Robin Williams’ Generosity Touched Many

The death of Robin Williams yesterday has sparked an outpouring of sentiment from people of all walks around the country. Yet for many, Williams’ generosity may be what they remember the best. By all accounts, the comedian, actor, and author was one of the most giving people in show business, and Williams’ generosity touched many lives through the years.

In a tribute to Williams, two-time Oscar nominee Jessica Chastain posted on Facebook that the generosity of Robin Williams was the reason for her graduating from Julliard.

“Robin Williams changed my life,” the actress posted about Williams’ generosity. “Through a scholarship, he made it possible for me to graduate college.”

Chastain graduated from Julliard in 2003, according to ET Online.

The scholarship was sight-unseen and part of an endowment that Williams’ generosity created, gifting a student every two years with a full ride, monetarily. The actress first gave Williams’ credit for his generosity in an Interview profile after her graduation.

Others remember Williams’ generosity as well. Robin Williams owned a large vineyard on the border of Napa and Sonoma counties in California. In that same territory, the actor’s brother, “Dr. Toad” Williams, was a wine broker and founder of Healdsburg’s Toad Hollow Vineyards. Robin was quite fond of his brother, who died in 2007, and remarked to the Press Democrat that it was cool that in a lot of places, Williams was “just Toad’s brother.” The Democrat also reports that people around the valley remember both Williams’ generosity as the brothers made appearances together at local events, often performing free of charge and bringing wine to share.

Williams’ generosity also went towards the hands-on in his own business, often visiting night clubs personally to promote the idea of including comedy acts and comedians. An art gallery owner in the area remembers Williams’ generosity when he appeared, unannounced, with a Dead Poets Society jacket to give it to him in honor of him “seizing the day.” On opening the art gallery after the gallery owner stated he’d opened the gallery after seeing the film.

At an event looking for a missing little girl in the valley, Williams showed his generosity by showing up at a fundraiser and signing a Willie Mays baseball to boost its value and then urged the crowd to bid. The ball sold for $1,750 as Williams continued pressing the crowd to bid, pushing up the price with his enthusiasm and generosity.

Meanwhile, stories on Twitter, Facebook, in on-camera interviews with stars and up-and-coming actors, friends, and more are pouring in. All of them illustrate that beyond the comedy and the fell-good persona and award-winning acting, Williams’ generosity with others was what marked him for most. Great and unknown, many were touched by the generosity Williams showed as a way of life. Including Koko the Gorilla.

[Photo from Getty Images]