New York Times Writer to Pen Robin Williams Biography

The Hollywood Reporter reveals that New York Times writer Dave Itzkoff, who wrote Robin Williams's obituary for the newspaper, will pen a biography on the actor.

Itzkoff said in a statement: "Robin Williams was a cultural hero of mine. In the encounters and interactions I was able to share with him, he was always gentle and generous, humane and thoughtful and hilarious."

Publisher Henry Holt added that the book will be "the definitive, comprehensive account of Williams's life."

Itzkoff has written two other books -- Mad as Hell: The Making of Network and the Fateful Vision of the Angriest Man in Movies, and Cocaine's Son: A Memoir.

No word yet on a release date, but BWW will keep you posted!

Williams, who passed away on August 11 at the age of 63, was a fixture of the entertainment world, a renowned comedian, screen actor and stage star. He rose to fame after his role as 'Mork' in the TV series Mork & Mindy and went on to star in the movies Good Morning, Vietnam, Dead Poets Society, Awakenings, The Fisher King and Good Will Hunting, for which he won the 1997 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

The actor starred on the silver screen in comedies such as Popeye, Hook, Aladdin, Mrs. Doubtfire, Jumanji, The Birdcage, Night at the Museum and Happy Feet. He recently appeared in the films The Angriest Man in Brooklyn, Boulevard and Lee Daniels' The Butler, as well as the comedy series The Crazy Ones opposite Sarah Michelle Gellar. Williams' upcoming projects include Merry Friggin' Christmas, Absolutely Anything and Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb.

Williams made his Broadway debut in 2002 in Robin Williams: Live on Broadway and returned in 2011 for Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo. He also appeared off-Broadway opposite Steve Martin in Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot at Lincoln Center in 1988.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride