Biography: Robin McLaurin Williams was born on July 21, 1951 in Chicago, Illinois to Robert Fitzgerald Williams and Laurie McLaurin. He studied acting at the Juilliard School. He began his career as a stand-up comedian in San Francisco in the mid-1970s. He married Valerie Velardi, with whom he had his son, Zak Williams. He then married Marsha Garces Williams, with whom he had two children: Zelda Williams and Cody Alan Williams . His third wife was Susan Schneider, who survived him.

Film/TV Credits: Film credits include: "Good Will Hunting," "Dead Poets Society," "Aladdin," "August Rush," "Hook," "Jumanji," "A.I. Artificial Intelligence," "Lee Daniels' The Butler," "Insomnia," "Mrs. Doubtfire," "Awakenings," "Night at the Museum" and "The Birdcage." Television credits include: "Friends," "Saturday Night Live," "Happy Days," "Louie," "The Daily Show," "Mork & Mindy," "Wilfred," "Eight is Enough," and "Great Performances."

Other Awards: Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for "Good Will Hunting" in 1998. Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program for "Carol, Carl, Whoopi and Robin" in 1987. Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program for "ABC Presents: A Royal Gala" in 1988. Received a star on the Walk of Fame in 1990.

Trivia:
He founded Comic Relief USA, an annual HBO television benefit devoted to the homeless, with Whoopi Goldberg and Billy Crystal in 1986.
The marquees of Broadway theaters were dimmed in his honor on August 13, 2014.