In response Williams went into Robin Williams mode with an edited version of his speech and then, with fist in the air, said in an Irish accent, "It's like Bono. This is Great. Thank you. I'm hotter than Chinese algebra. Thank you."
When asked about how special it was that Pierce Brosnan, Williams' co-star in Mrs. Doubtfire would be presenting Robin with his award, Robin replied:
It's as special for him to come out anywhere. He's so heavily armed to begin with it's just great to have him in the room.
Marsha & Robin Williams
Photo Credit: © HFPA, The 62nd Golden Globe Awards
Robin and Marsha Williams brought Robin's three children with them from San Francisco to Hollywood's 2005 Golden Globes. Cody is seen directly behind Marsha and Robin in the above photograph. In the same photo taken by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Zelda and Zachary are to the right of Robin.
Zelda and Cody are Robin and Marsha's children. Zachary is Robin's son from Robin's previous marriage to Valerie Velardi.
Introducing The Honoree
Pierce Brosnan introduced us to Robin Williams, the t.v.-turned-movie actor and five-time Golden Globe winner. We saw a collection of clips from television and movie shows Williams starred in including: Mork and Mindy, Popeye, Good Morning Vietnam, Dead Poets Society, The Fisher King (for which he received another Golden Globe), The Birdcage, the 1993 hit Mrs. Doubtfire, Good Will Hunting, Insomnia and Patch Adams.
Brosnan then introduced another friend of Robins', "the illustrious director," Mr. Mike Nichols.
Mike Nichols eloquently introduced this year's Cecil B. DeMille award recipient.
Williams' friend, The Birdcage producer, who invented American improvisational comedy in the '50's, said:
We first saw him as a Martian on Mork And Mindy, and in many ways we still do.
He's surely not of this earth. He is a super-human from another planet.
To watch and to listen to him is to feel serious pain in our abdominal muscles since that hard and long laughing is as painful as doing a few dozen sit ups. Try it. Try working with him over the course of a whole movie; it really hurts.
So, we all know he's probably the funniest man on earth or Mars.
Not everyone knows about his -- well, I'm sorry but that there is no other word, but -- goodness.
He's adored by everyone on the set or theater because he is kind and thoughtful with everyone.
He's a great husband and father to his wife and children, and they get right back at him by being the best.
He's a rare friend.
He takes care of his friends, always.
He goes without fanfare to Iraq and to Afghanistan, twice, because he thinks the soldiers there would probably like some laughs.
He is, to put it simply, a wonderful man.
In 1992, Robin received a special award from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for giving us the voice of the Genie in the animated feature Aladdin, and in that film he sang a wonderful song which sums up how we all feel about his career.
The world of entertainment has never had a friend like this.
Mr. Nichols' words followed the voice of Robin singing "You've Never Had A Friend Like Me".
Robin mouthed to Nichols, "Thanks boss" to which Nichols said, "Robin, come and get it."
Robin hugged and kissed his sons, Zachary and Cody, his wife, Marsha. He hugged Jim Carrey. He nearly picked up Jamie Foxx off the ground. And then he proceeded to climb up onto the stage in his tails and silver bow tie.
2005 Cecil B. DeMille Award Recipient
Robin Williams' Acceptance Speech
Robin began his acceptance speech by saying in a foreign accent, "Thank you. My English is not so good. I thank the Hollywood Foreign Press. Gracie. Gracias. Danke. Merci." He said "thank you" in about four other languages including Japanese and sign language.
Robin then went into Robin Williams mode as only Robin Williams can:
Thank you for this with the little nipply thing on the top.
This is a wonderful award. And quick Janet Jackson (as he put the trophy to his right breast.)
I have to thank the Hollywood Foreign Press because #1, you've been so nice over the years.
Twenty-seven years ago, you gave me an award for Mork as Best Newcomer. Thank you. And two years later, you gave the same award to Pia Zadora. Thank you. That was very humbling. You're quite amazing that way.
I didn't know what The Foreign Press was.
I always thought the Foreign Press was a wrestling move, and then I went to my first Hollywood Foreign Press Conference. I said, "Who are the people at the Buffet? I said those are The Hollywood Foreign Press."
In a foreign accent: Try the Danish, Rabbit. Try the Danish. So nice the Danish is good for me.
In Robin's voice: At that time, a long time ago, they all had day jobs. I guess things have changed.
You'd got to a restaurant saying, "Hi. Table for two." Maybe later.
It's always nice to go there. They take pictures. I had the magazine upside down. I'm very sorry to the Chinese people. I'm very sorry.
I'd also like to thank the Hollywood Foreign Press for #1, having an open bar. This makes this evening go kind of well, especially the year Gerard Depardieu had a couple of bottles of wine and went ...
In a French accent: "I want to give Jeffrey Katzenberg a big wet kiss."
I hope that happens some day.
I also want to thank you for having Prince, William Shatner, Puffy Daddy and Mick Jagger on the same stage. That is the sign of the Apocalypse.
Thank you. Thank you.
That is the end of the world, as we know it.
I also want to thank the Hollywood Foreign Press for acknowledging comedy.
Jim, you know this. (Speaking directly to Jim Carrey.)
Normally they look at comedians as like...
In Mork's voice: Very special people. Thank you very much.
In Robin's voice: And you allow us to be in the room with the adults. You nominate us. You even have a category for us. Comedy...
