Brian Lord, the former booking-agent for famed actor and comedian Robin Williams, has revealed that the actor demanded that every film he worked on hire homeless people for jobs that could help them get back on their feet.
In a post on his website, Lord said:
"When I got Robin Williams' rider, I was very surprised by what I found. He actually had a requirement that for every single event or film he did, the company hiring him also had to hire a certain number of homeless people and put them to work. I never watched a Robin Williams movie the same way after that. I'm sure that on his own time and with his own money, he was working with these people in need, but he'd also decided to use his clout as an entertainer to make sure that production companies and event planners also learned the value of giving people a chance to work their way back."
"I wonder how many production companies continued the practice into their next non-Robin Williams project, as well as how many people got a chance at a job and the pride of earning an income, even temporarily, from his actions. He was a great multiplier of his impact. Let's hope that impact lives on without him. Thanks, Robin Williams — not just for laughs, but also for a cool example."
Robin Williams, during his long caree,r helped many charitable foundations, including Comic Relief.
Comic Relief founder, Bob Zmuda, said of knowing Williams:
"Robin came from a family with money — he was brought up with a silver spoon in his mouth, and I think he felt so blessed that he wanted to do something for people who weren't brought up like that."
Robin Williams was the star of hit TV shows such as Mork & Mindy and went on to find global fame in movies such as Good Morning Vietnam, Good Will Hunting, Mrs. Doubtfire and as the voice of the Genie in Disney's Aladdin. He also had a highly successful stand-up comedy career.
He successfully battled and overcame both alcoholism and severe depression.
In 2014, after being diagnosed with an incurable degenerative brain disorder, he committed suicide.
In an interview in 2010, Williams was asked if he was happy after overcoming his personal challenges. He said:
"I think so. And not afraid to be unhappy. That's OK too. And then you can be like, all is good. And that is the thing, that is the gift."
[h/t: Tiffy Taffy]
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