August 11, 2014 was a sad day for many when actor and comedian Robin Williams was found dead at age 63 in his Tiburon, California home.  Shock spread throughout the nation as people struggled to understand how such a seemingly cheerful, outrageously funny man could end his own life.

A multifaceted actor with a knack for improvisational comedy like no other, Robin Williams spent his career making people laugh.  Born on July 21, 1951 in Chicago, Illinois, Williams quickly developed his famous improvisational style and became known to American audiences as the alien Mork in the TV series Happy Days before landing his own spin-off show, Mork & Mindy.

After Williams made his movie debut in Popeye as the lead character in 1980, his film career took off as he starred in both comedic and serious roles.  Williams’ eccentric humor shined in the movie Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), while the actor showed his serious side in Good Will Hunting (1997), a memorable performance that won him an Oscar for best supporting actor.  Williams was nominated for an Oscar in both Good Morning, Vietnam (1987) and Dead Poets Society (1989) as he exhibited his fast-talking humor and heartwarming humanity in both films.  He received a third Oscar nomination for his portrayal of a homeless man in The Fisher King (1991), a role Upper Division Advanced Drama teacher Kathi Grau calls his best.  “It was so different from the Robin Williams we knew and loved.” Grau says.  “It was the first time I realized he had so much depth.”

Junior Morgan Alexander believes Robin Williams’ best movie was Patch Adams (1998), in which he played a medical student determined to heal patients through laughter.  “It’s one of the only movies where I laugh and cry at the same time,” Alexander says.

Williams’ talent for voice acting earned him roles in successful animated movies as well.  He voiced the characters of several penguins in Happy Feet (2006) and Happy Feet 2 (2011), showcasing his comical accents and wild enthusiasm.  Robin Williams’ most famous animated movie character is the genie from Aladdin (1992), a part created especially for the actor. “Every single one [of his lines] was improvised.” Alexander says of Williams’ role as the gregarious genie.  “It really let the audience get to know him personally… he was authentic.”

The tragedy of Robin William’s death affected people of all ages.  When the news of Robin Williams’ death spread, Grau felt a deep grief for his passing.  “[He made] so many people feel so good… he had a real zest for life.”  Alexander says Williams “had a lot of impact on [her] because [she wants] to do something with comedy.”  Robin Williams’ comedic talents remain unmatched and his presence will certainly be missed by all.

In the wake of his sudden death, memorials appeared at several sites the late Williams worked at during his career: the steps of the San Francisco house used in Mrs. Doubtfire, the bench used in the Oscar-winning movie Good Will Hunting in Boston, and the front of the house used in Williams’ breakout TV show Mork & Mindy in Boulder, Colorado.  The message at each memorial site was clear: Williams was deeply loved by people of all ages for his diverse film and television roles. Williams’ life was a life to be remembered.

Williams’ final movies, Night at the Museum 3 and Absolutely Anything, are scheduled for 2014 and 2015 releases respectively.