In Armand Goldman's voice from "The Birdcage": And Dancing. There's a lot of dancers that could have been out there, but they didn't make it.
In Robin's voice: I also want to thank the Hollywood Foreign Press for the Star Trek and musical set (as he pointed to the ceiling). But you do acknowledge comedy which is a wonderful thing over the years. And that's been a glorious, glorious thing.
You know comedy is hard. Comedy is about (looking at his hands as he's about to grab two large breasts) women with wonderful hands, and a Governor in California who ...
In Schwarzenneger's voice: Talks like this. (In Schwarzenneger jibberish) something, something California.
In Robin's voice: A true American. Now we know.
So, we're brought here tonight to thank them.
Every time I would go to the Hollywood Foreign Press they would say, "Robbie."
And I knew if the movie wasn't very good, there was always this wonderful woman named Dora who would say...
In a Mrs. Doubtfire-like voice: "How are the kids?"
In Robin's voice: So Dora, I brought my kids tonight. They're here tonight. I want to introduce Cody, the Ninja Poet. Zelda, photographer, actress, big fan of Hello Kitty. Zachary, the linguist. He does very good. He's going to open a Syntax Repair Shop.
Thank you.
Robin, Marsha, Zelda & Cody Williams
And I also want to share this award with a very special woman.
A "Wifetime" Achievement Award.
With Marsha, I'd like to give you the Cote de Coeur for living with a comedian. It's an interesting job, isn't it?!
We're a tad moody. Isn't that right, Cybill?
In Cybill's voice: YES!
In Robin's voice: We're a little rough. But thank you for offering me a shelter in the midst of Schadenfreude.
I also want to thank another amazing woman. Rebecca Jane Erwin Spencer, who is my assistant, who has a quick way of leveling me when I get too infused with myself going, "I'm a star."
She'll go: "Hey Mork Guy."
Quick. It puts it right down there.
In Rebecca's voice: Oh, did you have to walk to the private plane? Oh, come on. Life's a bitch. Come on. Let's go.
In Robin's voice: So, Rebecca Jane. I also want to thank...
Freud once said, "If it's not one thing, it's your mother."
[Looking up to Heaven] Robin said:
I thank you mom.
Thank you for getting me hooked in this profession. You got me started.
In a Jewish Rapster's voice: I also want to thank my Hebrew crew. My shugamamashpuka. You know what I'm talkin' about. I'm sendin' out my representatives. Malibu Represent. I'm sendin' a big "Hey" out to...
In Robin's voice, Williams said:
David Steinberg, Larry Brezner, Buddy Morra (if he's awake), Jack Rollins, the most ethical man in show business.
I just want to thank a very, very special person.
I dedicate this award to the memory of a friend of mine.
Chris Reeve, I miss you.
Looking again to Heaven and quoting Shakespeare's Hamlet, Williams said:
May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest, sweet prince.
Thank you and good night.
Robin Williams' PG-rated, award-deserving, in at-least-one-dozen voices acceptance speech was the biggest highlight of the 2005 Golden Globes.
His performance on Sunday night reflected a lifetime achievement after having played the role of at least fifty characters since the '70's.
* * *
On The E Channel broadcast, after the Globes, Robin Williams spoke to the press.
When asked "What was running through your mind as you were watching the film clips" Robin replied:
Watching, I said to myself, I've had a chance to work with some amazing people.
I wanted to thank all of those directors, every crew person, every actor, every actress.
It's been an amazing ride. And all of them have been a great experience. All of them.
People like Max. DeNiro. Pacino. Tim Robbins. Hilary Swank. Every one.
There's never been a bad experience.
When asked "What's with the shoes?" he responded:
It's French Rodeo. French Rodeo is when you ride the horse and then you eat it afterwards. It's very quick.
When a reporter set up his question by saying "Now, no one has asked this question all night and you're just the man just for this," Robin without hesitation chimed in, "Eight inches."
Robin added: "But that's the boots. They're eight inches long."
The reporter stayed with him and asked: "Why do you think Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt broke up?"
Robins responded: "I think once you've been an Achilles, you're vulnerable."
To the guy who came into the entertainment world as Mork, and ended up playing Popeye, T.S. Garp, Donald Quinelle, Vladimir Ivanoff, Jack Dundee, Jack Moniker, Tommy Wilhelm, A2C Adrian Cronauer, John Keating, Joey O'Brien, Dr. Malcolm Sayer, Doctor Cozy Carlisle, Henry Sagan, the voice of The Blue Genie, Hector, Dr. Kosevich, John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt, Alan Parrish, Armand Goldman, Jack Powell, Dale Putley, Professor Philip Brainard, Sean Maguire, Chris Nielsen, Hunter 'Patch' Adams, Jakob Heym, Andrew Martin, Sy Parrish, Randolph Smiley, Walter Finch, Alan Hakman, Pappass, a Priest and "Fender" in the upcoming animation called Robots, to name a few, congratulations!
No matter who you play, you play him (or her) masterfully.
Here's to your next fifty plus productions ... in front of the camera, on stage, in a bike race, or with family and friends who love you, the real Robin McLaurin Williams, as much as the award-winning actor / comedian / entertainer / martian / genie and robot combined.
Your mother and Chris Reeve would be proud. Those from your hometown certainly were.
Quoting Henry David Thoreau in Walden:
I learned this, at least, by my experiment; that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.
Inspire & Be Inspired ®.
Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful, "laugh loving" living!
~ Jennifer Carolyn King
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