In 1990, Robin Williams landed his favourite role of his career. It changed his view on human behaviour
Robin Williams said his favourite role was Dr Malcolm Sayers in Penny Marshall’s 1990 film *Awakenings*, a choice that surprised fans who expected one of his better-known comic or dramatic performances. The role mattered to him because it deepened his interest in human behaviour and the workings of the brain.
Sayers was based on British neurologist Oliver Sacks, who treated survivors of sleeping sickness. Williams praised Sacks’s ability to explore the brain and said the experience sparked a lasting fascination; Marshall recalled that Williams closely imitated the doctor’s mannerisms when they met. Williams discussed the role in a Reddit Ask Me Anything session shortly before his death in 2014, calling it a “gift”.
In short
- Williams named *Awakenings* his favourite role.
- He played a character based on neurologist Oliver Sacks.
- The film sparked a lasting interest in human behaviour.
Explained simply
Robin Williams was an American actor known for both comedy and drama. In Penny Marshall’s 1990 film Awakenings, he played Dr Malcolm Sayers, a character based on British neurologist Oliver Sacks.
Sacks treated people who had survived sleeping sickness, a disease that can affect the brain and nervous system. The story follows the doctor’s work with these patients and explores how the brain shapes behaviour, memory and movement.
The role introduced Williams to Sacks’s approach to understanding the brain and human behaviour. Their meeting also gave Williams a chance to observe the doctor’s mannerisms, which he drew on for the performance.