Robin

I am an avid reader of celebrity biographies even though so many times they are little more than a list of the artist's credits. This is not one of those. Dave Itzkoff has written one of the best biographies I have read in a long time. In this book you will get to know Robin Williams as you never have before. The author details the comedian's life from birth to death, literally. You will follow his ups and downs; you will hear his words and thoughts about himself and others; you will meet his parents, wives, children and friends. Not only is Itzkoff's book comprehensive, it is also written intelligently, cohesively and flawlessly. There is an extensive index as well as photos at the end of the book. It is a testament to the deep research the author obviously undertook. This book is neither a fawning look at William's good side, nor a tear-down account of rumors and innuendo. It presents a real human being with unique and uncanny talents as well as character flaws and self-doubts. Any fan of Robin Williams must read this book; even if you're not a fan of his read this book to learn how a biography should be written.

Pretty good book about an amazing person. I've ALWAYS been a huge fan of Robin Williams. I still think he was the funniest, fast-thinking comedian ever. The day of Robin's death I was shocked, saddened and felt like a small piece of life was just removed. I never saw him live or met him in person but there was always something about Robin that made me feel like, if I ever did meet him, he'd make me feel like I was one of hos old pals. After reading this book I can clearly identify why Robin had that effect on me, just a fan. He had that effect on everyone! This book chronicles Robin's life, how he got into the business, his successes and failures and, most importantly, delves into what Robin was often thinking...or more to the point, WHY he was thinking what he was. I enjoyed this book as I learned a lot of unknown aspects of Robin's life, his friends and family. I will say, after I finished reading, the book seemed to leave out time frames, particularly the weeks after his diagnosis. I would have thought that this would be highly discussed but it wasn't. Also, although informative, this book seemed to lack a sense of personality, if that makes sense. It seemed as though the author was just reporting facts with no personal and emotional connection. Maybe that's what this author wanted to do, I'm not sure. But I think an author this connected to so much personal information about Robin should have had more of a meaningful connection as he told the story. Regardless, a good book about one of the best people ever that brought happiness and laughter to the world on a grand scale...and left the same world way too soon.

It's always nice to finish a biography with greater respect for the subject. That doesn't always happen, but it did for me after "Robin." I was a fan of many Robin Williams movies prior to coming to "Robin" but had always felt he was somewhat manic in interviews and not always funny. But as multiple people point out in Dave Itzkoff's "Robin," the actor was a genius with a photographic memory. Fellow actors and comedians repeatedly mention that Robin Williams was the best improv actor/comedian of his generation. Aside from some of the flash in the pan internet celebrities and reality show celebrities of our era, most celebrities become famous through a combination of singular talent and relentless hard work. This was certainly the case with Robin Williams. He was a great high school student, though torn by his father's pressures to find a practical career. Then he discovered acting in college, and went on to do improv and later to attend Juliard, where he met Christopher Reeve, a lifelong friend. The rest, in a sense, is history. Williams landed the role of Mork in "Mork and Mindy," a "Happy Days" spin-off. Then he went on to movies and acted in comedies and crowd-pleasers along with dramas like "Awakenings" and "The Fisher King." Williams proved his acting chops but remained a stand-up comedian throughout. He would often make surprise appearances at various nightclubs to perform. The actor was not without his vices. He dated multiple women, some at the same time, and was sued by a former girlfriend who claimed he gave her a venereal disease. He ended up being married three times. He also struggled with drugs and alcohol. When someone has a genius mind like Williams', it is probably tough to shut it off. That isn't to excuse his bad behavior but maybe to explain it. People were ultimately shocked why the actor would take his own life. He was a vibrant person who loved people. But he'd been suffering from a disease--maybe Parkinson's, maybe a form of Alzheimer's--that was robbing him of his mobility, his wit, everything that made Robin...Robin. I found Itzkoff's account of Williams' death to be both moving and tasteful. While reading, I was saddened all over again by the actor's passing. Overall, Itzkoff handles Williams' life expertly. "Robin" seems well organized. We learn about Williams' upbringing without extensive asides about his family lineage. Itzkoff covers the actor's schooling, his TV background, and the major films while bypassing lesser films that don't need to be covered in depth. Readers get a good sense of Williams' wives and children and of his friends, many of them fellow actors and comedians, and how much they loved and appreciated him. Perhaps a best, and lifelong, friend was Billy Crystal, who was clearly enriched by his friendship with Williams and shaken by the actor's death. Itzkoff relies less on written sources, which are probably more appropriate for the bio of a nineteenth-century general (and it seems Williams didn't do a lot of writing), and focuses on the many interviews he conducts. From these accounts, he artfully pieces together a vision of Williams' life. The writing is always strong, always respectful without being worshipful. I came away from "Robin" with a renewed respect for Robin Williams, a sense of nostalgia for his early work, and a desire to go back and re-watch the many great movies he made.

