My 10 Favorite Robin Williams Roles

Lots of people this week are trying to extract some meaning from the death of Robin Williams. I'll leave that to the experts.  Instead I'll share my 10 favorite Robin Williams roles and simply say thank you to one of the great talents of his generation.

In the order they were released:

• Mork from Orc, Happy Days, 1978; Mork & Mindy 1978-82. As a huge fan of Fonz, I was initially not a fan of Mork. But, there was no escaping the way he totally owned those 2 episodes and ignited his career.
• Adrian Cronauer, Good Morning Vietnam, 1987. The role that revealed there was more in his toolbag than zaniness. He won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Oscar (he won his Oscar for 1997's Good Will Hunting which won't be on this list). This movie had it all...laughs, cries, thinks. 
• John Keating, Dead Poets Society, 1989.  Most people are drawn to 'Oh Captain, my Captain,' and 'Carpe Diem.' The courtyard scene is the most powerful one to me. It has it all: his insight, his improv skills, his passion. 
• Dr. Malcolm Sayer, Awakenings, 1990. Robin Williams and Robert De Niro. Wow. I really, really wish Williams had watched the following scene yesterday morning:

Leonard Lowe: We've got to tell everybody. We've got to remind them. We've got to remind them how good it is.

Dr. Sayer: How good what is, Leonard?

Leonard Lowe: Read the newspaper. What does it say? All bad. It's all bad. People have forgotten what life is all about. They've forgotten what it is to be alive. They need to be reminded. They need to be reminded of what they have and what they can lose. What I feel is the joy of life, the gift of life, the freedom of life, the wonderment of life!

I don't know how/if it would have helped. But...maybe.

• Genie, Aladdin, 1992.  Caleb was 1 when this one came out and I know our family watched this movie 25,000 times. Emily was ready to watch it last night when she heard the news. Funny that Williams and Disney fought over whether or not he'd be credited (he didn't want to be) or used to promote the movie (against that as well), because he was this movie. I'm sure the animators had fun trying to keep up with his improv :)
• Jack Powell, Jack, 1996. Loved this one because it allowed Williams to be childlike and marvel at life. Again - not even sure 'ironic' gets close. This man who so often held up for us the awe and beauty of life...
• Patch Adams, Patch Adams, 1998.  The butterfly scene. Sadly, he was right about the not stopping him part.
• Chris Nielson, What Dreams May Come, 1998. Denise's favorite movie. Ever. Typing this I'm struck how many of Williams' movies dealt with the topic of suicide. 
• Andrew Martin, Bicentennial Man, 1999. This exhange:

Andrew Martin: (after the death of "Little Miss") Will every human being that I care for just...leave?

Portia: I'm afraid so...

Andrew Martin: That won't do.

No, it won't. 

• Maxwell Wallace, August Rush, 2007. Wallace is a not very nice guy who helps Evan discover his musical talent and then wants to keep it to himself, profiting from it. Evan is a child prodigy who wants to use his talent to reconnect with his parents, believing they'll be reunited if they just hear him play (turns out he is correct). I won't analyze.

Thanks again, Robin Williams. 

What were your favorite Robin Williams roles?