“Gooooooood morning, Vietnam!”
It’s one of Robin Williams‘ most famous and oft-quoted film lines, one that continues to keep that horrific war, where scores of our brave men and women gave life and limb, in our collective memory.
And who can forget “Carpe Diem!” from the movie Dead Poets Society, a motivational film that continues to inspire us to see things in new ways, to seize opportunity as it comes, to stay true to our ourselves even in the face of adversity.
Williams even played a character playing a character of the opposite sex in the indomitable Mrs. Doubtfire.
The film Patch Adams, the true story of real-life doctor Hunter “Patch” Adams, continues to inspire children, and their families, battling cancer.
Williams won an Academy Award for his outstanding work in Good Will Hunting.
Williams’ film credits are extensive. But most of all, Williams, though anti-war and as liberal as they come, was an unwavering supporter of our troops, entertaining them on multiple occasions as only he could. Williams, during a USO tour in Kabul (language warning):
Williams’ respect and adoration for our military was immense, and the feeling was mutual. Kuwait, 2007, USO Holiday Tour:
And Mosul, Iraq:
Robin Williams, who shares a birthday with this blogger, was a young sixty-three. From his first days as the quirky, quick-witted and manic Mork, on the 70’s hit show Mork and Mindy, to his current reprisal of the role of Teddy Roosevelt in the upcoming film Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb, he was an absolute comic genius and actor, with a tremendous acting range rarely seen in a sea of Hollywood mediocrity. Like many of my fellow Americans, I arrived home last night to the stunning news of the apparent suicide of Mr. Williams. I’m no worshipper of celebrity. I understand that they are mere people, like you and I, and that every life is precious. But there are the Kim Kardashians of our world who offer it just about nothing, and then there is Robin Williams, an irreplaceable talent who fought a long, intermittent battle with his own demons and ultimately lost his fight. His talent was immense, and irreplaceable. He was a once-in-a-generation gem. May you rest in peace, dear Mork. Your contribution to Americana, and to humanity, will be forever missed.
Nanoo. Nanoo.
Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old Time is still a-flying;
And this same flower that smiles today,
Tomorrow will be dying.
Xavier says: I’m sorry he’s gone and
I’m sorry he was a liberal.
There was a cable performance where he manically climbed to the balcony box seats and ended with telling the audience “You gotta stay crazy” that was probably the funniest and most touching thing I’ve ever seen.
Jodi says: Thanks, Xavier, for sharing that.
Bill Stegkemper says: I enjoyed his quirkey sense if humor. But he was a progressive.
The only good progressive is a dead progressive. He is now a good progressive.
Jodi says: Bill, you sound just like those “tolerant” progressives who wish death upon the likes of Sarah Palin and cheered the death of Shirley Temple. I wholeheartedly disagree with and condemn your words.
Thanks for visiting.
Rebecca says: Thanks for the clips of him entertaining, and learning from, our young people in uniform. I had forgotten how much he had gone overseas. I was in the SF Bay Area when the news of his death was reported. He was genuinely a member of the community and his loss will perhaps be felt most deeply there.
Jodi says: Thanks for visiting our blog, Rebecca. He was a national treasure.
6 Comments