by Dave Itzkoff
First published 2018
Dave Itzkoff examines the life of Robin Williams, the comedian and actor who captivated audiences with his rapid-fire performances and shape-shifting characters. The New York Times culture reporter draws from over one hundred interviews with Williams's family, friends, and colleagues to reveal the man behind the manic energy. Itzkoff traces Williams's journey from stand-up stages to his television breakthrough in Mork & Mindy, then through his film career including his Oscar-winning turn in Good Will Hunting. The biography explores how Williams channeled his internal struggles into memorable performances in Dead Poets Society, Good Morning, Vietnam, The Fisher King, Aladdin, and Mrs. Doubtfire. Itzkoff shows how the comedian's brilliant improvisational skills masked deep emotional conflicts and persistent self-doubt. The book addresses Williams's battles with addiction and depression, conditions he spoke about publicly throughout his career. It also examines a medical condition that affected his final years in ways the public never understood. Through extensive archival research and personal accounts, Itzkoff presents Williams as both the beloved entertainer who brought joy to millions and the troubled artist wrestling with his inner demons.
Genres: biography, drama, addiction, 20th-century, biography-memoir, comedy, 21st-century, film
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: biography, character-study, mental-health
Period: 20th-Century, 21st-Century
544 pages · Hardcover · Henry Holt and Co.
Content warnings: addiction, depression, mental-illness, suicide