Robin Williams - powerful, understated performance in Homicide: Life on the Street

[@Caribloo]

Robin Williams was one of the most incredible talents on this planet. He could make you feel every emotion he felt, and he did it flawlessly. We have lost so many great talents this year. Between Maya Angelou and Robin, I feel like I've lost my childhood. This world isn't the same without them. We all lost on this.

[@annanimus3943]

Carrie Couzens, Psychiatrists and psychologists claim that high IQ combined with great creativity can mean bipolar depression. This may explain why we lose so many highly talented people.

[@IndustryHarm]

RIP

[@hassanmonnan7526]

He was also part of the paedophile ring and he heavily supported Zionism and aided wahabi rich elites

[@jimtownsend3910]

@@hassanmonnan7526 you are weak. This is why we removed your government.

[@helenwhite2066]

Not moved very much now or even six years ago by Angelou’s departure,adios race grifter.

[@ConcaCon]

That quiet, mournful intensity is far more poignant than any outburst of emotion. That was one memorable performance. Weird how under the radar it was. But then, the same applies to this entire series.

[@MerleBowers]

This was the pilot. I'll never forget Robin's performance.

[@LS-ki9ft]

Yaphet Kotto will always be G. RIP to both him and Robin. The world is a lesser place without these two great talents.

[@markfradl]

If you've never seen it, check out Blue Collar - he's great in that (as are Richard Pryor and Harvey Keitel)

[@jaycinko5956]

I loved G

[@suncore598]

Robin Williams was so good in this. You can feel his character's pain and how he is barely keeping himself together for the sake of his children.

[@pvtrichter88]

this show brought out the best in many actors as you noticed even DANIEL BALDWIN is pretty good in this !but yes R.williams BRILL as one of the early signs of his dramatic prowess !! RIP to his memory !

[@NormAppleton]

The scene with Robin and Yaphet Kotto AKA G was the best

[@LordZontar]

Robin Williams didn't do drama that often, but when he did his performances were spellbinding. It's amazing to watch him here as a man who is keeping himself together on sheer willpower alone and will forever look upon himself as a failure because he "didn't do what a man is supposed to do" when his wife was in mortal danger. He'll never be able to see or accept that there is no predicting how you'll react when a moment like that happens, and that is the saddest aspect of the character Robin Williams made himself into for this episode. You could almost feel that father's agony and guilt in that performance.

[@mayhemjr.803]

The range of acting Robin had from being one of the funniest men ever to a grieving widow with kids in my mind makes him one of the greatest actors ever. He's certainly the greatest entertainer of my generation.

[@Putaspellonyou]

He was an INCREDIBLE actor, no matter what he brought his talent to.

[@kevinscottbailey8335]

Robin Williams has never been better than he was in these 20 minutes of screen time. Just such a brilliant actor, gone far too soon.

[@jluther1755]

What incredible writing. What incredible acting. How hard it must be to produce, the talent must be lost. Barry Levinson's genius

[@ElliottMichaels56]

I didn't get to watch this when it was original on the air. I'm glad I got to watch it now. What a performance.

[@markfradl]

I recommend getting the DVD to see the whole episode (for that matter, the whole series is amazing) - but these are all Robin William's parts in the episode-

[@nateo200]

Mark F Agreed. I own the whole DVD box set. My dad purchased it when it came out but before that he printed out the dialogue to an entire episode and I used to read it from time to time. Now I'm binge watching the DVD's and this show is better than gold.

[@jtclaf]

Wow! what a performance by Robin Williams, RIP, and what a show, the best damn cop show ever.

[@thomassodomizer764]

Damn Homicide had for a network TV show. Just goes to show the brilliance of Williams and future brilliance of Gyllenhaall. RIP Williams you will be missed.

[@tobylanglois3698]

One of his very best performances. Fantastic.

[@Samuel88853]

I always liked the early homicide episodes and this was an amazing performance by R Williams when he was thought of as just a comedy actor. Thought of this as well when I heard the news.

[@Toywithme200]

he was an amazing actor. not only comedy, but drama too, which to me, is the mark of a true talent, someone who can do both successfully! and a great person is real life! what a loss. he'll be so missed!

[@MethosChannel]

Robins acting range was unlimited and amazing, from Mrs. Doubtfire to Good Will Hunting.

