Robin Williams Dies

Robin McLaurin Williams (July 21, 1951 – August 11, 2014) was an American actor and stand-uyp comedian. Rising to fame with his role as the alien Mork in the TV series Mork & Mindy (1978–1982), Williams went on to establish a successful career in both stand-up comedy and feature film acting. His film career included such acclaimed films as  The World According to Garp (1982), Good Morning Vietnam (1987), Dead Poets Society (1989), Awakenings (1990), The Fisher King (1991), and Good Will Hunting (1997), as well as financial successes such as Popeye (1980), Hook (1991), Aladdin (1992), Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), Jumanji (1995), The Birdcage (1996), Night at the Museum (2006), and Happy Feet (2006). He also appeared in the video "Don’t Worry, Be Happy" by Bobby McFerrin.

Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor three times, Williams received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Good Will Hunting. He also received two Emmy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards and five Grammy Awards.  [Williams also co-hosted the annual Academy Awards ceremony with Alan Alda and Jane Fonda on March 24, 1986].

Major influences on Robin Williams: Peter Sellers, Richard Pryor, Jonathan Winters, George Carlin, Chuck Jones and Spike Mulligan.  [Williams was also profoundly respectful of the comedy routines and improv of the team of Mike Nichols and Elaine May.]

Robin Williams had a significant influence upon Conan O’Brien, Frank Caliendo, Dat Phan, Jo Koy, Gabriel Iglesias, Alexei Sayle and Eddie Murphy.

On August 11, 2014, Williams was found unconscious at his residence [just outside Tiburon, California] and was pronounced dead at the scene. According to the Marin County, California, coroner's office, the probable cause of death was asphyxiation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Williams