The Actor's Life
Robin Williams played characters across a range of styles from comedy to drama — and even psychological thriller — with remarkable dexterity. His personal collection of scripts highlights his unique ability to cross genres. Among these are scripts from his so-called "triptych of evil,” One Hour Photo , Death to Smoochy and Insomnia , three movies filmed in quick succession in 2002 that explored darker themes.
Playtime
From a young age, William was obsessed with toy soldiers, and their accompanying military paraphernalia. In a New York Magazine profile published in 1993, Williams’ mother recounted this fascination: "Robin had the entire third floor [of the family home]. He put his toy soldiers — he had thousands of them — in those rooms, carefully divided according to period.” She went on to suggest that he not only staged intricate battles between soldiers of various eras, but that he also created elaborate dialogues between them in a manner that was, essentially, a childhood version of his performance style. A number of these toys, as well as a
chess set themed to Napoleon's Battle of Waterloo
will be offered in
Creating a Stage
.
Award Season
Throughout his singular career, Williams was met with both critical and public acclaim, and he received awards for many of his memorable roles. Among those to be offered at auction are Robin Williams’s 1978 Golden Globe Award for Best Television Actor for Mork & Mindy — the breakout role in which Williams starred as Mork, an alien from the planet Ork – as well as his 1993 People's Choice Award for Mrs. Doubtfire , the first film Marsha and Robin Williams produced together.
Inside the Childhood Imagination
Robin Williams was a defining figure for a generation of children who came to know the entertainer through his unforgettable roles in 1990s children’s films. From Genie in Disney’s Aladdin to Peter Pan in the Steven Spielberg-directed Hook he captured a spirit of childhood playfulness and imagination. Among the memorabilia coming to auction are a pair of
Aladdin: King Of Thieves
jackets; a
prop sword
used in a fight scene in Hook; and a key presented to Williams to commemorate the filming of
Jumanji
.
Cycling Fever
Cycling was a central element of Robin Williams' life. While he may have ridden alongside such high-profile figures as Lance Armstrong, he was often found cycling around the streets of San Francisco, putting his many bikes to good use.
Creating a Stage
presents a selection of his
bicycles
and cycling memorabilia including
Tour de France jerseys,
among many other objects.
Memorable Moments
Creating a Stage: The Collection of Marsha and Robin Williams
features a range of photographs, film memorabilia and mementos that mark special moments within the entertainer's life and career. An
illustration of Woody Woodpecker
gifted to Williams by the illustrator Walter Lantz will be offered, as well as an
original painting of Williams
with his friends Whoopi Goldberg and Billy Crystal from the 2006 Comic Relief to benefit victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Robin Williams brought an astounding enthusiasm to his many roles in life — comedian, actor, friend and father. This characteristic zeal also defined his role as collector – Williams was a well-known cycling aficionado, a toy enthusiast and, along with his wife of twenty years Marsha Garces Williams, an avid supporter of charities. Creating a Stage: The Collection of Marsha and Robin Williams (4 October | New York) will present an array of these myriad collections, reflecting Williams's diverse and fascinating interests and passions. Click ahead to discover a few.