[@terrellgivens]

Robin was FANTASTIC.. breathtaking

[@TheJoshuamooney]

Haven’t thought about this episode in years. So great, and RW as good as he ever was.

[@marycraigh12]

This is the first thing I looked for when I learned of his death. This was the first time I saw him in a serious role and I was moved to a point of tears. He was not only a great comedian but a great serious actor, also, as this performance shows. Thank you so much for posting this.

[@anthonydaro4134]

One hour photo

[@sarcasticallyrearranged]

The World According to Garp. Great book and movie. Robin did a fantastic job.

[@tchrisou812]

the fisher king

[@anttmann6123]

Awakenings.

[@kaydaw24]

He went . to Juilliard.

[@thelionofjudah2012]

Williams and Kotto... very powerful!

[@MrSteveG58]

You know watching this app for Mr. Koto has recently passed makes it even more powerful.

[@ENG13INELT]

This show was so incredible! Loved every episode.

[@MyRedPony1]

Possible spoiler - end of show: “… the thing is, the minute they pulled that trigger, I lost my wife. But I joined a club. It’s a very exclusive club. But the funny thing about the club is none of the members want to belong. It’s like some sort of secret society, where only the initiated can recognize the other members. There’s thousands of us, and it’s growing each year. We all end up talking to some poor homicide detective like you and asking ‘why? Why me?’ Truth is, it’s not ‘why me?’ anymore. It’s ‘when me?’ “ Jesus. I guess we'll be finding a lot of TV shows or movies with similar dialogue. I know they are just words. I know they are not signs of what Robin was going through. I know that they didn’t mean anything except to the writer, whose job it was to ensure the script meant something to the director, whose job it was to ensure the actor delivered his lines so well that audiences would connect and empathize with the character. Yet I can’t help but wonder how long it will take those of us who are mourning the loss of Robin, someone we never met, to stop reading things that aren’t there, or watch Billy Crystal at the Emmy’s talking about his friend Robin and not feel such profound sadness. I’d be interested in any theories because all I know right now is that I haven’t spoken to anyone who isn’t truly upset by this loss, and no one I’ve spoken to has ever felt this amount of sorrow with any other ‘celebrity’ who has passed away.

[@ewesley1]

Just think of all of the generational actors in these scenes that are no longer with us…

[@mfreeman313]

I saw this when it first broadcast. Remember it like it was real life that happened to me. It's as true a representation of sudden, profound shock and grief as anything I can think of.

[@Jabberwok28]

The opening scene with Seal’s “Killer” playing is astonishing.

[@JESimsAssociates]

Robin Williams was such a great actor. The transition from comedy to drama was amazing. I think the first dramatic role of his was Moscow on the Hudson. RIP

[@BenChanNYC]

An amazing episode of an amazing show.

[@SGTJDerek]

Loved Robin. Can't believe how long it's been since we lost him. I had forgotten how short he was but that's true of a lot of Hollywood's leading men.

[@smurfnm156]

I've heard about this for years but never saw it. Incredible performance.

[@Y0uKnowMyName]

Oh man, it's so good to see Robin Williams in a different role. I mean I've seen him in this kind of role before but not this role in a show I never watched before. It's just good to see him again even in his past work.

[@randompkp]

Thanks so much for posting this

[@annmarie4442]

Wow I haven't seen this before. Thanks for the upload. He was brilliant. RIP ♥

[@TheLeadSled]

Loved this show, seen it filmed many times, Bmore.

[@pvtrichter88]

THE RAVENS are harkening to his spirit !![or some such reference !] great performances and one the early gritty dramas on the TELLY !! ENJOY BRUV!!

[@jewgirl952]

He was an amazing dramatic actor. I enjoyed that side of his acting, and his emotionally unstable portrayal in One Hour Photo, much more than I enjoyed his comedic roles.

[@murrayhopwood874]

Pure class. Get full episodes on youtube

[@JonBlondell]

You're right, amazing performance.

[@markfradl]

I was surprised it wasn't here too, so I decided to figure out how to post it -- glad some other people wanted to see it too

[@Srhandel]

Thanks for posting, the dvd is hard to find.

[@leeving2999]

Thank you for putting this up . I remember watching it on the night it originally aired and was so drawn in by his skills playing a grieving spouse . A lot of people don't even know he did this .

