An Awfully Big Adventure

Well, this was not a post I thought I'd be writing, but since the news hits us all yesterday, I thought I'd go ahead and pay tribute to a fine actor--Robin Williams.

I grew up in the age of Mork and Mindy. Pam Dawber was beautiful and smart. And Mork...was Mork. He was funny and silly and made me laugh. I loved the show.

Somewhere along the line, I came to understand Mork was the same man in some of my favorite movies. He was one actor who had demonstrated the amazing talent of delivering great comedy as well as convincing drama. Hook has to be my all-time favorite movie he starred in. Memorable lines, great range of emotion, fantastic performance. I was fortunate enough to see it in the theater...several times.

Let's not forget the many others he's blessed us with--Dead Poet's Society, Toys, Mrs. Doubtfire (brilliant!), Good Will Hunting, The Fisher King...oh, I could go on and on. Bicentennial Man is another favorite. And my kids know him as Teddy Roosevelt in the Night at the Museum series.

Aladdin, though, holds a special place in my heart. No, it's not my favorite Disney movie. And if you remember, someone else did the voice of the Genie for the sequel. But for the third one, Aladdin and the King of Thieves, he returned. I remember this because at the time, I worked for Disney and got to do an event with him. If I remember correctly, it was at the Griffith Park Equestrian Center in Los Angeles. I know it was an outdoor venue. We had all kinds of things going on, but the star of the show was Robin. He was amazing!

The movie Jack is also special to me. I stumbled onto that one after it had already hit video. It had such an impact, I named my son Jack. Not solely based on that movie, but partially.

How well I know the darkness that can lurk behind the laughter. I can't imagine the things that man must have felt. I do hope he's found peace at last. Since he immortalized the grown up Peter Pan, it's only fitting to use a line from Barrie's Peter Pan...

"To die will be an awfully big adventure..."

Rest in peace, funny man. Thanks for the laughs, the tears, and the Na-noo Na-noo.