Robin Williams R.I.P.
It’s a sad day around the world with the news that the great comedian, actor and lightning quick wit Robin Williams apparently took his own life today at the age of 63 near his home in Tiburon, California.
He broke into national consciousness with his stint as Mork from Ork on the television series “Mork and Mindy” in the 1970s. Since then he proved his worth as a comedian and dramatic actor with superb roles in “Good Morning Vietnam,” ”Dead Poets Society,” “Mrs. Doubtfire,” “The Birdcage,” and many more. He earned an Oscar as the Best Supporting Actor in the 1997 film “Good Will Hunting.”
Perhaps contributing to his peerless grace as a physical actor, he was an athlete from start to finish. In high school, he had a 1:58 PR in the 800. In the 1990s, he was an avid cyclist and participated in relays in the Nautica Malibu and Escape From Alcatraz triathlons.
In fact, the Robin Williams team set a still-standing record in the celebrity category at the 2004 Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon with a time of 2:25:01.
As a cyclist, he befriended Lance Armstrong at the height of his fame and before the disgrace of the doping charges. In 2009, Williams bestowed Armstrong with one of his best of a million one-liners. Seeing Armstrong wearing post-race black compression socks, Williams quipped, “He looks like an old Jew — or perhaps an English tourist.”
