O captain, my captain…
Robin Williams, a renowned actor and comedian beloved by all ages, passed away this past August. The world joined together in mourning the loss of this wonderful man by re-watching his famous movies, quoting his well-known one-liners, and acknowledging the legacy he left behind.
Undoubtedly one of the funniest people to ever walk the earth, Williams could have an audience in tears within seconds of entering the stage. He took great pride in making people laugh, cracking jokes, and doing outlandish things just to bring a smile to someone’s face.
His Tonight Show appearance that dates back to pixelated 70’s film displayed his manic personality as he entertained not only the live audience but the TV audience too; dodging cameras and evoking guttural laughs from the audience that followed him wherever he went. Perhaps the most distinct thing about the clip was his deep grin that he wore. His eyes crinkled up and his lips parted to display a toothy, happy smile that radiated off of him. His happiness was contagious.
His wrinkles were left behind where his smiles had been.
Both parents and kids could identify with the childhood classic “Mrs. Doubtfire,” in which Williams plays the role of a divorced father who has lost custody of his children. In order to spend time with them, he disguises himself as an old nanny and lands the job working for his ex-wife.
This hilarious movie was a huge hit in households across the nation (I still own it on VCR), but the humor didn’t make the movie stellar. It was the underlying message of unconditional love that hit home for most viewers. With over 50% of marriages ending in divorce, many families could relate to the custody conflict in the movie. Williams reinforced a father’s undying love for his children by going to extreme measures just to see his kids.
And that is the way most of William’s movies are. His surface humor gets the audience’s attention, but the themes, which Williams developed in his stand-up routines decades ago, hit home for viewers.
He was a comical man with a soft side; he encompassed the best characteristics of humanity.
As said by the man himself, “our job is improving the quality of life.”