RIP Robin Williams.
I was lucky enough to hang out a couple of times with Robin Williams. His death is shocking and sad, for reasons we all know. As an Actor, he left behind a great body of work – and like all Artists, not all of it was award-worthy, as he would tell you.
But while he was a truly gifted Actor and Comedian, I wanted to share a story that spoke to what a great PERSON he was.
The 1997 Cannes Film Festival
My wife Alex and I were at the Cannes film festival in 1997 – and we were invited to a private luncheon with Robin, Annabella Sciora and Cuba Gooding Jr to promote the filming of “What Dreams May Come.”
Thanks to Globe photos for the great photo from their photo call in Cannes…
Cannes was always used to promote films well ahead of their premiere, and in this case, the Actors were getting the word out early.
A big thanks to Spokeo for this great image of Robin Williams that year in Cannes…
Our Robin Williams Encounter!
Along with press conferences and photo calls, the studios would also have press luncheons, so we could get some one-on-one time with the talent. We were invited to a private lunch to meet the cast – with no cameras allowed – because we created the Cannes coverage for E!
We entered the grand ballroom at the Majestic Hotel and saw groups of people gathered around the stars, who were working different part of the room. We made our way over to the very large group gathered around Robin – who was being as spontaneously entertaining as he was known for – and the group listened and laughed at his comments – and we stood about ten feet away, observing and hoping to figure out how to break into this inner circle of fun.
Class Act
Suddenly, Williams looked up from the crowd – looking directly at US – and broke through the group and briskly walked up to us.
“Hello, I’m Robin Williams” he said, shaking our hands and bringing us back into the crowd. It was one of the most honest, genuinely NICE things I have ever experienced, especially from a star of his magnitude. He asked us about ourselves, gave us his undivided attention, and then carried on with his stream-of-consciousness for all of us….
A really classy – and completely unexpected – move from him, and I have never forgotten it…
E!’s Celebrity Of The Year
At one point in the 90’s, perhaps even later that year, I picked Williams as E!’s “Celebrity Of The Year”, and Host Art Mann and I went to his hotel to interview him on the balcony…and once again he was funny, friendly, and COMPLETELY unassuming…telling jokes and being as friendly as any celebrity I have ever interacted with – and no time limit or need to hurry along…Art Mann can probably share better anecdotes from that day, but we always remembered how truly NICE he was…
So, I will watch “Good Will Hunting” and “Dead Poets Society” soon, and “The Fisher King” as well…three of his great performances…
But I will also watch what I consider to be one of his greatest, and his most chilling performance: “One Hour Photo”…he showed more range as an Actor than he was given credit for…he left behind a great body of work – but more importantly, he was possibly the nicest man in entertainment…RIP.
Categories: Academy Awards, Awards, Books / Media, Cannes Film Festival, documentary films, Golden Globes, Great Films, Independent Cinema, Movies, Obscure Movies, Revenge Movies, Talent/Celebrities, Travel Memoir, TV Show
johnrieber 
I love Robin Williams. He was so sad but continued to make us love. I love many of his movies. Being an educator, I appreciate his Dead Poets Society, for a funny one, I’ve seen Mrs. Doubtfire three times.
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“Dead Poets” is SO good, as is “Good Will Hunting” – both with education as a focal point! Thanks for the comment!
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He was a brilliant actor. One Hour Photo is a great film. He is such a loss. Everyone says he was a genuinely lovely guy.
Rachael | https://rachaelstray.com
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I’m glad you mentioned “One Hour Photo” – a truly unsettling performance and a very good thriller…also, just followed you – strange it said I wasn’t because I was getting your emails!
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He was remarkable in so many films. Not sure what happened with that? Thank you though.
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He was always one of my three dinner guest choices- you know the dinner party that you get to invite anyone you want to. Oh captain my captain.
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Yes, a sad loss…he was so gracious and warm to us…
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A special man and a special talent. Rest in peace dear Prince.
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one hour photo was seriously creepy! Robin Williams was always one of my favorites.
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Lots of great role, some really bad films – but either way, he was genuinely one of the nice ones – and I’ve met some of the others, believe me….he was generous, warm, engaging and completely unassuming…thanks for your comment
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Thanks, John, for your memories. I’ve left some of my own on Facebook because, as is the case for you, his death has saddened me. Much more than I expected. He gave so much and apparently didn’t get enough in return. Of all the celebrities I’ve encountered, of him I can truly say, he was the greatest. One of the things he used to like to do was change the titles of his films into “porn” titles. I remember him telling me “What Dreams May Come” would become “Wet Dreams May Come.” And “Saving Private Ryan” would become “Shaving Ryan’s Privates.” And, as you said, no topics were off-limits, he’d talk until you were done asking questions, and he was so funny and generous. Robin Williams was so above and beyond the average celebrity… then again, HE was above and beyond average. I remember Alex telling a story from that press conference of a reporter asking Robin who his favorite Spice Girl was. She feared he might be caught off guard. Robin was never caught off-guard, and he did a whole riff on the topic..
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Steve, you know who the “good ones” are, the “difficult ones” and the ones who were just mean and unpleasant…Robin Williams was truly a “gentleman”…thanks for your comment
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