Much More Than A Little Spark

"You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't waste it..."

That was Robin Williams, the legendary (an over-used eulogy nowadays but, in this case, oh-so-accurate) comic-actor who sadly passed away August 11th, 2014. 

It's a death that many will mourn for some time, as is testament to the flux of anguish and grief as the news first broke. For once, a celebrity death hoax was much needed, but, alas...

Robin Williams did not commit to a handful of good movies, no, he took part and elevated a plethora of great ones. Throw them in as you will: Good Will Hunting (his well-deserved Oscar), Good Morning, Vietnam, Mrs. Doubtfire, Flubber, Awakenings, One-Hour Photo, Insomnia, The Fisher King, Aladdin, Dead Poets Society, Hook, The World According To Garp, World's Greatest Dad, What Dreams May Come, Jumanji, The Birdcage, and many others, religious to the fact that this man wasn't just a wild, eccentric genius, but also a solemn, calculating and convincing advocate of the trade that regarded him in such esteem.

He began a glittering career as an alien in sit-com Mork and Mindy and developed into a raucously funny comedian with a set of serious acting chops when it was required. He could navigate his way through a film, switching from one persona to another effortlessly, as he displayed so vehemently as airman Adrian Cronauer in Good Morning, Vietnam, a role that distributed the actor's witty, sharp rapid delivery and penchant for comedy alongside his refined, troubled dramatic side. Other films, One-Hour Photo and Insomnia stripped the humour away entirely, proving that Williams could stand up alongside juggernauts such as Pacino and shine bigger and brighter.

There's a time and a place to delve into detail and whatever Williams struggled with, his inner demons, they were sadly left to him and him alone. For now, though, it's time to celebrate and herald a genius, a legend, a captain, my captain.