Inside The Life And Mind Of The Late Robin Williams

“Good morning, Vietnam!” Naturally, you picture Robin Williams, headphones on, leaning into the mic with more energy than you could ever muster. Or maybe you hear Mrs. Doubtfire, exclaiming, “It was a run-by fruiting!” It’s hard to keep a straight face when you think of all of the hilarious comedy routines Williams has performed during his career. Off-stage, he was a kind-hearted man who loved cycling and the City of San Francisco. In his 63 years of life, Williams gave everything he had to offer whole-heartedly, and although his works are now finite, his legacy lives on.

He Brought Funny Back to San Francisco

Robin Williams and his family lived in Chicago and Michigan before moving to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1963, when Williams was 12 years old. From then on, San Francisco was his home. Unlike other actors who made the move to Hollywood, Williams stayed true to his roots, and his fans in the Bay Area loved him even more for it. He said, “I live in San Francisco, which to me is close to heaven. It’s not, but it’s real close.”

Williams got his start doing stand-up comedy at the Holy City Zoo comedy club in the city. The fresh improv comedy and energy he brought to the stage revitalized the comedy scene in the Bay Area in the 1970s, and Williams is credited with leading that movement.