[@nitawhite8459]

+Mark F - Wonderful performance...thank you for posting this!

[@altinkosova4120]

He was also at SVU!

[@mountainmanws]

I really liked this series when I was able (I was taking college evening courses) to view. And as usually happens, when I like a tv series, that is the kiss of death. You are profoundly missed, Mr. Williams. Were we actually viewing the real Mr. Williams and didn't know?

[@XoXitsSaruhh]

I've only watched 9 minutes but I feel pretty hurt. I want to go hug my mom right now.

[@Rawkstar1960]

I’m at a loss for words. I have never watched homicide on the streets. Just now watched these two clips. One with Buscemi and this one with Williams. I’m still at a loss for words.

[@kaydaw24]

Me and my dad watch the show before I went out drinking on Friday nights the camera work is just stunning so ahead of its time

[@johnochiltree1170]

That ‘did he?’ When she tries to hand him the letter was brilliant.

[@thebunkreport]

Robin Williams was an incredible talent. RIP.

[@soberocsta]

makes me tear up knowing he's gone an why he did what he did R.I.P Robin Williams

[@octoman511]

seeing robin williams be serious and dramatic always felt surreal.

[@karforeman1556]

that scene where he breaks down while holding his wife's nightgown just destroys me. His best acting

[@TimScottSuiGeneris]

A great movie of his that doesn't get its due is The Fisher King where a similar scenario happened to his character, his girlfriend was murdered in front of him as well. Now that the news recently came about his ordeal makes me more sympathetic to his demise, I still don't like suicide as an out but I also wouldn't want anyone to needlessly suffer for years with no end in sight. He was a good but flawed man and a great actor.

[@oldirtydasher]

Jake gyllenhaal acting top notch already

[@jamesway]

I hate that most people always remember the wire and not this great show.

[@MerleBowers]

Is this show streamed anywhere

[@trishloughman5998]

Jake Gyllenhaal's father directed it.

[@DavidGarvinTechnophile]

By far the best television show ever to air.

[@jennybeard6341]

I love it, but “The Wire.”

[@DavidGarvinTechnophile]

@@jennybeard6341 I can buy that :)

[@eddiemoran8044]

The sopranos

[@jennybeard6341]

@@eddiemoran8044 is it that good? I keep thinking about giving it a watch.

[@eddiemoran8044]

@@jennybeard6341 it’s by far the greatest tv show ever, it was the first one with an actual anti hero. If you know breaking bad, the creator of that show stated himself “tony soprano SPRINTED just so everybody else could walk”

[@happyfistcutscrap]

fine performance

[@Whynotthem65]

Extremely powerful and emotional. Violence unfortunately happens regardless your race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation and this episode made sure this was pointed out.

[@JoelSapp]

I'd love to find the rest of this episode. My cousin played the mother of the murderer. I thought it was a two part episode.

[@murrayhopwood874]

We all know 'INSOMNIA'

[@imajeepster]

The actress who played the daughter was named Julia Devin. Hard to imagine, she's probably in college now!

[@danielwilliamson6180]

RIP Robin Williams and Yaphet Koto.

[@ivorytower99]

Like the other late, great actors, who were diagnosed as manic depressive. Williams probably drew on that energy when giving this performance.

[@randallcarpenter5313]

Robin Williams suffered from dementia with Lewy bodies, a neurological disorder.

[@m0404958]

That kid is Jake Gyllenhaal.... R.I.P. Robin

[@BC-kx6db]

What, his son? Great bit of info if you’re ever playing TV trivia! And yes, robin williams was a very talented actor in many roles. I think the only thing I saw him in where he struggled to be convincing was a couple of attempts at sinister bad guy in one hour photo and that other one he did at a similar time that I can’t remember the name of now. But heartfelt, emotionally impactive roles he had plenty of talent and ability for.

[@aussieguy6908]

14:50 had one very powerful piece of acting, which was shorten after the gun was taken back. Williams’s line was the power to take a life.

[@syncmonism]

There were so many great guest actors on this show, including pretty much every actor who ended up in The Wire

[@sarcasticallyrearranged]

Googlar Quite a few were also on OZ and the Law and Order franchise.

[@CaptainTae]

Baby Jake Gyllenhaal.

