Top 10 Funniest Robin Williams Moments We'll Never Forget
Script Written by Nick Spake
Top 10 Funniest Robin Williams Moments We’ll Never Forget
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Making people laugh is one of the hardest things in show biz, but he made it look so easy. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Funniest Robin Williams Moments We’ll Never Forget. For this list, we’ll be looking at the most hilarious moments in TV, film, and pop culture from this comedy legend.
#10: Acting Lessons
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“The Birdcage” (1996) Williams and Nathan Lane, a comedy heavyweight in his own right, go together like birds of a feather in this uproarious farce. Williams plays Armand, a gay drag club proprietor whose son intends to marry into a far-right family. To avoid an uncomfortable confrontation, Armand teaches his lover Albert, played by Lane, to pass as a straight uncle. Alas, even the simplest gestures, like spreading mustard on bread, ends in drama. Albert just can’t seem to shake his pinky habit either. As outrageous as Lane is, Williams also finds just the right comedic balance of being frustrated yet supportive. Armand’s lessons on manliness go a bit too far, however, when he picks a fight with a stranger who turns out to be twice his size.
#9: The Improv King
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“Whose Line Is It Anyway?” (1998-) Williams was arguably the greatest improv comedian who ever lived, making him a perfect fit for “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” Despite only appearing on the show once in Season 3, Williams fit in so flawlessly, it was as if he had returned to his natural habitat. Williams delivered no shortage of on-the-spot one-liners, particularly during a Hollywood director bit in which he played an Italian chef. Of course, the best improv comics know how to work off their troupe members as opposed to making the sketch all about themselves. Williams shared instant chemistry with Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles, and especially Wayne Brady. He may’ve been the most famous person on set, but Williams came off like just one of the guys.
#8: And the Winner Is… Not Robin Williams
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“8th Critics' Choice Awards” (2003) For his disturbing turn in “One Hour Photo,” Williams was one of three Best Actor nominees at the Critics’ Choice Awards. He lost, however, to Daniel Day-Lewis and Jack Nicholson, who tied. This obviously meant that Williams came in last place, but he managed to steal the show regardless. Nicholson, claiming to be “baked,” asked Williams to come on stage and give a funny speech, which he was more than happy to do. Even after telling Jack to wrap up the speech, Williams continued to chime in with cracks about the Irish and his loss. It’s a shame these two never did a comedy together, as Williams’ high energy blended well with Nicholson’s laidback, dazed persona. At least we have this priceless acceptance speech.
#7: She Used to Fart in Her Sleep
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“Good Will Hunting” (1997) While best known for his comedic chops, it was Williams’ dramatic role as Dr. Sean Maguire that won him an Oscar. Williams’ signature improv skills still shone through in a few key moments, however. The funniest example is when Sean reminisces about his late wife and how she used to fart in her slumber. An unprepared Matt Damon is unable to hold back his laughter, making the moment all the more authentic. Although we typically don’t associate fart jokes with Oscar gold, the humor is character-based. Sean tells Will that when you truly love somebody, it’s the quirky little imperfections that make them special. Now that Sean’s wife is gone, he misses her nighttime flatulence even more. Only Williams could get us choked up over farts.
#6: Golf
“Robin Williams: Live on Broadway” (2002) We’re all familiar with golf, but how exactly did the sport come into fruition? Williams gave his own hysterical interpretation of golf’s genesis on his Broadway standup special. Tapping into his Scottish ancestry, Williams makes this commonplace game sound like the drunken ravings of a madman. After all, why else would somebody hit a ball into a gopher hole from miles away? Why would they add to the frustration by putting in tall trees and sandboxes? Above all else, who in their right mind would want to do this eighteen times? Up until this point, we just kind of accepted the rules of golf. Now, all we’re ever going to see while watching the PGA Championship is somebody whacking a ball with a tire iron.
#5: What Year Is It?
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“Jumanji” (1995) Williams frequently poked fun at his own hairiness, but “Jumanji” took this to the next level. After being trapped in the jungle for twenty-six years, Alan Parrish emerges from the board game with more head and facial hair than a wild beast. As silly as he looks in his Tarzan ensemble, the scene does let the drama sink in as Alan learns that he was presumed dead. This is quickly balanced with some humor as Alan is almost run over by a police car. Alan’s animal-like reflexes prevent an accident, but the officer inevitably has a few questions about the bearded guy on his car hood. It’s nothing that some car-jacking monkeys can’t solve, though, and it appears Alan’s picked up on the primate language.
#4: GOOOOOOD MORNING, VIETNAM!
“Good Morning, Vietnam” (1987) By 1987, Williams had established himself as a standup and television legend, but he had yet to leave a major mark on the feature film front. Williams officially made his claim to Hollywood royalty in “Good Morning, Vietnam,” as Adrian Cronauer kicks off his first radio broadcast. Although he’s just sitting behind a microphone, Williams says every word with such manic energy that it practically melts the screen. There’s no time to breathe between jokes, as he immediately jumps right into the next one. While the film differs significantly from Cronauer’s real life, Williams’ rapid-fire delivery made him a logical choice to play a disc jockey. Williams also brought his trademark ad-libbing to the table, coming up with broadcasts on the spot.
#3: Saving Face
“Mrs. Doubtfire” (1993) What do you do when your ex-wife won’t share custody with the kids? You dress up as a Scottish nanny, of course! Although the premise is far-fetched, Williams is actually quite convincing as an older woman, even when he’s juggling personas. When a social worker drops in unexpectedly, Daniel must run back and forth between being himself and playing his much older sister. We often associate Williams with his one-liners, but watching him change in and out of drag demonstrates his capabilities as a physical comedian as well. Just when it looks like the gig is up, a cake to the face saves Daniel’s skin. Daniel isn’t so lucky at a restaurant, though, where he loses Mrs. Doubtfire’s face again.
#2: His Cecil B. DeMille Award Acceptance Speech
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“62nd Golden Globe Awards” (2005) Over twenty-five years after winning his first Golden Globe for “Mork & Mindy,” Williams’ career culminated with the Cecil B. DeMille Award. Williams’ humility was on full display, but this was also a natural platform for him to bring the funny . . and did he ever. Since this award was given by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Williams couldn’t resist breaking out an arsenal of accents. Williams also poked fun at the decor, most notably drawing parallels between the statuette’s design and Janet Jackson’s wardrobe malfunction. You know that you’re a comedy master when even Jim Carrey is cracking up at your jokes. It’s fitting that he dedicated this award to the late Christopher Reeve, as Williams was the Superman of comedy as far as we’re concerned. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Jumping in for Christine Lahti “55th Golden Globe Awards” (1998) My Friends, the Eggs “Mork & Mindy” (1978-82) An Affair to Remember “Friends” (1994-2004) Dinner Insults “Hook” (1991) Cooking With Martha “The Martha Stewart Show” (2005-12)
#1: The Genie of 1000 Voices
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“Aladdin” (1992) Being the closest thing imaginable to a living cartoon character, Williams was born to lend his voice to animation, and the Genie was the role of a lifetime. Voice acting was never the same after Aladdin rubbed his lamp and released the Genie. Being cooped up for ten thousand years has apparently given Genie enough time to perfect his standup act, as he stretches both his comedy muscles and his literal muscles. Genie seamlessly transitions between impressions, referencing everyone from Arnold Schwarzenegger to Groucho Marx. This isn’t even the tip of the iceberg, as Williams recorded a treasure trove of impressions and improvisations that couldn’t be squeezed into one movie. Aladdin never had another friend like Genie, and there’ll never again be a performer like Robin.
