Early Life
Williams studied at the Juilliard School in New York and began performing stand-up comedy in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles.
Career
He gained fame as the alien Mork in the sitcom Mork & Mindy (1978–1982). He starred in Good Morning, Vietnam, Dead Poets Society, The Fisher King, Mrs. Doubtfire and Aladdin (as the Genie), and won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Good Will Hunting (1997).
Legacy
Williams died in August 2014 at age 63. He is remembered for his generosity, his tours entertaining U.S. troops overseas, and the depth and range of his performances.
Sources and further reading
Last updated: 2026-09-24