Like his portrayal of real physician and comedian Patch Adams in the movie of the same name, Robin Williams was also dedicated to bringing joy to sick children before his passing.
As well as being the voice of Aladdin’s Genie among so many memorable roles, Robin Williams is notable for his portrayal of the titular Patch Adams in 1998.
Based on the real physician, Williams’ character seeks to become a medical doctor after struggling with suicidal thoughts. He realises humour is a better cure than doctor-centric psychotherapy, questioning his school’s soulless approach to medical care.
In real life, Patch Adams – real name Hunter Doherty Adams – is an activist for physical and emotional health and created The Gesundheit! Institute in the 1970s.
While Adams has been praised for his lifelong mission to offer holistic medical care, Williams was also dedicated to playing the role of Patch Adams off-screen.
ROBIN WILLIAMS WORKED WITH ST JUDE FOR A DECADE
Following Williams’ unexpected passing in August 2014, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which “treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases”, posted a tribute to the 63-year-old.
“Robin Williams brought smiles and joy to St Jude patients, just as he brought laughter to fans worldwide,” they wrote. The comedian appeared in the organisation’s TV adverts alongside young patients.
The mother of ten-year-old Darcy Cassidy, who worked with him on-set, called him compassionate, caring, and “made us feel like we were the superstars”.
He was similarly dubbed the “comedic Mother Theresa” by the uncle of David Buist, a 24-year-old who suffered from a rare form of cancer, hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma.
The actor called Buist several times. “You can’t get a better laugh than a Robin Williams laugh,” he noted. The Jumanji actor even invited the patient to a comedy event in 2004.
PATCH ADAMS WASN’T A FAN OF HIS ON-SCREEN PORTRAYAL
We’d all be flattered to have a movie based on our life, especially being played by Robin Williams, but Adams wasn’t thrilled after the movie premiere.
Late film critic Roger Ebert wanted to ” spray the screen with Lysol” after watching, while Adams himself disliked the fact he was portrayed as a “funny doctor”. “Imagine how shallow that is relative to who I am?” he told New Renaissance Magazine.
According to Chasing The Frog, Adams didn’t receive much money for the rights to the story, although Universal Pictures gave The Gesundheit! Institute a grant to establish fundraising.
Despite his reaction to the film, Adams wrote a Time tribute dedicated to Williams after his death:
“I’m enormously grateful for his wonderful performance of my early life, which has allowed the Gesundheit! Institute to continue and expand its work. We extend our blessings to his family and friends in this moment of sadness.”
