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An early friend - Robin Williams studied acting at the Juilliard School in New York in the early '70s, where he met soon-to-be 'Superman' actor Christopher Reeve. On the surface, they didn't have much in common, since Williams was from a West Coast junior college and Reeve was Ivy League. "He used to be the studly studly of all studlies, and I was the little fool ferret boy," Williams said in a 2006 interview. Nonetheless, they formed a life-long bond and were even roommates.

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A very normal start -

Williams landed his first acting role in the revival of sketch comedy show 'Laugh-In' in 1977. Then he enjoyed much greater success as Mork in the sitcom 'Mork and Mindy' from 1978 to 1982.

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His first wife and child -

Williams's first wife was actress Valerie Velardi, whom he married in 1978 and had his first child with (little Zachary Pym Williams got to call Christopher Reeve his godfather, naturally). The couple worked together on the film 'Popeye' in 1980, but ended up divorcing in 1988.

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'Good Morning, Vietnam' (1987) -

After establishing himself in standup and starring in less financially successful films, Williams landed his breakthrough film role portraying Adrian Cronauer in 'Good Morning, Vietnam.' The role earned him his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.

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His second marriage -

A year after divorcing Velardi, in 1989, he married film producer Marsha Garces, with whom he had his first daughter, Zelda, and his second son, Cody. The pair stayed together until 2010.

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'Dead Poets Society' (1989) -

For his legendary role as an unorthodox English teacher at an elite conservative boarding school, Williams received yet another Oscar nomination for Best Actor. Watching him inspire his students through poetry also showed us Williams could pull heartstrings like no other.

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'Awakenings' (1990) -

Williams played Dr. Malcolm Sayer, a fictional character based on real-life neurologist Oliver Sacks, who first discovered beneficial effects of the drug L-Dopa after administering it to catatonic patients. Williams co-stars with Robert De Niro, who portrays one of the patients awakened by Dr. Sayer.

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'The Fisher King' (1991) -

Williams was nominated a third time for the Best Actor Oscar for his role in this comedy-drama, which follows a radio shock jock who tries to find redemption by helping a man whose life he accidentally shattered.

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'Hook' (1991) -

Williams began the notably kid-friendly leg of his career in the role of a grown-up Peter Pan in Steven Spielberg's take on the childhood classic.

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'Aladdin' (1992) -

Williams lent his distinctive voice to the iconic Genie character in the beloved Disney classic. His impression on the character was so strong that years later people still said Will Smith's performance in the live-action version paled in comparison.

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'Mrs. Doubtfire' (1993) -

Williams transforms into a Scottish nanny in this film adaptation of Anne Fine's novel, which is to this day still held close to audiences' hearts.

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'Jumanji' (1995) -

Another childhood classic, this time Williams took on the role of Alan Parrish, a man trapped in a magical board game who is freed by two young children.

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The best friend a guy could have -

In 1995, Christopher Reeve was thrown from his horse and woke up paralyzed from the neck down. It was a terribly traumatic event, but Reeve recalled lying in the hospital bed when a visitor in a surgical gown and scrub hat entered the room speaking in a Russian accent and saying he was a proctologist there to perform an examination…

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The best friend a guy could have -

When Reeve realized it was Williams reprising his character from the movie 'Nine Months,' he laughed for the first time since the accident. Having been in a state of depression and uncertainty, Reeve later explained to Barbara Walters, "I knew then: if I could laugh, I could live." Williams continued to support his friend for years.

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'The Birdcage' (1996) -

Robin Williams and Nathan Lane made such a legendary comedic team in this film as a gay couple whose son intends to marry into a conservative, right-wing family.

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'Good Will Hunting' (1997) -

Though he was beloved for his comedy, it was this dramatic role alongside Matt Damon that won Williams his first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. It became a cult favorite when it was revealed that Williams improvised some of the most famous lines from the film, including the bit about his wife farting.

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'Flubber' (1997) -

Even when Williams wasn't making critically acclaimed work, he was still making his way into the laughter-filled living rooms of families. This comedy is an example of that. He plays a professor who accidentally discovers a super bouncy rubber-like substance that helps objects jump higher.

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'Patch Adams' (1998) -

Based on the real-life story of American physician Dr. Hunter "Patch" Adams, who changed the way doctors think and treat their patients using humor and pathos, Williams was a perfect choice for the lead role.

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'Bicentennial Man' (1999) -

Williams took on a very different role in this film as a working robot named Andrew who starts to experience emotions and wants to become human.

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'Whose Line Is It Anyway?' (Season 3, Episode 9) -

Though he only appeared for one episode, Williams quickly became one of the show's most legendary guests with his incredibly hilarious improvisations and one-liners.

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'Robin Williams: Live on Broadway' (2002) -

In his Broadway standup special, Williams cracked audiences up night after night with his bits, including his famous Scottish-accented interpretation about how the sport of golf came to be, forever making it seem ridiculous.

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Christopher Reeve's 2004 death was a blow -

In 2004, Reeve died after suffering a heart attack. In a statement, Williams said, "The world has lost a tremendous activist and artist and an inspiration for people worldwide. I have lost a great friend." At a 2017 gala for the Reeve Foundation, Glenn Close, who worked with both actors, tearfully remembered: "Their friendship, their connection, is the stuff of legend. It not only endured, but became a life-giving force sustaining them both."

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Cecil B. DeMille Award (2005) -

Accepting the Golden Globes' highest honor for his lifetime achievement, Williams put his arsenal of accents to use for the Hollywood Foreign Press in the most entertaining acceptance speech the awards show had ever seen. He also dedicated the award to his late friend, Christopher Reeve.

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'Night at the Museum' (2006) -

Williams played Theodore Roosevelt, or a replica that had come to life of the former US President, in this film starring Ben Stiller. He reprised the role two more times.

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His third marriage -

In 2007, Williams met American academic Susan Schneider in an Apple store. Schneider told The Guardian that she noticed him and smiled, and he smiled back, so she went up to say hi. "He was wearing camouflage print so I said: 'How's that camo working out for you?' And he said: 'Not too good–you found me.'" Four years later, in 2011, the pair were married.

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Less successful roles, numerous appearances -

Over his later years, Williams starred in comedy films like 'RV' (2006), 'License to Wed' (2007), 'Old Dogs' (2009), 'The Big Wedding' (2013), 'The Angriest Man in Brooklyn' (2014), as well as a few more dramas, including 'Boulevard' (2014). He also starred in the sitcom 'The Crazy Ones' (2013-2014) alongside Sarah Michelle Gellar, along with making various appearances on other shows.

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His Broadway debut -

Williams made his Broadway acting debut in the title role of Rajiv Joseph's 'Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo,' a Pulitzer Prize finalist, in 2011.

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An all too abrupt end -

For years, Williams struggled out of the public eye. From depression and anxiety, to alcoholism, to missing the one person he'd always been able to confide in, the beloved actor was struggling. It was even later revealed he had been suffering from undiagnosed Lewy body dementia. Williams died by taking his own life on August 11, 2014.

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A wake-up call -

Williams seemed to be the image of health and happiness, but his death proved that you never know what someone is struggling with even if they're making you laugh. Williams continues to serve us with his humor, grace, and silent strength all these years later. 

Sources: (Biography) (E! News) (The Guardian)

See also: Celebs who kept their serious illnesses a secret 

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