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  • Hi.

  • Welcome back.

  • He's known for his impersonations and manic stand up,

  • but he also shines in dramatic roles.

  • Welcome to watchmojo.com,

  • and today we'll be counting down our picks for Robin Williams top 10 performances.

  • I do voices.

  • Yes!

  • Number ten.

  • Armand Goldman, "The Birdcage."

  • You'd think a movie this screwball would be licensed for Williams to showcase his brand of manic comedy,

  • but no,

  • he turns in a restrained performance as a drag club owner whose son is marrying into an ultra conservative family.

  • Oh God, it's a nightmare.

  • Opposite Nathan Lane's screaming Queen,

  • Williams is the straight man, pun intended, who blends comedy and kindness.

  • Get the God Damn pinky down.

  • Make your fingers like I am, alright.

  • Stop trembling, hold the knife boldly and with strength.

  • Oh God, I pierced the toast.

  • While he mostly keeps himself in check, he does let fly sometimes.

  • You do an eclectic celebration of a dance!

  • You do Fosse, Fosse, Fosse!

  • You do Martha Graham, Martha Graham, Martha Graham!

  • Or Twyla, Twyla!

  • Number nine.

  • Seymour "Sy" Parrish, "One Hour Photo."

  • Williams earned rave reviews by stepping far out of character to play a photo technician who develops an unhealthy obsession with a young family.

  • Snapshot, then, was originally a hunting term.

  • The usually effervescent comedian tones himself down so much,

  • Sy practically disappears with a forgettable face and voice that hide his anguish and isolation.

  • By making a sympathize with this creepy character,

  • Williams proves he can channel his energy into both comedy and thrilling drama.

  • - I just took pictures. - You have the right to remain silent.

  • Number eight.

  • Vladimir Ivanov, "Moscow on the Hudson."

  • Hello, Mister, may I buy lamb chop?

  • Sure thing, Mister.

  • Flaunting his ear for accents,

  • Williams becomes a sensitive Soviet saxophonist who defects while visiting New York

  • which means he completed crash courses in both Russian and sax playing.

  • Please tell me now, if I want an order, I should go back to Moscow and stand in line for bread.

  • Still bread.

  • Still Bread!

  • This early dramatic role earned Williams a Golden Globe nomination as he uses his eccentric and endearing qualities

  • to fad into the part of an immigrant whose confronting culture shock and the difficulties of building a new life.

  • Hey you, f*** yourself.

  • OK, pal. OK, Mister.

  • Number seven.

  • The Genie, "Aladdin".

  • Ten thousand years will give you such a crick in the neck.

  • Williams and cartoons are a match made in Heaven.

  • Thanks to his rapid-fire improv and stream of consciousness comedy,

  • (Alright sparky, here's the deal)

  • the medium allows him to zoom between impersonations, musical numbers, and improvised dialogue.

  • In fact, most of the Genie's lines are ad-libbed.

  • While kids may not get all his jokes,

  • both young and old love this movie thanks to Williams' contributions.

  • His performance was so out of this world, a special Golden Globe was created to honor him.

  • Your a prisoner.

  • It's all part and parcel, the whole Genie gig.

  • Phenomenal, cosmic power. Ity-bity living space.

  • Number six.

  • Dr. Malcolm Sayer, "Awakenings."

  • In the most understated performance of his career,

  • Williams portrays a doctor who discovers a miracle drug that temporarily cures a group of catatonic patients.

  • When you wake up in the morning, it'll be the next morning. I promise.

  • The normally unrestrained actor is borderline geeky in this emotional real-life story.

  • His shyness and introversion are indicated by subtle body language rather than dialogue.

  • Williams uncluttered work anchors the movie and earned him another Golden Globe nod.

  • Your medicine could be taken away.

  • They can do that.

  • You could wake up in the morning, and it won't be there.

  • Number five.

  • Parry, "The Fisher King."

  • This role was made for him.

  • You're out of your f***ing mind.

  • Bingo, come on Jack.

  • Free up the little guy.

  • Let him flap in the breeze.

  • Williams landed his third Oscar nomination and his third Golden Globe win by playing an unbalanced but kind-hearted homeless guy with a tragic past in this Terry Gilliam masterpiece.

