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As I got older, entered my young adulthood and many entertainment decisions became my own, I became a big Robin Williams fan. I didn’t get the chance to see everything he did but was aware that he, Whoopi Goldberg, and Billy Crystal achieved a comedic status in the early 1990s that was unmatched at the time.

At some point in my teenage years, I realized there was much more to Robin Williams than the comedy roles. It is hard to identify, but if you looked at his face, the honest eyes, the thin lips, and pointy chin at certain moments, it was as though this performer was establishing a friendship with you. His warm smile was like a comforting arm around your shoulders. A silent conversation between actor and fan developed. He was able to communicate so well through his facial expressions and one clear message was, “Thank you for watching, we are in this weird thing called life… together.”

My respect for Robin Williams and my interest in his career really skyrocketed with 1989’s Dead Poets Society. Aside from the accolades (Williams received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor), the role of Professor Keating was inspirational. His comedic talents were tucked away, and he wasn’t relying on one liners. For a guy who was so active, energetic and raw with his humor, he succeeded incredibly at transitioning to a mature role. Robin Williams delivered one of the all-time classic performances.

I was a teenager at the time, in that interesting phase of life of late high school and college, and I was exploring my own career options. Teaching was one of them. I had a few good educators, and one of the keys to their success was their ability to effectively communicate their own love for the subject matter. Williams and the Dead Poets were so influential to my thinking that I tried to understand poetry. Poetry? My god. I had good grades in English, but it was far from my favorite subject. And what high school boy wants to be identified with poetry? Well, I did. A little. John Keating allowed me to understand it was okay to be inspired by and excited about material in school. On some level, his portrayal of a teacher willing to take risks influenced my decision to become an educator.

I began actively following his career. I didn’t see all of his projects, but boy, if you knew anything about the film industry in the early to mid 1990s, Robin Williams had blossomed into a giant. 1991’s Hook was a huge success. In 1992, he took on the memorable role of the “Genie in the Lamp” in Aladdin. His face wasn’t even on screen, but there he was. His overflowing energy erupted through his voice and he entertained so many kids in what is seen as one of Disney’s best children’s films.

In 1993, Williams was able to teach us all something about family and children with Mrs. Doubtfire. If you need to know anything about his star power, understand Mrs. Doubtfire was made for $25 million. It took in $441 million worldwide. The plot was zany enough where the old Robin came out to play. The content and the story were mature enough where parents and thoughtful moviegoers could sit back and be thoroughly entertained. Mrs. Doubtfire provides some truly classic moments, and Williams’ talents made that film.

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