Actor and comedian Robin Williams prepares to present the award for best animated feature at the 77th Academy Awards in Hollywood, in this file picture taken February 27, 2005. [Photo/Agencies] |
THE MUCH-LOVED 'MRS DOUBTFIRE'
The Marin County Sheriff's office said it received an emergency call about noon local time on Monday, saying that Williams was unconscious and not breathing at his home near Tiburon, north of San Francisco.
Williams is scheduled to appear in "Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb" on Dec. 19, 2014, playing the statue of Teddy Roosevelt who comes to life at night. Twentieth Century Fox, which will distribute the film, had no immediate comment.
In April, the Hollywood Reporter said that Fox's Fox 2000 division was developing a sequel to his 1993 hit "Mrs. Doubtfire" that would reunite Williams and director Chris Columbus.
In the film, Williams played one of his most enduring roles as a struggling actor and divorced father who assumes the identity of a British nanny to be closer to his children.
The actor was most recently in the CBS television comedy "The Crazy Ones," which was canceled in May after one season.
Williams, who was born in Chicago in 1951 and grew up in suburban Detroit, was as skilled at comedic riffing as he was as a dramatic actor, earning four Academy Award nominations, the first for his portrayal of US Army deejay Adrian Cronauer during the Vietnam War in "Good Morning, Vietnam."
He also earned nominations for the 1990 coming-of-age prep school drama "Dead Poets Society" and "The King Fisher" in 1991 in which he plays a homeless man who helps save a suicidal radio host.
Williams' final tweet was posted on July 31. He wished his daughter Zelda a happy 25th birthday.