47 Robin Williams Trivia Questions & Answers

Answer: Awakenings

'Awakenings' told the story of a doctor who trialled a drug called "L-dopa" on his patients with the hope of extracting them from their catatonic state - a condition characterised by a lack of awareness of external stimuli and loss of motor function. Sayer's gamble at first appeared to pay off when his first patient, Leonard Lowe (played by Robert de Niro), regained his awareness of the world around him. However, after securing the necessary funding to extend the trial to his other patients, Sayer discovered that Leonard's condition was deteriorating and he eventually returned to his catatonic state. The film was based on the real-life work of a British neurologist named Oliver Sacks.

The incorrect options are all films with comas or catatonia featuring in the plot.

Answer: Aladdin

Playing Genie was Robin William's first role as a character for a Disney film. He became a classic Disney character that children loved for his loud announcer voice, funny tactics, and loyalty for friends.

Genie's purpose is to be Aladdin's servant and grant him three wishes. However during the time they have together, Genie becomes Aladdin's friend. He has his moments of magic and jokes, but also cares enough to tell Aladdin the truth when he encounters problems with his girlfriend, the princess Jasmine. Genie tells Aladdin he would love to have freedom. As a genie he was given "phenomenal cosmic power, but an itty bitty living space". After Jafar, the evil magician is defeated, Aladdin uses his last wish to set Genie free.

Answer: Shakes the Clown

In 'Shakes the Clown', Robin Williams is given credit with one of his several pseudonyms, namely 'Marty Fromage' ('fromage' being the word for 'cheese' in French).

'Shakes the Clown' is the story of an alcoholic clown for hire who is having difficulty coping with life. Things get even worse for Shakes when he is accused of murdering his boss.

Answer: Shelley Duvall

'Popeye' was an example of a film that was marvelously cast but somehow still flopped. Robin Williams was excellent as Popeye, and Shelley shined as Olive Oyl, but the movie just didn't tickle my fancy like it should have. Perhaps it needed more spinach? Just imagine if the original choice to play Popeye, Dustin Hoffman, were to have been kept. I don't think that would have worked...

Answer: 'Good Will Hunting'

Robin Williams starred in this movie with Matt Damon.

Answer: Alan Parrish

'Jumanji' was first released in 1995 and featured Robin Williams as a man who spent 26 years of his life (and grew to adulthood) while trapped in a board game that proved to be capable of releasing hordes of wild animals and sucking players into its world. Alan found the game (also called 'Jumanji') and played it with his friend Sarah in 1969 - while Alan got sucked into it, Sarah escaped, uninjured but traumatised. It wasn't until two young siblings, Peter and Judy Shepherd, found and started playing the game 26 years later that Alan had a chance to escape. He then, with the help of Peter and Judy, had to track down his old friend as the game could only be finished once all of its original players were present.

The incorrect options are all other characters that appear in the film.

Answer: Hook

Years passed from his days in Neverland and the story picked up where the fairy tale left off. Peter gave up his eternal youth to become a husband and a lawyer. He struggles to please his family but always comes up short. Then his life is interrupted by magic. Hook kidnaps his children and Peter must return to Neverland to face his nemesis. While battling Hook, Peter has to regain the trust of his children and promises that he will be a better father.

Answer: Aladdin

Robin Williams plays 'Genie' in this classic tale of a street kid who falls in love with a princess, and uses a magic lamp that he finds in order to gain her affections.

Robin Williams does dozens of impressions in this movie, including ones of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ed Sullivan, Groucho Marx and Carol Channing.

Answer: 'Bicentennial Man'

Williams plays a robot that takes on human traits.

Answer: Mrs. Doubtfire

'Mrs. Doubtfire' (1993) proved to be one of Robin Williams' most successful films, earning him a Golden Globe award for Best Actor. This was despite the rather odd premise of his character, Daniel Hillard, dressing up as a woman and taking a job as his ex-wife's housekeeper in order to maintain contact with his children after his divorce from their mother. Although he charmed both his former wife, Miranda (played by Sally Field), and the children, he couldn't keep the charade up forever and his secret double-identity was eventually discovered by first his children (in a hilarious bathroom scene), then by an outraged Miranda and finally by the family court judge who reacted by cutting his access to his children to the bare minimum. However, eventually all was resolved and the character of "Mrs. Doubtfire" subsequently revived his acting career.

The incorrect options are all films about characters with child care responsibilities.

Answer: FernGully: The Last Rainforest

Batty is a victim of animal testing gone bad. He escapes and tries to tell the fairies about all the evils he has experienced as a lab animal. He frequently has trouble when wires on his head short out. However he becomes a loyal friend to the fairies that are trying to stop the destruction of their rainforest.

In the children's film there were several messages against pollution, animal testing and saving the environment. However Robin William's character, Batty, takes the spooky edge off with his humor, songs and theatrics.

Answer: Daniel Hillard

Mrs. Doubtfire's full name is Mrs. Euphegenia Doubtfire. Robin Williams based Mrs. Doubtfire's Scottish accent on that of Bill Forsyth, the two having worked together on 'Being Human'.

In the movie, Daniel Hillard is a father who loses his rights to visit his children. In order to get closer to them, he dons the garb of an elderly Scottish woman and comes to work as their nanny.

