After hearing about Robin Williams’ untimely death, I haven’t posted anything about it on any of my social media accounts. I don’t want to be like every other person on my newsfeed that suddenly claims he was their favorite actor. I’m also still in shock about it, too.
Robin Williams was a staple in so many of the Young Folks’ childhoods. If there was a man who was rich in talent and heart, it was Robin Williams — he could portray any character he was given. People who met him have spoken about how kind a human being he was. I unfortunately never met him in person, but this is what I have to say about his life.
His movie Dead Poets Society taught me not to be lazy when I speak or write — I’m still working on it, Rob. He was not a celebrity but an actor who never stopped getting better at his craft. He was always open and blatantly honest about his life struggles, which showed us that he was human, just like all of us. He bridged a 16-year age gap between my sister and I as we bonded and recited Genie’s lines from Aladdin — memorized by heart. I didn’t know him personally, but that’s the most important thing he ever did for me.
My absolute favorite thing about him was the way his eyes lit up and conveyed so much emotion in every role he played. Even as Theodore Roosevelt in Night at the Museum. He never did anything half-way, committing in heart and soul to every project. He was able to make me laugh as tears streamed down my face at the same time.
He has set the bar so high for rising actors. He was from a time when success didn’t come from how good-looking you were but how hard you worked. This, in turn, has earned him so much respect and admiration.
So thank you Robin Williams — for always being you.
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