On This Day - July 21st 1952
TV actor and comedian Robin Williams is born.
Academy Award-winning American actor and comedian Robin McLaurin Williams was born in Chicago, Illinois, USA, on 21 July 1952. Williams landed his first big break as "Mork", an alien who guest-starred on "Happy Days" with Ron Howard and Henry Winkler. Shortly after that, he starred in his own spin-off sitcom, "Mork and Mindy". When auditioning for the part of the alien Mork from Ork, Williams met Gary Marshall who told him to sit down. Williams sat on his head on the chair. Gary Marshall immediately chose him saying that he was the only alien who auditioned.
Williams has appeared in a number of films, with the better-known ones being "Mrs Doubtfire", "Good Morning Vietnam" and the dramas "Dead Poets' Society" and "Awakenings". In 1997 he won an Oscar as Best Supporting Actor for his role as a psychologist in Good Will Hunting. Williams is known for his quick wit, creativity, improvisation skills and impersonations, and his ability to deliver his humour in rapid-fire succession.