If you were of an impressionable age when Robin Williams made his television debut on Happy Days, and then turned "Mork" into his own show, then you may have been heard quoting the mighty "Shaz-bot" or the greeting "Nanu Nanu" with the best of us.

Williams was found dead today at his home, the result of a possible suicide.

His acting and comedy career went longer than most, evolved further than most, and captured a wider audience than most thanks to his relentless work ethic, and raw talent for making people laugh.  By comparison, Jerry Seinfeld's relevance lasted one-third the length of Williams'. Not that anyone counts that type of thing, except for every producer in Entertainment.  Williams was a good investment.  And a great performer.  Only the true greats like Bill Cosby and Bob Hope can show greater influence on their public.  And after all isn't that the business of a actor/comedian?

Williams created memorable characters (Cadillac Man) out of not-so-memorable writing, and made geniuses out of good scriptwriters (Genie in Aladdin, World According to Garp, and Adrian Cronaur in Good Morning Vietnam.) He had been awarded Numerous Golden Globe Awards, Grammy Awards, and an Academy Award for his work in Good Will Hunting.

Heck, even your kids knew him from the recent Night at The Museum Series.  But his list of great movies will only be part of his legacy.  What he did do, like a LOT of his counterparts try to do but fail, was transition from live stage comedy and TV to serious dramatic roles.  Williams could go from lunacy to history and back again.

A fearless, fearful man, husband and comedian, destined to please and demanding an audience, passed away at 63.

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