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10-year anniversary of Robin Williams’ death: What was the last movie the actor made?
The actor was found dead at his California home on 11 August 2014. He had worked on several films in his final year, some were released posthumously.
Not all anniversaries are happy affairs. A decade ago today, US comedian and actor Robin Williams took his own life. His lifeless body was found at his Paradise Cay home in California by his personal assistant on 11 August 2014. He was 63.
The grisly news was made even more difficult to take as Williams had spent his whole life as a funnyman, using his wit and impersonations, trying to make people laugh. After earning his spurs perfecting his stand-up routine, he became a familiar face both in the US and in Europe as the misunderstood alien, the man who fell to earth from Planet Ork in the ABC sitcom, Mork and Mindy.
Robin Williams and the Academy Awards
On the back of that success, he was cast as the lead in Robert Altman’s Popeye, receiving a Stinkers nomination for the worst actor award. Reviews were more favorable for his performances in Good Morning, Vietnam, Dead Poets Society and Good Will Hunting - he received Oscar nominations in all of them, winning the Best Supporting Actor award for his performance as Dr. Sean Maguire in the latter.
But despite the worldwide success and acclaim, underneath, Williams was suffering. Addictions to cocaine and alcohol affected his mental health and led to a stint in rehab. There were also the repercussions on his physical health. In 2014, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
Robin Williams’ last film mirrored his own health issues
He had been working on a number of movie projects when his doctor delivered the bombshell news. Phil Alden Robinson’s comedy-drama The Angriest Man in Brooklyn would be the last movie starred in to be released while he was alive. Released in May 2014, The Angriest Man in Brooklyn features Williams as Henry Altmann, a twisted, neurotic man with anger issues who, in a strange parallel with his real life, was given a shock diagnosis on a visit to the doctor’s surgery.
Altmann asks Dr. Gill (played by Mila Kunis) how much time he has left. Alarmed by his behavior, she blurts out that he only has 90 minutes - the first thing that comes into her head after spotting a magazine title. After digesting the shock news, Altmann sets about trying to make changes to his life in the hour and half he thinks he has left on Earth.
Four other films featuring Williams were released posthumously: Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb, A Merry Friggin’ Christmas, Boulevard in which he had acting roles and Absolutely Anything in which he had a voiceover role, narrating Dennis the Dog.