From Mork and Mindy to Dead Poets Society , Aladdin to Good Will Hunting , and The Birdcage to The Crazy Ones , we will never see the likes of him again. Williams died at age 63 on Aug. 11.
Mork and Mindy (1978-1982) — Mork
![Mork and Mindy (1978-1982) — Mork]()
A spin-off of Happy Days, Mork and Mindy was Robin Williams’ first real exposure to audiences. It remains an excellent first impression, the kind of television series that sounds silly on paper — an alien from the planet Ork arrives on Earth to observe human behavior — but works largely because Williams makes it work. His Mork is equal parts absurd and lovable, a combination Williams would bring to many of his future roles. —Louis Peitzman
Courtesy Everett Collection
Popeye (1980) — Popeye
![Popeye (1980) — Popeye]()
Popeye is Williams' first on-screen performance and as the iconic sailor, the actor proves he is a comedian in his very soul. Williams nails the character, from his facial expressions and his walk to his talk, which, in this role, really solidified how truly remarkable he is at playing different an array of voices, even with a pipe in his mouth. Williams also shows off his musical talents: singing, dancing, and physically fighting along the way. —Emily Orley
Paramount / Courtesy Everett Collection
The World According to Garp (1982) — T. S. Garp
![The World According to Garp (1982) — T. S. Garp]()
In his first somewhat dramatic role, Williams gave audiences who knew him from Mork and Mindy and Popeye a glimpse at his range as an actor. Garp is a complex, troubling character who exists in a world that’s at time tragic but also darkly comedic. This is the kind of role perfectly suited to Williams, who is consistently able to find the humor in sadness, and the pathos in humor. —L.P.
Warner Bros / Courtesy Everett Collection
Moscow on the Hudson (1984) — Vladimir Ivanoff
![Moscow on the Hudson (1984) — Vladimir Ivanoff]()
Made during the height of the Cold War, Williams plays a Russian musician who chooses to defect — in front of Connie Chung! — while shopping in Bloomingdale's on an official trip to New York City. A true dramedy, Williams keeps his wilder impulses in check, playing instead the truth of the misery of Vladimir's life in Moscow and the struggle to adjust to his new life in New York. —Adam B. Vary
Columbia Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection
View Entire List ›
