Robin McLaurin Williams (July 21, 1951 - August 11, 2014) was an American comedian and actor. Robin Williams was best known for his ability to portray a wide variety of characters and his improvisational skills in both his work as an actor and stand-up comedian and is regarded as one of the best comedians of all time. Robin Williams was born in Chicago, Illinois. Williams had said to have gotten his sense of humor early on in his life when he would try to make his mother laugh to gain her attention. When he went to high school Robin Williams became involved with the high school drama department where his fellow classmates would describe him as very funny. At the age of 16, Robin Williams and his family moved to Tiburon, California where he attended Redwood High School. When he graduated a few years later, he was voted as "Funniest" and "Most likely not to succeed" by his classmates. After high school, Robin Williams started studying political science at Claremont Men's College in Claremont, California but later dropped out to study theatre at the College of Marin in Kentfield, California. At this time, he was also cast as Fagin in the musical Oliver!. After College, Robin Williams was got a scholarship to the Private performing arts conservatory Juilliard School. In 1976, Robin Williams started his stand-up comedy career in San Fransisco where he gave his first performance at the Holy City Zoo. He later moved to Los Angeles where he performed at clubs like The Comedy Store where he was seen by TV producer George Schlatter. Schlatter helped Robin Williams get his first TV appearance in 1977 and a year later, Williams released his first stand-up special Off the Wall. After the success of his acting on the sitcom Mork & Mindy, he would release two more stand-up specials; An Evening with Robin Williams in 1983, and A Night at the Met in 1986. After his first three specials, Robin Williams starred in several successful movies such as Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), Jumanji (1995), and Good Will Hunting (1997). He released stand-up specials Robin Williams Live on Broadway in 2002 and his last special Weapons of Self Destruction in 2009. Robin Williams was nominated for four Academy Awards, winning Best Supporting Actor for Good Will Hunting, received two Primetime Emmy Awards, six Golden Globe Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and five Grammy Awards. On August 11, 2014, Robin Williams died by suicide at his home in Paradise Cay, California.

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