Remembering Robin Williams

September 5, 2014 CLEE25 Leave a Comment

Like many others, I was saddened by the Aug. 11 passing of Robin Williams. I was first introduced to Williams as the quirky father who goes undercover to keep his family together in Mrs. Doubtfire, one of my childhood favorites. Later, I discovered that he is also the voice of “Genie” in another childhood favorite, Aladdin.

As an adult, I rallied for his character in Dead Poet’s Society and recoiled from his character during One Hour Photo. His repertoire is long and diverse, a collection that showcases the career of a man who was not only hilarious, but also a chameleon.

The world is a little dimmer without Williams. But my guess is that he would wish for us to celebrate his best moments rather than dwell on his absence. Robin Williams Remembered – A Pioneers of Television Special, premiering 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9 on WPT, features Williams’ last full interview, including never-before-seen footage of him discussing his life at work and at home, tributes by those who knew and loved him, and iconic clips from his career.

In the special, Williams’ former Mork & Mindy co-star, Pam Dawber, shares her memories of working with him. Dawber worked with Williams for a total of four years, and had remained friends with him up until his death. Other friends and celebrities will also reflect on their time spent with Williams.

“We were fortunate to sit down with Robin Williams quite recently for the Pioneers of Television series,” says executive producer Steve Boettcher. “We wanted to share with PBS viewers the Robin that we saw – the very unassuming, caring, genuine and gentle man who took his acting seriously, but was able to make others laugh. We hope this special provides more insight to this incredible man, in his own words.”

PBS Schedule Documentary Pioneers of Television Biography