Stand-up comedian Papa CJ pays tribute to Robin Williams
I started my comedy career at The Comedy Store in london. As you walk down the stairs into the iconic comedy club, the very first thing you see is a huge smiling photograph of Robin Williams looking at you. For him to be in that prestigious position shows you that he is considered a first even amongst legends.
No tribute to Robin Williams can do justice to a man who tugged at the heartstrings of millions of people around the world. let me touch on the five roles he played that touched my life.
john Keating — Dead Poets Society (1989)
“No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world. What will your verse beIJ” I really don’t care who actually wrote those words but Robin Williams was the man who brought them to life for me. Those words said in 1989 I hold dear to this day. As comedians we spend many years of our professional lives trying to find our voice, our ‘verse’ so to say. And Robin Williams as John Keating told us what every budding artist should be told to be true to him or herself and to find their own verse — not one that anybody else wants to hear but one that comes from within.
Daniel Hillard/Mrs. Euphegenia Doubtfire — Mrs Doubtfire (1993)
Beneath all the comedy, this was just a story of a father who loved his children and wanted to be with them. legal systems across the world are biased when it comes to custody of children in a divorce. While the role of a mother is in no doubt, here was Robin Williams saying that fathers know and love their children and matter to them a lot more than most people often give them credit for. So lets give the role of daddy the credit it deserves as well. Judges in custody hearings should give that film a watch sometime.
Sean Maguire — Goodwill Hunting (1997)
Ask any couple who have been in long-term relationship and they’ll back up the fact that possibly one of the greatest lessons in love was encapsulated in this dialogue, perfectly delivered by Robin Williams: “My wife used to fart when she was nervous. She had all sorts of wonderful little idiosyncrasies. She’s been dead for 2 years and that’s the stuff I remember. Wonderful stuff you knowIJ little things like that. Those are the things I miss the most. The little idiosyncrasies that only I know about. That’s what made her my wife. People call these things imperfections, but they’re not. Ah, that’s the good stuff!”
Hunter ‘Patch’ Adams — Patch Adams (1998)
I do comedy shows for free in hospitals around the world for patients, doctors and nurses. My focus now is also on trying to bring people happiness and not just laughter. I didn’t think of Robin Williams when I decided to move my focus towards doing that but I can’t deny that watching Williams as Patch Adams, probably somewhere in my subconscious, made me believe I could do that.
Stand-up comedian (Early 70s onwards)
I remember the first time I saw a clip of Robin Williams doing stand-up comedy. I was blown away. Hell I didn’t even know he did stand up, I thought he was an actor. If you want a lesson in on-stage energy, watch a clip of Robin Williams. In fact, see his special in 2009 after heart surgery and you’ll realise just the kind of energy he had. In fact he’s probably up in heaven right now doing a stand-up comedy show about suicide! “So, who else got here by suicideIJ AnyoneIJ You know thing with suicide is…” May his soul rest in peace! And if you’d like to pay tribute to the legend that was Robin Williams, pay it in the way he would probably have liked you to: Carpe diem seize the day!