Movie Star Robin's fame on the small screen inevitably aroused the interest of movie makers.
His first starring role came in 1980's Popeye. The movie was a financial and critical flop and it looked like Williams' film career was over before he'd even gotten out of the gate.
But then, in 1982's The World According to Garp, he was able to show more of his dramatic acting talents. The film was well received, with critic Roger Ebert calling Robin's performance 'unconventional and absorbing. '
Following a couple of smaller roles he got his big screen break in 1987's Good Morning Vietnam. The role of Adrian Cronauer, a real life Armed Forces DJ stationed in Saigon during the war, was tailor made for Williams' manic style.
In fact, nearly everything that he did on screen was improvised. The performance was good enough to earn him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
Over the next decade, Williams appeared in an impressive number of films, displaying a huge range and appeal across the generations. He shone as both a dramatic and a comic actor, with his first and only Oscar coming for Best Supporting Actor playing a psychologist in 1997's Good Will Hunting.
He had previously received two nominations, for 1988's Dead Poet's Society and 1991's The Fisher King. Perhaps Williams' most versatile role was one in which he was never actually on screen.
His role as the genie in the 1992 Disney animated musical Aladdin showcased his amazing vocal range. The role had been specifically written for him, although he improvised much of the dialogue, just as he had done in Good Morning Vietnam.
Williams played what would prove to be his most beloved character in 1993's Mrs Doubtfire, in which he portrayed a recently divorced actor who takes on the persona of an elderly Scottish housemaid to get closer to his children.
He spent four hours every day putting on his makeup to play the part. The movie was a great success and a sequel was in the works at the time of Williams' death in 2014.
