Remembering Robin Williams

Immediately following the tragedy of his death, fans and colleagues began reminiscing. In order to honor the man we all loved -- if distantly -- we think of what he gave us and how he changed us. Because he did just that: He changed us all. Whether by inspiring us with his passions, showing us a miraculously lighter side of life, or simply making us smile, Robin Williams showed his spark of divine fire in every venue, and at every opportunity. Not many other high-profile celebrities can say the same.

As we cherish his joyous and compassionate figure, we can also bring attention back to his work as an artist. We remember the wondrous characters that bubbled out of his incomparable imagination as well as those characters he deigned to occupy in films and television. Even brilliant characters that he didn't personally create were changed by him into images of profoundly human people, and people who taught us lessons themselves. In losing Robin, we've lost more than one man; but by his life, we were touched by so many.

Most of us are remembering the smiles and raucous laughter Robin Williams brought to us, and are turning to those performances for inspiration and comfort. But I would like us to also recollect his more somber performances. Not because drama is better or worse than comedy, but because, in his more subtle, realistic, and artful roles, Williams showed us his true depth as a performer and -- more importantly -- his immeasurable depth as a man. He understood the human condition in ways I can only hope to glimpse, and bared himself time and again to share compassion and sensitivity.

Below are my favorite performances by one of my favorite inspirations. It's a rather long list, but his accomplishments and masterpieces are far more numerous. Please put these (and any of his films) on your watch list, because they are all gems.

Without judgment, he could embody any character, even characters that the rest of us may condemn. He could humble himself so much that he could disappear into those characters, and make us forget that we were watching our beloved comedian. In fact, my favorite performance of his belongs to One Hour Photo (2002), a thriller drama in which he plays a lonely photo lab worker named Seymour Parrish. A disturbed man, he develops a one-sided relationship to a family that regularly purchases their photos from him, and grows increasingly obsessed with their domestic life. His performance is so riveting and chilling that it's easy to overlook just how subtly he injects moments of pure empathy into "Uncle Sy".

As John Keating in the drama Dead Poets Society (1989), Williams taught me that seeing things from a new perspective is as easy as standing on your desk. He was one of the first men to make me say, "That! That's what I want to do with my life!" I still don't know whether I meant perform or teach, but I have chased those dreams ever since. Every line he says in this film is a whole lesson in itself.

Walter Finch, Insomnia (2002). This movie still freaks me out, no matter how many times I watch it.

Garp, The World According to Garp (1982). Oh, the feels.

Daniel Hillard, Mrs. Doubtfire (1993). Also, this movie was basically the first comedy I fell in love with, so there's that. 

Sean Maguire, Good Will Hunting (1997). So beautiful. Pass the tissues, please. 

Peter Banning, Hook (1991). Bangarang! 

Parry, The Fisher King (1991). And the awkward penis jokes. Oh, and speaking of penis jokes... 

Armand Goldman, The Birdcage (1996). 

Dr. Sayer, Awakenings (1990). "What we do know is that, as the chemical window closed, another awakening took place: that the human spirit is more powerful than any drug, and that is what needs to be nourished, with work, play, friendship, family. These are the drugs that matter. This is what we'd forgotten: the simplest things."

Chris Nielsen, What Dreams May Come (1998). Again, every line he speaks is so beautiful and deep.

Alan Hakman, The Final Cut (2004). I only recently saw this one, and it's a worthy inclusion. If a little strange. 

And, finally, Genie from Aladdin (1992). Unless I'm much mistaken, Williams was one of the first high-profile celebrities to voice an animated character. Apparently Disney had so much trouble figuring out how to handle the situation that they had a major falling out with Williams for pay reasons, and that is why Williams did not voice the Genie in the sequel. He returned, however, for the third installment, after Disney apologized to him. Another fun fact: Williams improvised so much that the film could not be nominated for an Oscar for script. Not that that matters much, in retrospect!

Gone, but never forgotten. He will continue to inspire and cheer audiences forever. We love and miss you. Rest in peace, dear heart.

What is your favorite Robin Williams performance? Comment below, and share why it is your favorite, and maybe what it means to you. And if you want me to review one of the films in my list (or not on my list), suggest it!