Williams’ box office hits...

Dead Poets Society, 1989

Early reviews were poor so Williams decided not to accompany Christopher Reeve to a showing. Reeve went anyway, and at the end of the film, in which Williams plays an inspirational teacher (above), the audience gave it a standing ovation. Reeve was so happy for his friend that he was moved to tears.

Aladdin, 1992

Disney wanted Williams to play the genie and ended up auditioning for him rather than vice versa – hiring an animator to create footage using tracks from Robin’s stand-up comedy albums. Williams loved it.

Mrs Doubtfire, 1993

Williams plays a soon-to-be single father who assumes the disguise of a female housekeeper (below) so he can spend more time with his children. ‘I started doing a voice that sounded like Margaret Thatcher, and I realised that would scare the s*** out of a kid,’ said Williams.

One Hour Photo, 2002

Williams plays a photo-lab employee who becomes dangerously fixated on a family whose pictures he develops. To prepare, he watched interviews with the serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer.

Insomnia, 2002

Christopher Nolan’s thriller stars Al Pacino as a cop investigating a murder in Alaska with Williams as the main suspect.