Robin Williams once picked out the best performances of his career: “It’s an interesting mix”
Robin Williams was one of the rare performers capable of navigating a wide spectrum of emotions, beginning his career in the world of comedy, where he became most famous, while also delivering some of the most heart-wrenching dramatic performances ever seen.
Charlie Chaplin once said, “Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in a long shot,” and there is no performer who better encapsulates this sentiment than Williams. From his heartwarming and hilarious performance in Mrs Doubtfire to the timeless beauty of Good Will Hunting, the actor was committed to being an entertainer and bringing light into people’s lives until his death.
When reflecting on his career, despite having an eclectic filmography to revisit, Williams once revealed six films that he considered his personal favourites. Unsurprisingly, William listed Dead Poets Society as one of his most cherished projects, which was directed by Peter Weir in 1989. The film follows a group of students in an all-boys boarding school who find their lives invigorated by the arrival of a mysterious new English teacher, who wakens them to the true joys of living and their purpose in life. With an early performance from Ethan Hawke and beautiful human moments such as the students standing at their desks in memory of their friend or the simple reminder to “seize the day”, the film is one of the most beloved in his filmography.
Next, the actor noted his love for Awakenings, directed in 1990 by Penny Marshall. Williams plays Malcolm Sayer, a research physician who uses an experimental drug to awaken a catatonic patient, played by Robert De Niro. However, his ‘awakening’ causes the doctor to reevaluate his life and reconnect with its pleasures. The film is lesser known within his body of work, but he also spoke openly about his fond memories of working with De Niro, which led to a lifelong friendship between the two of them.
The Fisher King, meanwhile, has seen a resurgence in popularity after regularly being mentioned during the infamous Criterion closet tour, and Williams also described this project as being one of his favourites. Starring alongside Jeff Bridges and directed by Terry Gilliam, it follows two troubled men who face the mistakes of their past as they search for the Holy Grail and attempt to save themselves. Williams always showed a unique ability to touch audiences no matter what he was doing, but The Fisher King is perhaps the best example of this, with a moving and inspiring performance that blends both supernatural and fantastical elements in an inspiring tale of regret and reinvention.
The actor also included The Birdcage directed by Mike Nichols on this list, a bizarre story about a middle-aged gay couple who own a drag club and all the happenings within their eclectic family. Gene Hackman stars alongside Williams in this delightful comedy about the complications of familial love. And finally, Williams listed World’s Greatest Dad and One Hour Photo in his ultimate collection of achievements. The former is an existentialist comedy, which perfectly blends his humour while critiquing the human condition, and the former was his foray into the world of psychological storytelling, following a photo developer who becomes fixated on a family whose pictures he develops.
While some might have expected Williams to include more mainstream favourites in his list, his selection of the films most meaningful to him offers a deeper glimpse into his creative motivations and self-perception. Though audiences often return to comforting classics like Hook and Mrs Doubtfire, Williams was a performer with profound emotional depth. His personal favourites only begin to scratch the surface of the complexities that shaped both his art and the man behind it all.
