optimism , humor , and unconventional methods , feature Williams in what had become an all-to-familiar mawkish man-child role , and it was getting stale . One critic called such performances “ lame and embarrassing ” and “ missing the mark ” ( Iversen ). Although audiences will always revere Williams for his zany , off-the-wall improvisations , it seems , he could not escape the role he played in Mork and Mindy : an outsider who comes to a new place and learns how to feel . In his own way , he , like Viola Davis , celebrated what it means to live a life .
Works Cited
David , Jay . The Life and Humor of Robin Williams . New York : William Morrow , 1999 .
Dougan , Andy . Robin Williams . New York : Thunder ’ s Mouth Press , 1998 .
Gibson , Megan . “ Why Robin Williams Was a Millennial Hero .” Time 12 Aug . 2014 . Web . 22 July 2016 .
Itzkoff , Dave . “ Robin Williams , Oscar-Winning Comedian , Dies at 63 .” New York Times 11 Aug . 2014 . Web . 5 July 2016 .
Iversen , Kristin . “ Remembering Robin Williams : The Ultimate Film Dad Has Died .” Brooklyn Magazine 12 August 2014 . Web . 22 July 2016 .
Marshall , Garry . My Happy Days in Hollywood : A Memoir . New York : Crown , 2012 .
“ Viola Davis Oscars Acceptance Speech for ‘ Fences ’” ABC News . 26 February 2017 . Web . 13 June 2017 .
Weber , Bruce . “ Robin Williams , the Comic , Confronts Robin Williams , the Actor .” The New York Times 28 May 1989 . Web . 24 July 2016 .
Filmography Aladdin . Directed by John Musker and Ron Clements . 1992 . Disney . Dead Poets Society . Directed by Peter Weir . 1989 . Buena Vista . Good Will Hunting . Directed by Gus Van Sant . 1997 . Miramax . Hook . Directed by Steven Spielberg . 1991 . TriStar . Jack . Directed by Francis Ford Coppola . 1996 . Buena Vista .
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