In the 1993 hit movie Mrs. Doubtfire, legendary comic genius and dramatic actor, Robin Williams played Daniel Hillard and Mrs. Euphegenia Doubtfire, a film based on the Anne Fine novel, "Alias Madame Doubtfire." Robin Williams' wife Marsha, president of Blue Wolf Productions, co-produced the film which grossed $219.2 million domestically plus $222 million overseas. The film, directed by fellow-San Franciscan, Chris Columbus, also earned a 1994 Oscar for "Best Make-up" and two Golden Globe Awards for "Best Comedy/Musical" and "Best Actor."

Williams should have earned two awards for his performance: One for Best Actor; the other for Best Actress.

Perhaps he'll get that chance, if the Juilliard-trained roommate of the late Christopher Reeve, turned "Happy Days" (1974) / "Mork & Mindy" alien (1978-82) turned Goodwill Hunting Academy Award-winning actor (1997) turned Golden Globes Cecil B. deMille lifetime achievement recipient (2005) joins the cast in the upcoming FOX sequel announced on Friday.

Eleven years after the drag queen comedy appeared on the big screen, both Robin and Marsha Williams have started early talks to join the sequel's cast and crew.

Marsha Williams

Marsha Garces Williams, Robin's wife of fifteen years and mother to two of his children, helped produce the first Doubtfire film which was directed by Chris Columbus.

Other productions Marsha has either produced or executive produced after their second child was born in 1992 include: Patch Adams (1998), Jakob the Liar (1999) which was filmed entirely in Eastern Europe, and the TV show, Robin Williams: Live on Broadway (2002).

Bonnie Hunt also is in talks to write the new Doubtfire script.

Hunt's writing credits include the 2000 feature Return to Me, which she also directed, and her ABC sitcom Life with Bonnie.

In the original 1993 production, Williams played an estranged father who, in an effort to spend more time with his kids, poses as a nanny from the U.K. who his ex-wife (Sally Field) hires to cook, clean and care for her children. His disguise as Mrs Doubtfire took over 4 hours a day in "make-up" to get into.

He/she becomes a blessing in disguise for Miranda Hillard, their children, Lydia 'Lydie' (played by Lisa Jakub, b. 1978) and Chris Hillard (played by Matthew Lawrence, b. 1980) and families across America, especially for parents who know how hard it can be to hire great quality child care.

With worldwide earnings of $441.2 million, Mrs. Doubtfire is the 53rd highest-grossing film ever.

Williams has had more $100 million hits than nearly any other star.

2005 Cecil B. DeMille Award Recipient

On January 16, 2005, the 11-time Golden Globe Award nominee and five-time winner will receive the Cecil B. deMille Award for "outstanding contribution to entertainment."

It is the Hollywood Foreign Press Association's highest honor and Hollywood's second most prestigious award.

Ben Stiller and Lorenzo Soria, the president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, made the announcement on Thursday, November 18th.

Other Golden Globe nominations will be announced on December 16th.

On behalf of the HFPA, Soria said:

We feel that [Williams] encompasses all that we do at the Globes: film, television, drama and comedy. We also feel that that comedians tend to be slightly, or more than slightly, overlooked when it comes to receiving recognition.

The DeMille is not a lifetime achievement award, just to be given out to people over 80.

It's for people who have made a contribution to the entertainment industry.

And Robin fits the profile.

Last year, Robin presented the DeMille Award to Gene Hackman.

Other actors with whom Williams will share this lifetime achievement award: Michael Douglas, Harrison Ford, Al Pacino, Barbra Streisand, Bing Crosby, Joan Crawford, Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Robert Mitchum, Jane Russell, Stanley Kramer, Bob Hope, Doris Day, Samuel Fuller, Alan Ladd, and the first recipient in 1952, Mr. Cecil B. deMille -- the year Williams was born.

Unlike other Golden Globe honors, the DeMille Award is voted on only by the HFPA's board of directors.

Board members include: Lawrie Masterson (chairman), Yani Begakis, Jean Cummings, Michael Goodridge, Scott Orlin and Yoram Kahana (alternate).

The Cecil B. DeMille Award (1951 - present)

In 1951, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association decided to create a special award that would honor outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment. Wanting to name it after an internationally recognized and respected figure, the HFPA decided on one of film's greatest showmen: Cecil B. deMille.

The legendary filmmaker was so delighted that he not only graciously agreed to let the HFPA use his moniker -- he also accepted the first statuette.

Every year since (except 1976), the HFPA Board of Directors has bestowed the honor on one of Hollywood's biggest talents.

Honoring An Amazing Performer Who Crosses Almost Every Media

HFPA.org stated:

Robin Williams' stellar career embraces comedy and drama and crosses media from television and movies to the stage and the recording arts. He also is known for his extraordinary generosity, most notably as a driving force behind Comic Relief.

To date, Robin has appeared in over forty films.

