It is almost 30 years since Robin Williams dragged up to play Mrs. Doubtfire in one of the much-loved actor’s best-known movies, and for two of the young actresses who appeared alongside Williams, the 90s Con in Hartford, Connecticut gave them the perfect chance to reminisce about their time working with the late star. Lisa Jakub and Mara Wilson played the daughters of Williams’ character in the film, and although they have chosen different career paths since starring in the movie, they have remained friends and were therefore perfect to make a joint appearance at the event.
As one of the highest-grossing comedy movies of all time, Mrs. Doubtfire saw Williams at his hectic and outlandish best as Daniel HIllard, a devoted father whose wife files for divorce and gains sole custody of his children. While he attempts to get a steady job and somewhere to live, Hillard ends up taking on the persona of housekeeper Euphegenia Doubtfire to see his kids and be part of their lives. Along with Matthew Lawrence as son Chris, Jakub and Wilson played daughters Lydia and Natalie.
Speaking to Good Morning America during the last weekend of the convention, both stars shared fond memories of working with Williams, noting how he really acted as though they were really his daughters, and would usually help them to remember their lines. Jakub recalled:
"He was very open about his issues with mental wellness. He taught me it was OK to be vulnerable. What was most meaningful to me was to see that human beneath the comedic act."
While Jakub was 14 when filming, Wilson was only six, but still knows that she was really lucky to have worked with the cinema legend and has kept many memories of filming. She said:
"I have so many moments of him being kind and looking me in the eye and and talking to me very gently. He was a very gentle and quiet, introverted person underneath. He was also often silly, like making his carpet bag bark like a dog and making little hand puppets that would talk to you and make little jokes."
Robin Williams Was One of a Kind Both When On and Off Camera
There are very few actors who are held in such esteem in Hollywood that no one has anything bad at all to say about them and everyone who has worked with them has nothing but good memories. Robin Williams is one of that elite group, having always been seen as someone who gave his all on camera, but was always making sure that everyone around him could give their best as well.
As a performer, Williams was a natural force of nature, a master of improvisation and able to talk at the speed of light, switching personas and causing chaos in between takes with his constant comic energy. Of course, as a person, Williams had his fair share of demons which everyone discovered too late following his untimely death in 2014. Having touched so many millions of lives, it is clear that Williams managed to greatly inspire the people he worked with too, no matter how young they were at the time.