Robin Williams Research Paper

Robin Williams is a man of humor. With his improv comedy and passionate acting, he created memorable characters for many people during his career. His career was filled with highs and lows, with his addictions and his need to be ‘funny’ Robin. His breakthrough with Mork and Mindy highlighted his difficulties with his mental health and bad habits. His career had some shaky parts with his addictions, but he got help and inspired people by the end of his career and ultimately his life. Robin Williams grew up in a wealthy family, but he had trouble interacting with other kids, and the social aspect of childhood didn’t come easy for him. According to an article written by Tyler Piccotti (2023), “As a child, Williams was introverted and struggled

“His dream was to entertain and help people feel less depressed.” Williams struggled with depression, he knew what it felt like to feel empty inside. Robin Williams has publicly struggled with his mental health for years. He had a need to make people laugh, to make them happy, because it made him happy and he knew what it felt like to be depressed. But over time, that need turned into him being funny only to other people. He referred to himself as ‘funny’ Robin, which seemed like he made a character for himself, to entertain people. “Williams used to be a big-drinking cocaine addict, but quit both before the birth of his eldest son in 1983, and stayed sober for 20 years. On location in Alaska in 2003, however, he started drinking again.” His trip to Alaska caused him to relapse with alcohol, this was due to his workload which he subjected himself to, to the point of isolation and exhaustion. Williams had multiple relapses with alcohol during his lifetime, but this one specific relapse in 2003, after 20 years of staying sober, is different. It creates a kind of hopelessness for people struggling with addiction, some wonder when they’ll relapse, others wonder how long it will take for them to recover. In addition to his alcohol addiction, he had a cocaine addiction, which is referred to as a ‘cruel mistress’ due to its false pledges of reassurance and joy. For years, Robin Williams was challenged by his addiction and got help multiple times during his career to help himself and create a better life for him and those close to him. Showing his persistence to stay sober, an article by North Jersey Recovery Center (2023) speaks of his addiction saying, “Williams’s admission to rehab marked his commitment to confront his addiction again.” When his first son was born in 1983, Williams stayed sober for 20 years before relapsing again