Robin

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW EDITOR'S CHOICE A SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR A VULTURE BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR "A generous, appreciative biography of Robin Williams by a New York Times culture reporter. The author, who had access to Williams and members of the comedian's family, is an unabashed fan but doesn't shy away from the abundant messiness in his subject's personal life."— The New York Times Book Review From New York Times culture reporter Dave Itzkoff, the definitive biography of Robin Williams – a compelling portrait of one of America's most beloved and misunderstood entertainers. From his rapid-fire stand-up comedy riffs to his breakout role in Mork & Mindy and his Academy Award-winning performance in Good Will Hunting , Robin Williams was a singularly innovative and beloved entertainer. He often came across as a man possessed, holding forth on culture and politics while mixing in personal revelations – all with mercurial, tongue-twisting intensity as he inhabited and shed one character after another with lightning speed. But as Dave Itzkoff shows in this revelatory biography, Williams's comic brilliance masked a deep well of conflicting emotions and self-doubt, which he drew upon in his comedy and in celebrated films like Dead Poets Society ; Good Morning, Vietnam ; The Fisher King ; Aladdin ; and Mrs. Doubtfire , where he showcased his limitless gift for improvisation to bring to life a wide range of characters. And in Good Will Hunting he gave an intense and controlled performance that revealed the true range of his talent. Itzkoff also shows how Williams struggled mightily with addiction and depression – topics he discussed openly while performing and during interviews – and with a debilitating condition at the end of his life that affected him in ways his fans never knew. Drawing on more than a hundred original interviews with family, friends, and colleagues, as well as extensive archival research, Robin is a fresh and original look at a man whose work touched so many lives.

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
A NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW EDITOR'S CHOICE
A SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
A VULTURE BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

"A generous, appreciative biography of Robin Williams by a New York Times culture reporter. The author, who had access to Williams and members of the comedian’s family, is an unabashed fan but doesn’t shy away from the abundant messiness in his subject’s personal life."—The New York Times Book Review

From New York Times culture reporter Dave Itzkoff, the definitive biography of Robin Williams – a compelling portrait of one of America’s most beloved and misunderstood entertainers.

From his rapid-fire stand-up comedy riffs to his breakout role in Mork & Mindy and his Academy Award-winning performance in Good Will Hunting, Robin Williams was a singularly innovative and beloved entertainer. He often came across as a man possessed, holding forth on culture and politics while mixing in personal revelations – all with mercurial, tongue-twisting intensity as he inhabited and shed one character after another with lightning speed.

But as Dave Itzkoff shows in this revelatory biography, Williams’s comic brilliance masked a deep well of conflicting emotions and self-doubt, which he drew upon in his comedy and in celebrated films like Dead Poets Society; Good Morning, Vietnam; The Fisher King; Aladdin; and Mrs. Doubtfire, where he showcased his limitless gift for improvisation to bring to life a wide range of characters. And in Good Will Hunting he gave an intense and controlled performance that revealed the true range of his talent.

Itzkoff also shows how Williams struggled mightily with addiction and depression – topics he discussed openly while performing and during interviews – and with a debilitating condition at the end of his life that affected him in ways his fans never knew. Drawing on more than a hundred original interviews with family, friends, and colleagues, as well as extensive archival research, Robin is a fresh and original look at a man whose work touched so many lives.

