Robin Williams’ Portrait Installed Today at the National Portrait Gallery

The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery will install a photograph of celebrated American comedian and actor Robin Williams today. The work will be on view in the first-floor gallery where the museum memorializes the passing and celebrates the lives of people represented in the museum’s collection. The photograph was taken for Time magazine by Michael Dressler in 1979.

Williams was a madcap genius in performances of all types of entertainment, from stand-up to feature films. Known initially as a comedian, he surprised with his ability to play serious dramatic roles. His breakthrough came in the 1970s TV comedy Mork and Mindy; as the alien Mork, much of Williams’ dialogue was improvised, as would be the case in most of his comedic roles. Once established, Williams worked tirelessly in show business, going on to appear in many feature films, including Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), Dead Poets Society (1989) and Mrs. Doubtfire (1993); he won an Oscar for his role as the psychologist in Good Will Hunting (1997). He played Teddy Roosevelt in Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009). He also did voiceover work in animated films and returned to television with The Crazy Ones (2013–14).

National Portrait Gallery

The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery tells the history of America through the individuals who have shaped its culture. Through the visual arts, performing arts and new media, the Portrait Gallery portrays poets and presidents, visionaries and villains, actors and activists whose lives tell the American story.

The National Portrait Gallery is part of the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture at Eighth and F streets N.W., Washington, D.C. Smithsonian Information: (202) 633-1000. Website: npg.si.edu; Facebook: facebook.com/npg.smithsonian; Instagram: instagram.com/smithsoniannpg; blog: face2face.si.edu; Twitter: twitter.com/npg; YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/NatlPortraitGallery.

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