1980), a screen version of the popular cartoon series. Later films include The World According to Garp (1982), Moscow on the Hudson (1984), Seize the Day (1986), Cadillac Man and Awakenings (both 1990), The Fisher King (1991), Mrs Doubtfire (1993), Jakob the Liar (1999), Insomnia (2002), and One Hour Photo (2002). He also provided his voice for the animated features Aladdin (1993) and Robots (2005).