From His Rapid-fire Stand-up Comedy Riffs To His Breakout Role In Mork & Mindy And His Powerful Academy Award-winning Performance In Good Will Hunting, Robin Williams Was An Innovative Actor And Comedian. He Often Came Across As A Man Possessed, Holding Forth On Culture, Politics, And Personal Revelation With Mercurial, Tongue-twisting Intensity As He Inhabited And Shed One Character After Another. In His Comedy And In Celebrated Films Like Dead Poets Society, Good Morning, Vietnam, The Fisher King, Aladdin, And Mrs. Doubtfire, Williams Showcased His Gift For Improvisation, Bringing His Characters To Life And Using Humor To Seek Deeper Truths. Culture Reporter Dave Itzkoff Shows How Williams Also Struggled Mightily With Addiction And Depression And With A Debilitating Condition At The End Of His Life That Affected Him In Ways His Fans Never Knew. Drawing On More Than A Hundred Original Interviews With Family, Friends, And Colleagues, As Well As Extensive Archival Research, Itzkoff Provides A Portrait Of A Performer Whose Work Touched So Many Of Our Lives. Part One: Comet. Punky And Lord Posh ; The Escape Artist ; Legalized Insanity ; My Favorite Orkan ; The Robin Williams Show ; Mork Blows His Cork ; Bungalow 3 -- Part Two: Star. Mr. Happy ; Tough Love ; Gooooooood Morning ; O Captain! ; Dreamlike Parts, With Phantasmagoric Associations ; Father Man ; Hot Flashes -- Part Three: Supernova. The Golden Dude ; Fade To White ; Weapons Of Self-destruction ; The Tiger In Winter ; Gone ; Everything Will Be Okay ; The Big Room -- Robin Williams: Selected Works And Awards. Dave Itzkoff. A New York Times Book. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 449-508), Filmography (pages 441-444) And Index. "From New York Times reporter Dave Itzkoff comes the definitive biography of Robin Williams-- a compelling portrait of one of America's most beloved and misunderstood entertainers. From his rapid-fire stand-up comedy riffs to his breakout role in Mork & Mindy and his powerful Academy Award-winning performance in Good Will Hunting, Robin Williams was a singularly innovative actor and comedian. He often came across as a man possessed, holding forth on culture, politics, and personal revelation-- all with mercurial, tongue-twisting intensity as he inhabited and shed one character after another. But as Dave Itzkoff shows in this revelatory biography, Williams's comic brilliance masked a deep well of conflicting emotions and self-doubt. In his comedy and in celebrated films like Dead Poets Society; Good Morning, Vietnam; The Fisher King; Aladdin; and Mrs. Doubtfire, he showcased his limitless gift for improvisation, bringing his characters to life and using humor to seek deeper truths. Itzkoff also shows how Williams struggled mightily with addiction and depression and with a debilitating condition at the end of his life that affected him in ways his fans never knew. Drawing on more than a hundred original interviews with family, friends, and colleagues, as well as extensive archival research, Robin is a fresh and original look at a performer whose work touched so many of our lives"--Book jacket. From New York Times reporter Dave Itzkoff comes the definitive biography of Robin Williams - a compelling portrait of one of America's most beloved and misunderstood entertainers. From his rapid-fire stand-up riffs to his breakout role in Mork & Mindy and his powerful Academy Award-winning performance in Good Will Hunting, Robin Williams was a singularly innovative actor and comedian. He often came across as a man possessed, holding forth on culture, politics, and personal revelation - all with mercurial, tongue-twisting intensity as he inhabited and shed one character after another. But as Dave Itzkoff shows in this revelatory biography, Williams's brilliance masked a deep well of conflicting emotions and self-doubt. In his comedy and in celebrated films such as Dead Poets Society; Good Morning, Vietnam; The Fisher King; Aladdin; and Mrs. Doubtfire he showcased his limitless gift for improvisation, bringing his characters to life and using humor to seek deeper truths. Itzkoff also shows how Williams struggle mightily with addiction and depression and with a debilitating condition at the end of his life that affected him in ways his fans never knew. Drawing on more than a hundred original interviews with family, friends, and colleagues, as well as extensive archival research, Robin is a fresh and original look at a performer whose work touched so many of our lives. -- From dust cover **From** **__New York Times__** **culture reporter Dave Itzkoff, the definitive biography of Robin Williams – a compelling portrait of one of America's most beloved and misunderstood entertainers.** From his rapid-fire stand-up comedy riffs to his breakout role in __Mork & Mindy__ and his Academy Award-winning performance in __Good Will Hunting__, Robin Williams was a singularly innovative and beloved entertainer. He often came across as a man possessed, holding forth on culture and politics while mixing in personal revelations – all with mercurial, tongue-twisting intensity as he inhabited and shed one character after another with lightning speed. Drawing on more than a hundred original interviews with family, friends, and colleagues, as well as extensive archival research, this biography offers a fresh and original look at the life and career of Robin Williams. New York Times culture reporter Dave Itzkoff explores how comic brilliance masked a deep well of conflicting emotions and self-doubt. Itzkoff also shows how Williams struggled mightily with addiction and depression, and with a debilitating condition at the end of his life that affected him in ways his fans never knew. Prologue Part one: Comet Punky and Lord Posh The escape artist Legalized insanity My favorite Orkan The Robin Williams show Mork blows his cork Bungalow 3 Part two: Star Mr. Happy Tough love Gooooooood morning O captain! Dreamlike parts, with phantasmagoric associations Father man Hot flashes Part three: Supernova Golden dude Fade to white Weapons of self-destruction The tiger in winter Gone Everything will be okay The big room Epilogue Robin Williams: Selected works and awards.