Juilliard School Releases Statement on Passing of Robin Williams

Robin Williams was enrolled at The Juilliard School in the Diploma course from 1973-74 and in the B.F.A. program from 1974-75 to 1975-76. (He withdrew on February 10, 1976.)

In 1991, Juilliard presented Mr. Williams with an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree.

The school released a statement this morning, which reads: "The Juilliard community is deeply saddened by the death of our distinguished alumnus Robin Williams. Robin's genius for comedic improvisation, which quickly surfaced in his studies at Juilliard, was matched by his deep understanding of the actor's art and how to touch his audience in meaningful ways. He was a generous supporter of the School's drama students through the Robin Williams Scholarship, which supported the tuition cost of a drama student each year. His caring ways and effervescent personality will be missed by all who were touched by this special person."

Williams 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 / WM Photos

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