Answer: Walter Matthau

Directed by Michael Ritchie, Robin once again shines in a comedic role that is only limited by the quality of the script. Walter Matthau is also fun in this film that highlights both the absurdity of the working world and the neurotic fantasies of your average survivalist.

Answer: 'Toys'

Williams plays a toymaker.

Answer: Matt Damon

'Good Will Hunting' starred Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Robin Williams, Minnie Driver and Stellan Skarsgård, but it was Damon who played the title role. The film, which was first released in 1997, was directed by Gus Van Sant. It told the story of a genius janitor named Will Hunting who worked in a university, but had the intelligence to solve a series of difficult mathematical problems set out by a Professor Lambeau (Skarsgård). When Lambeau discovered that it was the janitor rather than one of his students who solved the problems, he enlisted a therapist (Williams) to help Hunting overcome issues related to the abuse he had suffered as a child and pursue a relationship with an English girl named Skylar (Driver). Ben Affleck, who co-wrote the film with Matt Damon, played one of Hunting's friends.

'Good Will Hunting' netted Williams an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Answer: Flubber

Robin Williams plays Professor Philip Brainard in "Flubber". Professor Professor Philip Brainard believes if he can create a new energy source he can save the college he works for from closure. However he has a tendency to misplace his priorities. After two failed wedding attempts, his fiancée leaves and dates another professor. When his attempt to reconcile her fails, he devotes his time to his invention. Flubber turns out to be more than the professor realizes. The green goo has many abilities but causes mayhem when its not controlled. The professor tries to demonstrate the flubber to his ex-girlfriend, hoping she will come back. However when she rejects him, the professor tells his assistant robot how much he loves her. The robot is able to get them back together, in time for them to save the college and eventually be married.

Critics first gave this film very poor reviews, but when the movie hit the theaters it made more than double what it had spent in its budget. Robin Williams was a huge attraction that brought the film to life for many audiences.

Answer: Nine Months

Although I am not a fan of Hugh Grant, and certainly not a fan of 'Nine Months', I will tune into this film if it's on television just to see the Robin Williams' parts. Robin is especially funny when he, as a doctor, passes out at the sight of an epidural syringe.

'Nine Months' is the story of a man who learns that his girlfriend has become pregnant. Together they must come to grips with the fact that they are expectant parents.

Answer: Vladimir Ivanoff

Interestingly, Yakov Smirnoff (who is actually Ukrainian) does appear in this film, but only in a minor role as Lev. In the film, Robin Williams plays a Russian saxophone player who defects in Bloomingdales (of all places). Again, another cheesy role...but Robin will make you laugh and cry here.

Answer: 'Dead Poet's Society'

Williams plays an English professor.

Answer: A teacher

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Robin Williams portrayed an English teacher in 'Dead Poets Society'. His character took an unorthodox approach to the teaching of poetry, allowing his students greater freedom to read and understand the works rather than assessing them in a formulaic manner. The eponymous society was a poetry club to which Keating belonged when he was a student and which his own students recreated in his honour. Sadly though, things went horribly wrong when one of the students committed suicide and the headteacher blamed Keating. Williams was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar for his role in the film, but lost out to Daniel Day-Lewis (who won for 'My Left Foot').

Answer: Night at the Museum

In "Night at the Museum", Larry Daley has been unsuccessful as an inventor and gets a new job in security. Larry is unaware when he takes the job, that it is actually more difficult than it seems. The museum comes to life every night due to a special artifact in the Egyptian exhibit. Daley's first night is a disaster trying to get the exhibit figures and animals back in order. He has to protect them from going outside or they will turn to dust. Theodore Roosevelt the former Rough Rider and President of the United States (Robin Williams), lends a helping hand. He also gives Daley some advice about his private life with his son and ex-marriage. He becomes a friend and an inspiration to Daley and his son.

The movie also had a sequel "Battle of the Smithsonian".

Answer: Jumanji

'Jumanji' is the story of two children who discover a board game that literally takes them into the action. Robin Williams plays Alan Parish, a man who has been trapped inside the game for 26 years and must now play himself out.

Answer: Good Morning, Vietnam

Robin Williams received his first Oscar nomination for his performance as Adrian Cronauer, a radio DJ who brings joy to American soldiers during the terrifying situation in late 1960s Vietnam. Again, Robin combined his unique talent for spontaneous comedy with a sense of dramatic humanity here, which is no doubt why the Academy decided to honor him with a nomination. Incidentally, the film was very loosely based on a real DJ in Vietnam named Adrian Cronauer.

Answer: 'Moscow on the Hudson'

Williams plays a Russian musician who is trying to become adjusted to the U.S.

Answer: John Irving

John Irving wrote both the original novel on which 'The World According to Garp' was based and the screenplay for the film. He is also known for his other major works 'The Cider House Rules', 'A Prayer for Owen Meany' and 'A Widow for One Year'. In 'The World According to Garp', Robin Williams played the title role of Garp - the son of a feminist named Jenny who raped a brain-damaged soldier in order to become pregnant and have a child without having to deal with the presence of a father in his life. Mother and son proved to have vastly different interests but both became published authors. However, their difficult relationship was cut short when Jenny was assassinated at a political rally and the film ended with Garp also being shot by someone outraged by his literary work.