[@damianhines1583]

Every Cop has to go through this Terrible thing something they never forget ! I know we don't get paid enough for what we live with they never leave us !

[@sarcasticallyrearranged]

I’m desperate to watch all of the episodes and I wish someone would upload them to the Daily Motion site. They won’t delete them on there.

[@kevinmcardle4087]

That's a young Jake Gyllenhaal as the son. Williams was an amazing talent, as was Richard Belzer (RIP)

[@thehumblelion1876]

holy shit, jake gyllenhaal

[@calumlynch5779]

That's Jake Gyllenhaal playing Robin Williams' son

[@john_wesley_walsh]

His father directed the episode.

[@calumlynch5779]

@@john_wesley_walsh Yes he did

[@tofumar]

WOW

[@Legomovie970]

Robin Williams looks like a younger Michael Bell from Rugrats.

[@thetrickisirarelyrespond5945]

Where there ever any crossover characters from HLOTS to The Wire? That would've been cool, although I acknowledge we're in _the_ age of tie-ins and call-backs. Just realised they female detective was Denzel's colleague in The Equaliser. Also,.why am I watching this through welder's mask?

[@namedidii]

munch shows up at the cop bar in a later season. I think he knows Freamon

[@jacksonreed6645]

Am I tripping or is that baby Jake Gyllenhaal

[@ariadneschild8460]

I think it might be, jeez he can't be more than 15 here.

[@mikekling7144]

Did Robin win an Emmy for this?

[@annanimus3943]

Does anyone know where I could find the episode with Lily Tomlin (The hat?)

[@JULYXXIV]

I remember when BPD had white uniforms for everyone from patrolmen to commissioner, like Cincinnati used to. Anyway, Homicide: Life on the Street is an excellent show, and of course the same brains behind this gave us The Wire. I just wish they could have done one true crossover episode. Think about it: Meldrick Lewis and Bunk Moreland. Frank Pembleton with Jimmy McNulty. Lester Freamon and John Munch. Kima Greggs and Tim Bayliss.

[@mf5202]

As a close cousin of a cop, they would NEVER put a detective with a family in this situation right of the bat. They would have a social worker or psychologist.

[@lordninja1387]

The old guy with glasses that talked to Robin Williams plays on Law and Order. That police office remind me of Law and Order. Is this a prequel.

[@markfradl]

No, they just carried that character over between the two shows,.

[@devonburdeyney8555]

It was this episode that sent me on my path to be an actor. Seeing Robin Williams be a broken man, and Yaphet Koto trying to console him. Two amazing men apart of their craft just being the best at what they do. I just hope I can be as good as them one day.

[@Unknown-bq9id]

If it's any comfort, I'm sure Robin is making Yaphet laugh up in heaven...

[@detroitkilljoy5954]

Is that Jake Gyllenhaal as the son?

[@bobburger6485]

Powe4full

[@zapkvr]

i have s1 and s2 on dvd. what season is this?

[@MissFaithLouise]

Kevin Russell Season 2, Episode 1. "Bop Gun". Aired January 6, 1994. It's listed on IMDb.

[@anttmann6123]

Excellent show filled with real great performances. I have to say how impressed I was with Yaphet Kotto in this series.

[@jtclaf]

Why has KZbin shrunk this video, just pitiful....

[@johnbowman1076]

I always preferred Robin Wms. as a dramatic actor to a comedian.

[@MyRedPony1]

Thanks, Mark F. Even though this isn't a comedy bit, it shows that Robin wasn't funny all the time, that he felt things like we feel things. Even though he's only acting here, it seems to me that you can't play the grieving husband of a homicide victim unless you have experienced some deep pain yourself. It's been more than 2 weeks and H:LotS is only a TV show, but I can't believe he's gone. Every thread I read, every comment board, anywhere that the public is permitted to post, people who never met Robin are grieving that we lost him. I have never seen such an outpouring of sorrow for a person that was a 'personality'. And I don't understand. What is it about Robin's death that has hit so many people so hard? I feel like I've lost a family member. I'm going through the list of Robin's works on IMDb and looking to see how many are available on KZbin. There's lots of comedy, but not much like this.Thanks again, Mark.

