Book Description
Andy Dougan's biography provides a detailed look at of Robin Williams's life and career from his poor-little-rich-kid childhood to his successes in such films as The Fisher King, Awakenings, and Mrs. Doubtfire. Dougan interviewed Williams five times and spoke with the actor's schoolmates, teachers, colleagues, and costars.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Named the Funniest Person Alive by Entertainment Weekly in 1997, Robin Williams is one of the most popular screen actors today. This biography provides a detailed look at the comedian's life and career, from his poor-little-rich-kid childhood to his first big break to his battle with substance abuse to his recent successes.

Brought up as the only child of a wealthy Ford Motor Company executive, Williams had everything but affection, a lack that author Andy Dougan sees as the reason for the actor's steady stream of man-child roles in such movies as Seize the Day, Jack, Jumanji, and The Best of Times. It can be aruged that his first major character (as Mork on the TV show Mork and Mindy) fits in this category as well. The show made Williams, at 28, one of the most famous people in the world -- a fame he found hard to handle and from which he sought refuge in alcohol, cocaine, and womanizing.

Dougan had access to LAPD files to pierce together what happened on the night John Belushi died -- an event at which Williams was present and which helped inspire him to give up drugs and rebuild his life. Although it was too late for him to save his first marriage, he was able to rebound and embark on the most successful period of his filmmaking career, starring in Good Morning Vietnam, Dead Poets Society, The Fisher King, Awakenings, Mrs. Doubtfire, and The Birdcage. For the last ten years, Williams has also been an activist for such causes as homelessness and AIDS.