An enlightening read

As a long time fan of Robin Williams, I was heartbroken at his passing and continue to mourn our great loss. I found this biography quite enlightening, as its detailed exploration of his childhood and family history, as well as the behind the scenes look at various points in his career revealed how desperately he needed to make people laugh and to help them, yet he never felt that he deserved our praise and his greatest fear was that he would be replaced by a younger and fresher talent and become irrelevant. I have had arguments with a number of friends, over the years, on the topic of just how quickly Robin's mind worked and whether he was really able to take several topics thrown out by audience members and almost instantly combine them into a coherent bit, in almost perfect iambic pentameter. I was pleased to find that I was correct and that his mind really did work that quickly, and also that he had an uncanny ability to hear and retain everything which was going on around him in a room. While it is clearly true that Good Morning Vietnam was the perfect conduit for his inimitable talent, it is sad that many people never gave him a chance in any of his dramatic roles. Although I will continue to mourn the loss of his talent and his huge heart for many years to come, at least I now have an insight into what seemed at the time to be his inexplicable suicide. Unfortunately, this book confirms again that some of our brightest talents turn out to be deeply tortured souls.

Five stars for first half - three stars for second. Starts off with well-researched details on childhood, relationship with parents, influential icons and psychological issues sowing seeds of personality. Excellent narrative explains early days in comedy clubs in SF, LA & NY. Fascinating insights into the evolving Williams, and his relationship with friends, women and first two wives. We get the inside scoop on the "big break," the ensuing TV series and blast-off into super-stardom. Through the chapter on "Good Morning Vietnam," this is a riveting portrayal of a genius; a man with many faces. However, from this point on, the book seems to brush over family issues, many of his films, and Williams' behavior during the second marriage. What was the cause for second divorce? return to drinking? having affairs? something else? Not made clear, and this is a defining moment in his life. Additionally, why does author rush through films: "What Dreams May Come," "Jumanji" "Birdcage" "One Hour Photo" etc.? It's understandable that not all films (plus recordings and shows) could be delved into, however too much time spent on "Aladdin" and "Fisher King" and not enough on others. Too much Billy Crystal. Not enough on overlap between second and third wives. Few insights into third wife's level of affection, empathy and care-giving which may have contributed to depression and suicide.

This book is a detailed listing of seemingly every performance together with reviews from media professionals and friends of Robin. This provides a full understanding of the man and his life.

Everyone agrees that Robin Williams was a funny man. He was like your hilarious, naughty school friend who never knew when to stop. But he didn't age well sadly; not physically but emotionally at least according to Dave Itzkoff's telling. His early life wasn't the usual horror saga of say, Richard Pryor. He had loving parents, friends, privilege and educational opportunities afforded to the exceptionally talented. Yet he was wracked with insecurities and neuroses and addiction problems for much of his life. What does it take for these gifted souls to find purpose or happiness? Robin William's story is as old as the hills, nothing was ever enough for him. Mr Itzkoff is obviously a devoted fan and his book reflects his admiration for his troubled subject. Mr. Williams wanted fame and all of its accoutrements but at what cost, I wonder. Sad story about a sad man.