[@DobbyJunior]

I think for those of us who never personally met Robin it's the fact that he was very honest about most of his troubles in his interviews but I think it's also that everyone seems to have connected with some character he played. Like Mork who was an alien but cared about the human condition and was goofy yet lovable and could make you cry. Then throughout his whole movie career it's the characters who were goofy, lovable, and made you cry that I feel we all loved most. Even though we know we should separate the man from his characters it was hard with Robin because he delighted in being so many characters in his stand up and interviews. Playing these characters for as long as Robin had, it feels like we knew him even though we never did but a connection that fills like its severed now still remains.

[@MyRedPony1]

DobbyJunior That could well be part of it, Dobby. He seems to have played every side of human behavior. From laugh-till-you-cry funny guy in The Birdcage, Mrs. Doubtfire, and the foreign obstetrician in Nine Months, to the depths-of-despair sad guy in the homicide victim he plays here, to serious in Good Will Hunting, to hauntingly, frightening creepy guy who you can almost feel sorry for in One Hour Photo, to a scary, psychopathic murderer in Insomnia, to a totally caring-about-others teacher in Dead Poets Society, to someone so ensconced in grief that he loses his mind in The Fisher King, and ... I could go on. I think that during his career, people personally identified with the character he was playing. Directors seemed to give him a lot of leeway. Robin was known for going off script, and very often it was Robin’s take on the character that was used in the final cut, The first one that comes to mind is in Mrs. Doubtfire, where he tells the social worker that he does voices, and then proceeds to do voices. There’s not even any editing there, they’re just laid down back to back. I can’t think of another movie where an actor is so good that the decision is made to just let the audience see the actor being his own version of the character. And as you pointed out, he had no problem with sitting down for an interview and laying out what demons troubled him. Behind all the acting was Robin, a human being who had troubles just like we all do. The interview that haunts me the most is when he told Dianne Sawyer that you can’t be sober on your own, you need help. He says “And you’re standing at a precipice and you look down. There’s a voice, and it’s a little quiet voice, and it goes ‘jump.’” And now he's gone and there's a big empty hole in the world.

[@mikepieke89]

It is a fact that most clowns and comedians are actually intensely sad people. Comedy is a way of overcoming that, but it doesn't always work. It takes a tragedy to demonstrate that.

[@wrestlingbear1188]

At the time of the incident, the confrontation. The man...he was, in shock. Traumatized. It had all happened so fast. It's not something that happens to an individual everyday. Not sot something they're prepared for or expecting. They took his wife from her husband and the mother away from the children. They destroyed a family. To think..For that to happen...It's utterly heartwrenching. They took that that man's kids away from their Mom. But yeah, I can see where he's coming from. To cops, just another solved/unsolved case. A statistic. It's like, they don't see people. Just numbers. That's all they see anymore. Endless cycle.

[@deferential1]

This is particularly painful to watch, and I own this series, and I constantly avoid watching it. it sticks & twists inside like a rusty knife....like an exclusive club that nobody wants to belong to, that just rips through.

[@danielwilliamson6180]

9:50 :(

[@jaewok5G]

if you like dramatic robin, watch "The Secret Agent"

[@murrayhopwood874]

Mark F Peace

[@jviarruel]

stupid tiny screen insult to injury no ending

[@togaplop]

great performance by Robin, but was that Chris Rock as the killer?

[@spencelean]

Chris Rock guest starred in Homicide but a different episode. Season 6 I believe.

[@ryancoulter4797]

One of the best episodes of the show. Too bad the network started messing with it.

[@gregmccarty8476]

Powerful, but hardly understated.

[@geckomcgraw2692]

cumtown sent me here

[@theoldanarchist]

Richard Belzer and Robin Williams, two very funny men, not being funny here at all.

[@matthewJ142]

That officer could have lost his job handing him his gun. It's a rule that shouldn't be broken.

[@mh7067]

3 YO's???

[@whatsgoingon07]

The dialogue in this show is dumb, the characters talk like you wouldn't normally talk given the circumstances

[@Goatboysminion]

I remember this from back in the day. Thought Williams performance was phenomenal. But also recognised it as typical anti-gun propaganda. Something Robin Williams indulged in several times in his off stage work.

[@markfradl]

How is this anti-gun propaganda? Unless you think showing gun violence at all is anti-gun propaganda.