One of the most important things that got me through my transition into college was Robin Williams. I remember sitting under a blanket with my sister, watching "Mrs. Doubtfire" and laughing freely and constantly, in the last few days of summer. He was magical. You couldn’t even tell he was a he, of course. That was the best part. Through acting and sheer talent, through contagious humor, Robin Williams was able to create. He created a new person that was likable, mysterious and iconic.
Robin Williams was a talent that shined throughout decades. He started as a stand-up comic, became well-known from the sitcom "Mork and Mindy," and made his film debut in "Popeye." Through his vivacious personality and by bringing humor into everything he did, he made a name for himself.
"Mrs. Doubtfire" was just one of the films that established Williams as a favorite of mine. More importantly, though, was "Dead Poets Society." What is so special about his performance in this film was that it speaks to every student. Any person who is even remotely interested in learning can watch the film and finally understand the true meaning of education as well as passion. The film shines light on the importance of poetry and art, things that we stay alive for. Unlike so many actors, Williams channels a certain energy that is layered with both humor and melancholy to produce a final product of wisdom. The movie made me cry, simply because it told the story of how life is not worth living for if it isn’t lived passionately and for something you’re genuinely interested in. And as someone who was about to enter college, it set my priorities straight in terms of what it really meant to seize the day and seize the opportunity to learn with everything you have.
As the protagonist of the film, Robin Williams inspires a sense of firm motivation to pursue whatever you love with everything you have. Through taking on this role and perfecting it, he honors the use of language and emphasizes how it must be used. Few other actors, in my opinion, have ever made a character feel so alive, inspiring, and believable.
Next came "Good Will Hunting." A resounding chorus of “it’s not your fault,” a plea for help by a young man with incredible potential, an encouragement to chase the one you love before you lose her. It was special for me because Robin Williams created a character that was patient, willing to help another person selflessly and sincere. The below scene, in particular, puts into perspective the entirety of what a "life experience" is, and Williams calmly and wisely captures what it means to live and learn, including learn from your mistakes.
Finally, my favorite film was definitely "Patch Adams," and for a more personal reason. At this point in my life, as someone with the goal of having a career in medicine, the film provided me with a huge source of inspiration and clarified what the real motive for being a doctor should be. Williams really channels who he truly is through this character: He heals people through laughter–the best medicine. This speeches below 1. Kill me, but 2. Inspire me to no end, and kindle a desire within me to "always live in awe of the glorious mechanism of the human body. Let that be the focus of your study and not a quest for grades." Another absolute favorite quote of mine: "Let's fight one of the most terrible diseases of all: Indifference ... A doctor's mission should be not just to prevent death, but also to improve the quality of life. That's why, you treat a disease, you win, you lose. You treat a person, I guarantee you, you win, no matter what the outcome." The way he presents these lines, the passion and desperation, the selflessness, all make the film brilliant, and make him one of the greatest actors of all time.
As a side note because it didn’t define him, Robin Williams also suffered severe depression as well as anxiety caused by Parkinson’s disease, right until his death by suicide. This broke countless hearts across the entire world, but it revealed something about his acting that I think is very true for many people, including myself. It's not that he necessarily used his humor as a method of masking something more serious. Rather, he lived for making people laugh, and that was what made him truly happy, if only for a short moment. And in the end, that's what made his time here on Earth so spectacular. He taught lessons through laughter, gave people solace through his art form, a truly noble act for which will always be remembered.
