Robin Williams: A Boisterous Life in Pictures
What’s left to say that hasn’t already been said? Robin Williams lived to see other people smile, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t have moment after moment of pure joy and laughter. Here’s a look back through Williams’s life — from his early days in the comedy clubs of San Francisco to the Hollywood big-time.


At the Comedy Store, 1978
Photo: Wynn Miller/The LIFE Images Collection via Getty Images
After a taping of Saturday Night Live, 1978
Photo: Ron Galella/WireImage

At the Golden Globes, 1979
Photo: Ron Galella/WireImage
With John Ritter at the Emmys, 1979
Photo: Ron Galella/WireImage

Performing at a Bread and Roses Benefit, 1979
Photo: Roger Ressmeyer/Corbis
At The World According to Garp wrap party, 1981
Photo: Ron Galella/WireImageWith Whoopi Goldberg and Billy Crystal at Comic Relief, 1986
Photo: Neal Preston/CorbisAt the premiere of Mrs. Doubtfire, 1993
Photo: Ron Galella, Ltd./Getty ImagesWith Whoopi Goldberg, 1994
Photo: Joan Adlen Photography/Getty ImagesOne Hour Photo Sundance portrait, 2002
Photo: J. Vespa/WireImageEntertaining troops in Iraq, 2003
Photo: Getty Images/U.S. Air ForceAt the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards, 2006
Photo: KMazurIn 2011, sporting the beard that he often had in his later years.
Photo: © Walter McBride / WM Photograph/Corbis