Released in 1996, The Birdcage was a “Meet the Parents” type movie. However, the son’s parents were gay lovers, who also ran a drag club called “The Birdcage” attached to the house while the daughter’s parents consisted of a very conservative politician running for re-election and a traditional, housewife mother.
As comedies go, The Birdcage brought both laughter and meaningful social themes to the silver screen, a quality not all movies of this genre manage to fulfill. It stars Robin Williams as Armand Goldman, the father and owner of the drag club, and Nathan Lane as Albert, Armand’s lover, and the star of the drag shows. Williams breathed life into his role of an unconventional parent, and like in so many other of his films, managed to balance laugh-out-loud comedy with strong acting skills and an unforgettable persona. Overall, it was yet another showing of who was one of the world’s most charismatic actors.
The world was undeniably shocked by Robin William’s death this past summer. Passing away the morning of August 11, 2014, the world, according to his daughter Zelda, “is forever a little darker, less colorful and less full of laughter in his absence.” However, hearing how he passed is not the purpose of this article; rather than focusing on his demise, we wish to remember and honor the Robin Williams movie magic that we all grew up experiencing.
Williams had over a 100 credits to his name, including four movies just this year, and several cameos and appearances in programs simply as himself. Even Koko, the world’s most intelligent gorilla, recognized him when he visited her in 2001.
There are simply so many credits to his name that listing them could fill volumes of pages with ease, but maybe his most popular appearance among younger people would have been his voicing of the genie in Aladdin, or perhaps when he was in drag as Mrs. Doubtfire, or when he was in Jumanji, hoping not to have a bad roll of the dice. The list goes on.
Nominated for four Oscars — three for lead actor and one for supporting actor — Williams won in the latter category in the 1998 Academy Awards for his role as Sean McGuire in Good Will Hunting. Before he was in Hollywood blockbusters, though, Williams made his start as a stand-up comic, famous for some wicked improvisation during his spiels.
Williams was also a regular on the widespread, emotional St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital commercials; after learning of his passing, the association released a statement that read, “Mr. Williams generously gave his time to raise awareness and funds for St. Jude and for our patients battling childhood cancer.” Philanthropy, as well as his acting chops, was something else he was not short on. Williams performed for soldiers serving in Afghanistan and Iraq, as a part of the United Service Organizations (USO).
Most will remember the joy that Robin Williams brought to them, be it through his movies or his stand-up. There is so much to say about the beloved actor, and the internet has taken to uphold Williams in blessed memoriam. Countless tweets and posts have been put up in his memory, and as we all know, what goes on the Internet has a tendency of staying there, which in this case is good.
It is the hope of all that future generations will look past the sorrow of his personal life leading up to his untimely death, and look at the positive differences he has made through his films and charity. He possessed a charm in film that few will ever hope to match, and had a knack for putting smiles on our faces, be them young or old, in high spirits or in depression, and that is what truly makes him unforgettable.