In Memory of Robin Williams

On August 11, 2014, at the age of 63, Robin Williams passed away suddenly in the early stages of Parkinson’s disease. He was one of my favorite actors. His bold, high-energy, machine-gun-like talk reminded me of the brilliant rakugo performer Shijaku Katsura. He was

a peerless magician of words. Known for his superb improvisation, impersonations, and voice acting, he played a wide range of roles—from a DJ in Good Morning, Vietnam, to a cross-dressing father in Mrs. Doubtfire, to the wildly shape-shifting Genie in Disney’s animated film Aladdin. Truly, he was a man of many talents.

On the other hand, he also gave heartfelt performances as a passionate teacher in Dead Poets Society, and as a compassionate psychiatrist in Good Will Hunting. These works, which focused on themes like youth development and independence, were also deeply moving. His portrayal in One Hour Photo was chilling, while The World According to Garp depicted a uniquely complex mother-son relationship.

Among his medical-themed films, Patch Adams and Awakenings are especially well known. Patch Adams brought a ray of hope to pediatric cancer treatment, demonstrating the therapeutic power of laughter—something akin to psycho-immunotherapy. It resonated with the spirit of doctors who bring joy to patients through magic and music. In Awakenings, Williams portrayed an unconventional doctor who brought about miraculous awakenings in encephalitis lethargica patients—abandoned by medicine—with the use of L-DOPA therapy. The lead role of Leonard was played by Robert De Niro.

He once said, “Words and ideas can change the world.” Yet, tragically, he could not change his own inner world. His suicide was heartbreaking. It was so significant that even U.S. President Obama issued an official statement in mourning—a rare honor for an actor.