He received three Golden Globes for best actor in a comedy or musical for his role(s) in Mrs. Doubtfire, The Fisher King and Good Morning, Vietnam.

Williams has received four Academy Award nominations and one win. He joined the "A-List" in Hollywood won the Oscar in 1998 for "Best Actor" for his role in Good Will Hunting. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck also received awards for this film.

Robin McLaurin Williams was born in 1952 in Chicago, though for years people thought he was born in Hawaii. Williams was trained as an actor at New York's famous Juilliard School. After studying for three years on a full scholarship, his teacher John Houseman told him to focus on stand-up comedy.

Williams followed in the footsteps of his idol and now very good friend, Jonathan Winters (b. 1925). Winters was influential in helping him launch his career on television after Williams found success as a stand-up improvisational comic.

Williams' claim to fame and first awards were the result of his role as the alien "Mork from Ork" first in one episode of Happy Days in 1978, followed by his own 1978-1982 hit television show Mork and Mindy. Mindy McConnell was played by Pam Dawber (b. 1951). The Grammy Award-winning comedian, Winters joined the show from 1981-1982.

Today, in addition to Comic Relief, Williams supports a wide spectrum of causes from health care and human rights, to education, environmental protection and the arts. To help raise the morale of troops overseas, he has toured the Middle East twice in the past few years.

Local & Personal Passions

At home in San Francisco, where Robin first moved at the age of 16, he periodically performs at Bimbo's 365 Club. If you are lucky, you may get a first taste of some of his new acts in North Beach.

When Robin is not home taking his son to school or playing the role of hands-on dad, he is on one of his race bikes sailing by with the best of them. Six-time Tour de France winner, Lance Armstrong is a good friend.

Robin Williams Current Productions

To see Williams in action before the end of the year, you can buy the 48-hour self-destructing Flexplay DVD of Noel today. Or you can wait until November 28th, to watch the "everything that happens, happens for a reason" Holiday 2004 movie on TNT TV.

The debut of feature-film director, Chazz Palminteri together with Alan Arkin which co-stars Arkin, Susan Sarandon, Penelope Cruz and Paul Walker, premiered at the Toronto Film Festival before appearing in a limited number of theaters in the U.S.

Other upcoming and recently released Robin Williams movies include:

The Final Cut: - No longer in theaters; DVD likely to be released in the Spring of 2005

In the spring of 2005 Williams will star in two films.

The animated feature Robots, in which Williams voices the character of 'Fender,' a robot who's head, arms and legs fall off at the most inopportune moments will be in theaters on March 11, 2005.

The House of D co-stars Williams with Tea Leoni and Shia LaBeouf. The U.S. theatrical release of this upcoming David Duchovny directed drama is scheduled for April 15, 2005. Williams plays a mentally challenged, 40-year-old friend of a delivery boy.

Most recently, Williams completed principal photography on Mark Mylod's The Big White, a black comedy co-starring Holly Hunter, Woody Harrelson and Giovanni Ribisi. This film is expected to be in theaters next year.

Happy Feet: Expected to be in theaters in 2006

Williams' recent credits also Christopher Nolan's Insomnia.

Robin Williams

One of Williams' best performances, however, was not on the big screen, nor at New York's Broadway Theatre nor at San Francisco's Bimbo's. It was in March of 2000, at a private event, when he graciously took over for a failing auctioneer. With "a Sister" in the crowd, the audience got the best PG-rated Robin Williams show on the planet. It was the day the market declined 150 points. After three hours, Williams' purple silk shirt was drenched. However, those who may have lost their shirt that day, at least went home laughing.

I was not one of those who lost big in the public equity market. However, it was the day I was told by the venture capitalists who had invested in my fourteen year-old first baby that I needed to choose to either serve on the Board of Directors or in the management of the company, but could not continue doing both.

Mr. Williams, I will always remember that day. Laughter was never needed more in my life than that evening. Thank you.

Perhaps one day you can recreate that entire scene in a movie that tells the story of an entrepreneur and her vulture capitalists. One day...

2005 Golden Globe Awards

For all of this year's Golden Globe nominees, go to:

The Golden Globe Awards are part of the HFPA's efforts to serve as a constant incentive within the entertainment industry, both domestic and foreign, and to focus wide public attention upon the best in motion pictures and television.

The 62nd Annual Awards ceremony will be held Sunday, January 16, 2005.

The show will be telecast live on NBC (8-11 pm EST) from the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Robin with Daughter, Zelda at 2003 Golden Globes

For one of the best profiles of Robin Williams' work, go to:

Congratulations to one of the most deserving human beings and the most deserving alien to ever receive this presigious award.

Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful and not only "nanu, nanu" living but "nanny" living x two, we hope!

~ Jennifer Carolyn King

For all of our favorite Robin Williams films including the recently released self-destructing DVD called Noel, go to: