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Robin Williams was a struggling human being throughout his life, despite bringing laughter to his audience. His cocaine addiction in the 1970s and ‘80s, along with his recurring alcoholism, took a toll on his mind and body. TheJumanjiactor also battled depression and anxiety. In 2014, Williams tragically ended his own life, shocking many of his fans and co-stars. Williams hid his personal troubles from colleagues, using humor as a shield and making them laugh on set.
Several actors have shared their pleasant experiences working with Robin Williams on set. According to them, theFlubberactor never missed a chance to turn into a stand-up comedian for his co-stars. They also added that he remained highly professional when the camera was rolling.
Also Read:3 Movies Robin Williams Turned Down and 3 Times The Oscar Winner Did Not Get the Role He Wanted
Robin Williams Made His Co-Stars Happy Despite His State of Mind
Robin Williams’ co-star fromGood Will Hunting,Matt Damon, shared during an appearance onFirst We Feastthat theInsomniaactor was one of the greatest comedians in the world. According to Damon, Williams got a kick out of entertaining people and would put on an impromptu stand-up act to energize his co-stars. TheJason Bourneactor further added that despite his star status, theMan of the Yearactor extended his love and attention to his co-stars. Damon shared withFirst We Feast:
“Robin made everybody laugh. I mean, uncontrollably. And when he would see people’s energy flagging, he would just launch into, like, ten minutes of stand-up. He was the biggest comedian in the world and actor in the world. And that level of, like, I don’t know, leadership, kind of like and attention and love coming from him was just like everybody was ready to work for another 12 hours.”
Ethan Hawkeworked withThe Final Cutactor in the critically acclaimed filmDead Poets Society. Williams played a teacher who inspired his students and Hawke played one of his students. TheBefore Sunriseactor described Williams as“very relaxed and very inventive”during an appearance onThe Graham Norton Show. Hawke shared:
“Incredibly funny… And he was very relaxed and very inventive, and he would just improve constantly all day long. And the more the crew laughed, the more encouraged he was.”
However, Williams did not let the joking around on set affect his acting. According toRobert De Niro,The Survivorsactor was very serious and concentrated about his roles. De Niro, who worked with him onAwakenings,shared:
“I mean, he likes to concentrate too. He’s very serious about what he does, but at the same time, he’ll joke around between takes. Because in movies, there’s a lot of waiting. And he’s amazing, really funny.”
HisJumanjico-star David Alan Grier mentioned that he worked 12-15 hours a day and was never in a bad mood.Hugh Grant, who acted alongside Williams inNine Months, found it challenging to deliver his lines with theJackactor around.
Also Read:“Know anybody with any blow?”: Robin Williams’ Drug Addiction Was So Severe His Own Friends Called Him a ‘Monster’
Another Actor Had More Insights Into Robin Williams’ Troubles
Actor Matthew Lawrence acted alongside Robin Williams inMrs. Doubtfireas a child actor. Sharing a different perspective, Lawrence revealed that, as a child, he often invaded Williams’ personal space by peeking into his trailer. While admitting that theLaw & Order: SVUactor was highly energetic on set, Lawrence shared that the actor would be sitting in his trailer with his hands on his head, visibly depressed.
Williams opened up about some of his personal struggles to the young Lawrence. He firmly believed that the drugs he had taken during his earlier years had messed up his brain. Lawrence recalled their conversation on theBrotherly Love Podcast:
“And then I’d open the door, and this is what I’d get. [imitiates sitting sadly with hands on the head] It was so painful for him. Just to sit there and have quiet. So he explained to me what was going on, ‘I don’t care what doctors say. I know what it did to my brain, Matt. There were 5 years there where I lived on cocaine. After those 5 years of cocaine, even though I got off and I got clean, it chemically changed my brain and now I have to deal with this sh*t.’”
Williams put an end to his cocaine addiction after his friend andSNLstar John Belushi overdosed the day after they partied together. Williams went through a phase of depression after Belushi’s death, after which he never touched cocaine again.
Also Read:“I replied before the deadline”: Robin Williams Felt He Was ‘Screwed’ By Major Studio For Iconic DC Role Before His Feud With Disney Over Aladdin
Robin Williams will always be remembered for his contributions to comedy and Hollywood. He’s a recipient of the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role inGood Will Hunting.
Hashim Asraff
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3019
Hashim Asraff is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, with over 2,800 articles published on celebrity culture, comic book movies, and major TV franchises. With a background in Sociology and a keen interest in pop culture, Hashim brings a unique lens to breaking news stories, character deep-dives, film rankings, and fan-driven perspectives.His coverage often includes the MCU, DCU, hit network shows, and celebrity profiles, giving readers a rich blend of entertainment and analysis. A longtime fan of crime and investigative series, Hashim has watched thousands of episodes of NCIS, Criminal Minds, Law & Order: SVU, Bones, Blue Bloods, and The RookieA passionate storyteller and wordsmith, Hashim has also worked as a ghostwriter and managed multiple social media handles. He brought his writing expertise to FandomWire to also pursue his lifelong love for cinema and television.
