Robin Williams obituary: Actor delighted audiences but struggled with addiction
One of the most beloved American entertainers of his generation, Robin Williams delighted audiences young and old but struggled with depression and drug addiction.
The actor was found dead in his home at the age of 63, after what local police said was an apparent suicide.
Born in Chicago on July 21, 1951, Williams described himself as a quiet child who overcame his shyness after becoming involved in drama during high school.
He went on to attend the prestigious Juilliard drama school in New York City, where he made friends with Christopher Reeve.
After developing his improvisational style as a stand-up comedian, he made his television debut as the zany alien Mork in the TV series Mork and Mindy.
Williams developed a drug and alcohol problem while working on the sitcom, and would struggle with addiction for the rest of his life.
He said the 1982 death of his friend, fellow actor John Belushi, and the birth of his first son provided a reality check.
"Was it a wake-up call? Oh yeah, on a huge level. The grand jury helped too," he told Inside the Actors Studio in 2001.
But the actor would go on to relapse; entering rehab in 2006 and again in the weeks before his death.
Robin Williams with his wife, Susan Schneider and daughter, Zelda Williams. Photo: AP.
Though battling addiction, he reeled off a string of big-screen hits throughout his career, beginning with his role as a motor-mouth US military disc jockey in 1987's Good Morning, Vietnam, which earned him an Academy Award nomination.
He earned critical acclaim for his dramatic role as a maverick English teacher in Dead Poets Society, and went on to win an Oscar for his role as a fatherly psychologist in Good Will Hunting, alongside stars Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.
Williams entranced young audiences with 1991's Hook, where he played an adult Peter Pan, and was also loved for Mrs Doubtfire (1993), Jumanji (1995) and Patch Adams (1998).
He leant his unique voice to films including Aladdin (1992), Fern Gully (1992), Robots (2005) and Happy Feet (2006).
While known for his comedic roles, Williams also explored darker characters, including in thrillers Insomnia (2002) and One Hour Photo (2002).
Throughout his career he earned three Academy Award nominations, winning the best supporting actor Oscar for his role in Good Will Hunting.
He also won two Emmy Awards, four Golden Globes, two Screen Actors Guild awards and five Grammys.
Williams, an avid fan of video games and professional road cycling, also had a tumultuous personal life.
While married to actress Valerie Velardi, he was briefly involved with another woman.
Williams and Velardi divorced soon after, in 1988. The following year, he married his son's nanny, Marsha Garces, who was pregnant with their first of two children.
They divorced in 2008, and Williams married his third wife, designer Susan Schneider, in 2011.
The pair lived in San Francisco until Williams' death.