  • Let's do it right here.

  • Let's go to that place of "Splendour in the Grass."

  • Behold my magic wand and tree your golden orbs right now.

  • Showing he can easily lean towards insanity,

  • Williams goes all-out,

  • but also shines during quiet moments.

  • I have a hard on for you the size of Florida.

  • He and Jeff Bridges both excel amid Gilliam's theatrics in this heartbreaking tale of compassion and redemption.

  • Where are you?

  • Where are you?

  • Number four.

  • Daniel Hillard, Mrs. Euphegenia Doubtfire, "Mrs. Doubtfire."

  • Hello!

  • You'd think all that gear would be restrictive,

  • but Williams talent, dynamism, and insanity burst through the mask, wig, muddled accent, and fat suit,

  • and earned him another Golden Globe.

  • Mrs. doubtfire showcases everything we love about Robin Williams.

  • [Impersonating a monster] I want you in the worst way.

  • This is certainly a rough meeting and it's not going very well for me, I'll tell you that.

  • And he is definitely able to sell it as both the dedicated father who'd do anything to see his kids,

  • and the eccentric but strict British nanny.

  • Oh, sir.

  • I saw some angry member of the kitchen staff, did you not tip them?

  • Oh, the terrorists!

  • They ran that way. It was a run-by fruiting.

  • Number three.

  • John Keating, "Dead Poets Society."

  • You can also imagine, maybe, John Wayne as Macbeth going,

  • "Well, is this a dagger I see before me?"

  • Williams brings the classics to life as an unconventional, idealistic prof at an exclusive boarding school,

  • and earned an Oscar nod for his work.

  • "But only in their dreams can men be truly free.

  • 'Twas always thus, and always thus will be."

  • Tennyson?

  • No, Keating.

  • This film may not have won every critics praise,

  • but it's a high point on Williams resume that cemented his place as a dramatic force.

  • At his best when he's playing against type,

  • Williams and his simple controlled performance definitely "seize the day".

  • "Gather ye rosebuds while ye may."

  • The Latin term for that sentiment is "Carpe Diem."

  • Number two.

  • Adrian Cronauer, "Good Morning, Vietnam."

  • Hey, this is not a test, this is rock'n'roll.

  • This film balances the elements that make Williams great.

  • As an Army DJ during the Vietnam War,

  • he's able to go off the rails with ad-libbed monologues.

  • What's the weather like out there?

  • It's hot. Damn hot! Real hot!

  • Hottest things is my shorts.

  • I could cook things in it. A little crotch pot cooking.

  • Well, can you tell me what it feels like?

  • Fool, it's hot! I told you again!

  • Were you born on the sun?

  • It's damn hot!

  • But he also treats the seriousness of war with dignity, and brings authenticity to the role.

  • His hyper energy is put to excellent use,

  • and for that reason this Williams' masterpiece earned him his first Oscar nod and a Golden Globe.

  • [impersonating an Intelligence Officer] We're having a major difficulty in finding the enemy.

  • [as Adrian Cronauer] What do you use to look for them?

  • [impersonating an Intelligence Officer] Well, we ask people, "Are you the enemy?"

  • And whoever says yes, we'd shoot them.

  • Number one.

  • Sean Maguire, "Good Will Hunting."

  • Williams finally took home Oscar Gold for his vital supporting role as a counselor to Matt Damon's troubled Will Hunting.

  • This film has none of the manic comedy that made him famous in "Mork and Mindy,"

  • though he did improv such hilarious dialogue he made the cameraman laugh and shape the shot.

  • She used to fart in the sleep.

  • I thought I’d share that with you.

  • One night it was so loud it woke the dog up.

  • Instead Williams presents the most sincere, gentle, and human performance of his career.

  • And look at you,

  • I don't see an intelligent, confident man.

  • I see a cocky, scared, shitless kid.

  • Do you agree with our list?

  • What the f*** am I watching here?

  • Which is your favorite Robin Williams performance?

  • My name is Dr. Bill, I'll be your surgeon.

  • Oh, there you are.

  • For more top 10's about your favorite actors,

  • be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com

  • Wait, ain't you?

  • Peter Pan.

Hi.

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