Late actor Robin Williams has always been known to spread happiness. Be it on screen with his comedic roles such as Mrs. Doubtfire and Aladdin, or his career as a stand-up comedian and philanthropist, Williams’ kindness had no limits. It was deeply saddening for the entire world when he passed away in 2014, with his death reportedly ruled as a s*icide.
Many stories about him from Hollywood insiders include Williams making even the most stoic people laugh and be cheerful. He reportedly called up Steven Spielberg every week while he was filming Schindler’s List and did a stand-up routine to cheer him up while he directed the Holocaust film.
Robin Williams Would Call Steven Spielberg To Cheer Him Up While Filming Schindler’s List
Filmmaker Steven Spielberg won his first Oscar for directing the Holocaust drama Schindler’s List. Based on the book by Thomas Keneally, the film follows the story of Oskar Schindler, played by Liam Neeson, an industrialist who saved over a thousand Jewish refugees from the Holocaust during WWII.
Spielberg reportedly refused to take money for the film and was extremely doubtful about doing justice to the story as he was known as a blockbuster filmmaker till then. Though he had dabbled in ‘serious’ films like The Color Purple and Empire of the Sun, the director was still apprehensive about making the film and spent ten years preparing for it.
Spielberg described himself as a ‘basket case’ while filming Schindler’s List as he had many emotionally overwhelming moments. However, his friend and Hook actor Robin Williams reportedly cheered him up. He said during the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival (via IndieWire),
Robin knew what I was going through, and once a week, Robin would call me on schedule and he would do 15 minutes of stand-up on the phone. I would laugh hysterically, because I had to release so much.
The way Robin is on the telephone, he’d always hang up on the loudest, best laugh you’d give him. He’d never say goodbye, just hang up on the biggest laugh.
The calls reportedly worked so well for Spielberg that he would recount the jokes Robin Williams made to Liam Neeson (via The Hollywood Reporter).
Robin Williams Also Supported Christopher Reeves Through His Surgery
While Steven Spielberg had a harrowing experience filming the Holocaust in Schindler’s List, Robin Williams reportedly comforted him with jokes every week for a few minutes on call. The Aladdin star has been the beacon of hope and positivity to many, be it on screen in films or in real life.
Williams reportedly supported Superman star Christopher Reeve when he experienced the life-changing accident that rendered him paralyzed. Reeve has mentioned on multiple occasions that Robin Williams was there for him from the beginning and supported him in various ways. He said in an interview with Today,
He was the first one to show up down in Virginia when I was really in trouble. Thank God I wear a seatbelt in this chair because I would have fallen out laughing. In the middle of a tragedy like this… you can still experience genuine joy, laughter, and love.
Williams and Reeve were reportedly roommates back when they studied at New York’s Julliard School. Reeve reportedly even wrote about him in his memoir, Still Me.
Schindler’s List is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
